Aquatronica - Serial over CAT5

[funkyparott]

Hi,

I have today purchased the Aquatronica computer monitor along with the PC Connection device. The connection add on is for a serial connection. Unfortunatley, my PC is located upstairs but my house is wired with a network cable connection.

There is a CAT5 network cable that runs from my bedroom, down to besides the tank.

I know there are IEEE standards about how far you can run a serial single before it deteriates. The distance in my case is about 9 metres. Surely I should be able to wire up a serial to Cat5 connector and then the same again at the other end (before converting into USB)?

Does anyone have any specialist knowledge in this field?


FP

[sid8ball]

serial length is normally about 22 meters before you need to boost the signal. (Under normal serial communication protocols)

[funkyparott]

Excellent. I guess all I need to do now is find two convertor sockets.

The network cable I installed previously (the one that connects my bedroom to downstairs) - I can't remember whether it is a 'patch lead'. (ie not straight through, could have connections swapped) . It was orignally for my XBOX. Thinking about it, I am sure it is probably just a standard network cable I made.

Do you think it is possible to purchase CAT5 to serial connectors, or do I need to get my soldering iron out (should be straight forward straight through connections) ??

Perhaps I should have just paid the extra £50 and got the ethernet add on!

FP

[sid8ball]

From what i understand but not entirely sure cat5 is 8 wires plus the shield. Im assuming the aquatronica serial cable is 9 pin and all nine wires are being used. You could do with Aquatronica giving a pin out diagram to make sure you will be ok

[funkyparott]

Very good point. You are quite correct, CAT5 is 8 wire. I shall try emailing Aquatronica to find out if all nine pins are used on the serial connection.

If they are my CAT5 theory won't work !

[sid8ball]

To be honest you could probably use the cat5 sheath for the serial RS232 ground connection if really needed, assuming aquatronica have stuck to the RS232 EIA232 standard. This would be pin 5 of the 9 pins. As long as you get it back correct the other end.

Sid

[johnski]

is the serial port db9 or db 25, either way you should be able to get a converter, i use them all the time at work, mostly a db9 on the back of my laptop, straight through cat5 into a sun server, its a 422 protocol but it work the same on 232. if its db25 , then maybe a null modem cable would work

[johnski]

Oh, i've just remembered i've got bitten a few with different companies implementation of serial protocols, so definitely best to ask aquatronica for the pin-outs

[funkyparott]

Had my reply from Aquatronica. It would appear that they only use three pins, so this should be possible.

"Hello Mr Parrot,

I apologize for the delay but we were closed for holidays.
I am sorry but we cannot give you a layout of our serial cable. We only use 3
of the 9 pins which are 2,3,5. If you like you can also use USB extension
cables to connect the interface to your computer.

Best Regards,
Aquatronica
"

[EddieW]

Have a Google for "RS232 serial extender" - these are specifically designed to take a serial signal and transmit it over CAT5 cable.

YOu may have to wade through a lot of sites to find one as they seem to be doing combined keyboard/video/mouse extenders with the serial as an option. I did find one site that specifically does a serial only box but there was no prices there - google for KM-0701-RS232EXT and it is the only UK result.

HTH, Eddie

[sharemaster]

All you need are two DB9 connectors from RS or similar a soldering iron and a CAT5 patch lead chop it in half and solder to the same colours either side, standard is
white blue - pin2, blue white - pin3, white orange - pin5. solder the same either end and you've got a long serial cable.
It works over longer distances than 22m ;) 9m will be no problem at all.

[Immi]

Search google for DB9 to RJ45...

http://www.pccables.com/01910.htm

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=DB9+to+RJ45&meta=

[Quint]

tronica only uses 3 pins - i just extended mine 16m using 3 bits of speaker wire...works fine.