OT: remote/cellular phone line for remote access to shop machine

[Michelle Widell]

There's such a diverse group of people here.. someone has to have an answer for me!



I have a client who runs business that manufacturers machine tool machines. They have a client in Mexico that uses one of their machines. Their machine has an Allen-Bradley controller on it that uses the DF1 protocol, to which they have a modem connected. However, their client in Mexico refuses to run an analog phone line to the machine.



They want to have something portable that they can use on these machines to provide a modem connection so that they can remotely troubleshoot it. (Like, a tech will be onsite but someone from their company in Illinois can remotely access the machine.)



So.. the client is asking me what they can do. (Actually a co-worker of mine thought I'd have an idea...) My client said that this company is near Texas, and their cell phones work down there. I thought at first a cell phone that allows a serial connection where the cell acts as a modem would work. Maybe I talked over my client's head, because he started talking about the DF1 protocol and translation. I figured if he had a modem hooked up to it, then he must have a serial connection.



Then I thought of some transmitter thing... They used to be common - can't for the life of me find one on the web right now. But, something where you plug the modem into the one piece, stick it into AC power, and have the other piece (the receiver) with the phone line.



Anyone have any ideas, suggestions... experience?



Michelle

 

[Richard L]

Michelle,

I'm not sure why they refuse to connect an analog phone line, since that is about the cheapest and easiest way to connect?



The alternative for a cell phone connection might work if the cell phone was connected to a laptop and then connected to the serial port. The laptop would need to have the DF1 protocol converter software, but that may be better than locating a hardware converter?



...Rich

 

[Kevin Palmer]

I surf the net all the time via my laptop using my cell phone as the modem. All though I do not know all the items or programs you may need for your specific case it is all pretty basic.



My software cost me $21.00 direct from Motorola.

 

[Dale Carlson]

Michelle,



Would it be possible to bypass the modem and DF1 protocol altogether? What I'm thinking about is a direct PC or network connection to their equipment. We have a group of machine tools on the campus where I work that we'll add to our network after we finish our token ring (ick) to Ethernet upgrade. The controllers don't have standard Cat 5 connections, so we're going to have to use the built-in RS-232 connections and use adapters to connect them to the network.



Good luck!



Dale

 

[Ryan Schaecher]

I suppose if they won't run a phone line to the PLC, running a CAT5 line is also out of the question.



all the equipment I design and panels that I lay out have PLC's that "can" use a number of different communications options.



One that may be useful would be a wireless sytem that has a transmitter/receiver in the panel at the communications port and corresponding hardware in the office at the phone line. Somehting running in the 2.4 GHz or 5GHz spectrum should be fairly immune to the noise created by machines, especially if they are single-phase. With the cost of wireless ethernet (802.11 a/b/g) falling almost daily, a PC with wireless card and a WAP in the office connected to broadband or another PC with a shared modem may be another way to roll.



Without specifics on what this location is willing to do it may be difficult to provide a "best case" solution. These are just a few of my alternatives to inquire about.



Good luck.