LIFA ethernet to USB

[Uke88]

Hello all,

I want to use LIFA over Ethernet connections.  I understand that LIFA requires serial connections or something like Xbee (which I don't fully understand...). Any who, I have been looking for something that can go Ethernet to USB, allowing me to communicate with the Arduino over Ethernet. This is the connector I found, http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=103&cp_id=10311&cs_id=1031102&p_id=6150&seq=1&for....

Two questions.

1) Would this connector work for to go from my PC to my Arduino ethernet?

2) If so, would I need to modify the Arduino code?

Thanks in advance,

Matt

[Nathan_B.]

1) No, this device will not change anything.  It would be the same as hooking up your Arduino to directly to your ethernet port.

2) LIFA is only designed to work via serial connections.  So, you would need to re-create LIFA entirely (both LabVIEW and firmware) to use network protocols.

[Uke88]

Nathan,

Thank you for the response. 

Would there be a device which could go ethernet to serial so I can communicate over ethernet or no?  Basically, I am going to be transmitting data a very long distance and I don't believe USB to be the connection I want.

Matt

EDIT:

I believe I can do this because things like Xbee exist.  I don't exactly understand how that works but it looks like the arduino communicates wirelessly which seems more difficult than over ethernet.

[Nathan_B.]

Serial and ethernet are totally different protocols.  They do not contain the same information.

A device that could do what you are asking is probably so rarely needed that it doesn't exist.  I've never heard of such a thing but I do not have extensive knowledge in this type of stuff.

What do you mean by "very long distance"?

[anotheralias]

As far as I know, the device you are referring to does not use Ethernet protocol and as such just translates your USB signals electronicaly to be transmitted over an Ethernet cable over twisted pairs to acheive greater distance than a typical USB cable. It is powered by the USB port to accomplish this and does not require a different driver. I think it will work for you. It does typically have a limit of about 150 feet or so and some cost more to get a bit more distance.  Several versions exist for distance/quality. Think of it as an EXTENDO cable for USB signal transport?

Tim

OOOps... I should have looked the the device YOU were looking at....  HE is right...

I was using a pair that accomplishes what you might need and if I find the link before someone yells at me I will post it ...

Sorry... by bad for not READING

Tim

Message was edited by: anotheralias

OKAY...

Here is an excerpt...

NOTE: Search for "USB over Ethernet"... That is the difference... NOT a USB to Ethernet conversion adapter...

You can connect USB peripherals to your computer from up to 150 feet or 45 meters away with this adapter. Plug the male-USB adapter into your computer, and the female-USB adapter into the USB cable on your peripheral device. Use a patch cable such asCat-5, 5e, or 6 to connect the two adapters together. Note- the distance and presence of adapters may affect the performance of some devices. Note- Must be used with straight-through or patch cable, NOT crossover cable.

Features

	**Cat-5/5e/6 patch cable not included!**
	Connect USB devices up to your computer from up to 150 feet away, by going over Cat-5/5e/6 Patch cable
	Note: Must be used with patch cable (also called straight-thru cable). This is NOT the same as the ethernet crossover cable used to connect a computer to a router.
	Note: the distance and adapters may affect the performance of some devices down to USB 1.1 speed
	Overcome the length limits of USB cables with this Plug & Play adapter
	Use with webcams, mice, keyboards, any device that has a USB plug

Message was edited by: anotheralias

[Nathan_B.]

That is certainly interesting.  The pluasibility of it being a solution for the OP will depend on how he needs the physically connect the computer and device.  If he is able to install this new wire, it may work.  If he was intending for it to literally be transferred over the network (a traditional network through a router) then it will not.

Either way, this is certainly interesting, to me at least.

[anotheralias]

Actually....

There are solutions for that as well...

HUBS and switches for USB over ethernet exist for transport over infrastructure.

The signals are converted and transported over IP to a destination HUB or Router which re-constitutes the USB signals for use at the remote station.

This USB network hub lets you share four USB peripheral devices over an IP network for access from multiple computers.

A simple and cost-effective resource sharing solution, the hub eliminates the need to purchase duplicate peripherals for each computer, by letting you reach USB devices from anywhere on your LAN, overcoming traditional USB cable connection distances.

A quick search yielded one such device... (no recommendations implied)

http://www.rakuten.com/prod/startech-com-4-port-usb-over-ip-network-hub-adapter-usb-ethernet/2110202...

There are possibilities...

Cheers...

Tim

[Uke88]

Thanks for the response!

I would like to send my signal ~100 ft. and I believe USB can only go ~15 ft.  Therefore, I wanted an extension so I can send it without worrying about the signal being corrupted.  My end goal is to talk to several arduino ethernets and move their servos around. 

Tim stated:

HUBS and switches for USB over ethernet exist for transport over infrastructure.

The signals are converted and transported over IP to a destination HUB or Router which re-constitutes the USB signals for use at the remote station.

This USB network hub lets you share four USB peripheral devices over an IP network for access from multiple computers.

A simple and cost-effective resource sharing solution, the hub eliminates the need to purchase duplicate peripherals for each computer, by letting you reach USB devices from anywhere on your LAN, overcoming traditional USB cable connection distances.

I believe this to be the opposite of what I am looking for.  By that, I mean, since communications will be a greater distance than USB will allow, I'd like to plug multiple arduino ethernets into 1 central location and have them controlled by 1 computer.  From my understanding of what you linked was having multiple USBs be sent over ethernet.  In my mind, thats like saying multiple computers controlling 1 arduino.

Tim, am I correct in that understanding?

Thank you again,

Matt

[anotheralias · Accepted solution]

One of the first links I followed shows a product which provides provides for over 100 feet transmission of conditioned signal over a cat5 cable by use of a USB adapter... you need one on either end of the CAT5 cable to go from USB->conditioned signal over CAT5 cable->USB signal levels.

No conversion into IP transmission. So... you could do that with multiple adapter/cable sets to accomplish your goal if you don't need to involve a network..

Also... you could try the unexpected...  Just TRY wiring up a sheilded twisted pair cable that is long enough to suit your needs, and it MIGHT work. I have been able to occasionally get a USB device to communicate (depending on speed and reliability desired) and actually work!

It's only guaranteed to 15 feet, but over better cabling techniques one can sometime well exceed certain limitations.

One computer could control multiple arduinos (I think you might need to use multiple ports, though(someone chiime in on wether it is possible to have multiple arduino endpoints in the mix on one channel before hubbing out?)) in theory, using the mentioned special purpose hubs which allow one to access and monitor USB devices over a TCP/IP network. From one computer, running multiple instances of LIFA on different ports which are run through a COM port redirector, pushed on to the TCP/IP network, and received by the special purpose HUV, which converts the TCP/IP back into USB signal packets and routes them to the specified endpoints...

One PC and redirector drivers, network, HUV, to multiple endpoints.

No PC required on the remote end....

Except that everything costs money... (sorry)...

Again... here is one such product (different one)

https://www.digi.com/products/usb/anywhereusb

Good luck... Have FUN!

Tim

[Uke88]

Tim,

Thats what I was expecting functional-wise with this idea.  I was looking into microchips to see if I could do it by myself or just buy a product.  As of now, I have no real attack plan of how I am going to tackle this project.  However, I feel much more comfortable knowing that I can communicate USB over ethernet and you have showed me some devices to help.

Thank you,

Matt