Through a port redirection the GT View software is to communicate via the web-enabled-device (using port redirection from COM port-X to an IP-address).

Problem description:
To connect GT 3.0 to a PC. The direct connection with RS-232 cable is not an option:
- length of the RS-232 cable
- cost overrun more than $500
- etc.

We do have an ethernet cable available at the inverter, which is connected to a SWITCH (TCP/IP) at the other end, part of internal network. But connecting another laptop is not an option (environment is too harsh).

We decided to use a Lantronix UDS 100. It is a device which can be configured with a fix IP-address on the internal network. On the other hand it is connected to GT 3.0 via RS-232 cable. It suppose to translate RS-232 protocol to TCP/IP. The GT-View, running on a PC, will be connected to a virtual COMM-port, which is configured to talk to a fixed IP-Address (of Lantronix device).

Questions:
1. Is the GT View software capable of communicating to a virtual COM port?
2. Would the latency create a problem since the PC is not directly connected to GT 3.0?
3. What other problem do you foresee?

Thanks a bunch,

Kailash

The issue with Serial to TCP converters is they do byte packing. It might work, it might not, you are just going to have to try it for the final answer.

From GT-View prospective, a comm device is a comm device.Others have had sucess doing wireless, read thru the other postings ... one can go about 1000ft with RS-232 ...

the serial to ethernet convert they sell at gridconnect.com seems to work well (once you configure the port to support RAW mode).

I've got this working on my home network and it's working sweet. part #GC-NET232-DTE (http://www.gridconnect.com/net232-dte.html)

additional note: once you get a serial to ethernet converter documented in the Mac OS X monitoring post - it appears the serial protcol documented by Xantrex works just fine via telnet.

steps:
1. aquire serial -> ethernet adapter
2. setup adapter
3. telnet [adapter-ip-address] 10001
4. type xantrex protocol commands into telnet - watch results come
back!!

this is sooooo - cool cause you can do this from any client with telnet
access to the network!!

programmer's start your compiler's - this baby's been opened up!!

I am using an old Lantronix ETS4P terminal server that I bought on ebay. Old DECserver 90TL can also be used, and are really inexpensive on Ebay (less than 30 dollars for an 8-port version). Wire the serial port of the inverters to the terminal server which can be screwed to the wall, and then run an Ethernet cable back to whereever your router/switch lives.

The terminal server ports need to be set for the right baud-rate, and defined as "remote access" ports, and given a TCP port number in RAW mode.

I am using a COM-port mapping program to map COM2 to the IP addres of the terminal server on that specific TCP port. The PC then magically grows a new COM port.

GTview then is set up to use the new COM2 port, and viola you are logging, without a real serial cable.