Internet Datalogging

[KenB]

Grahame, List

Thanks for your suggestions.

This evening I upgraded the firmware on the PICDem board to the latest version 4.51 which includes support for dynamic DNS.

The new firmware also handles variables and data to/from from the microcontroller in a more sensible manner, and this is illustrated in the webpage that's running on it right now.

Hopefully still at http://90.240.127.233

There is a bootloader to allow firmware upgrades from the web, plus a means to upload webpages to it. It even has email support, so in an application such as a vending machine (featured in their tutorial), it can send you a message to say it's run out of mars-bars.

It's now starting to look like quite a professional piece of kit.

Microchip have clearly put a fair bit of effort into this concept over the last couple of years and developed a licence free TCPIP stack which has evolved into a fully functioning embedded HTTP server -  no doubt so that they can sell skip loads of PICs and get them connected to the internet.

They have a series of web-tutorials on this product at their main site.

http://techtrain.microchip.com/webseminars/documents/TCPIP_p2_092007.pdf

and the general stuff for their new TCP/IP offerings is here

www.microchip.com/tcpip



Ken

[Alan]

http://90.240.127.233

Is sleeping.

Regards

Alan

[KenB]

Alan,  TwentyFourSeven, List,

I updated the firmware and started to follow the tutorials on Microchip for their vending machine application.

These  show how data and variables can be passed to and from the board using HTTP to make an effective control mechanism. As a lot of this is new territory for me I thought it worthwhile grasping these basics before I proceed to write my own application.

I managed to download the new development tools from Microchip (MPLAB 8.10 needed for this board) and I also got the Student Edition of their C18 C compiler, which is free to use, fully featured but time limited for 60 days - then it turns into a pumpkin.

The new firmware has dynamic DSN which I have yet to confirm if its working.

At the moment the board claims to be at IP 169.254.1.1 which it allocates automatically in firmware.

I have yet to find how to change this in the new firmware.  Failing that, it still needs to be forwarded through my router which is still at http://90.240.127.233

I'm pursuing this route, because I believe that Microchip currently offer one of the cheapest mechanisms to get an embedded ethernet microcontroller complete with it's on-chip ethernet controller.  Their PIC 18F97J60 is available for under a fiver from Farnell and really only needs an integrated magnetics Ethernet socket and some dataflash memory to make a minimalist device:

http://uk.farnell.com/jsp/search/browse.jsp;jsessionid=S2NWDUQEWVJ54CQLCIQZKBQ?N=0&Ntk=gensearch_001&Ntt=18F97J60&Ntx=&_requestid=348823

Olimex are selling a series of 3 boards based on the PIC embedded ethernet devices.   These are considerably cheaper than the pucker offering form Microchip, but are code compatible with their TCP/IP stack - try here for details

PIC Mini-Web  http://www.olimex.com/dev/pic-mini-web.html minimal board - and your own relays, isolated inputs, temp sensors etc

PIC Maxi-Web  http://www.olimex.com/dev/pic-maxi-web.html   

For 82.95 Euros this seems maxi-web very good value and has high degree of hardware compatability with with PICDem.net 2

also has 2 10A/250V relays, 4 opto- isolated  inputs, LCD display, 12 analogue inputs on screw terminals, Analogue input via potentiometer and temperature sensor

http://www.olimex.com/dev/images/PIC/PIC-MAXI-WEB-REV-A-sch.gif

Almost all of this should be directly compatible with the genuine Microchip board.  This Olimex board seems an ideal starting point for a web connected heating or solar controller.  Thermistor, RTD or one-wire temperature sensors could be added fairly easily, or even PT-100 with a little bit more expense and circuitry.

Anyone wanting to explore further should have a look at the  wealth of data and tutorials on the microchip site

www.microchip.com/tcpip



Ken

[PEMTEK]

One way of changing the IP address is with a 9600 baud serial connection then pressing RB3 button whilst resetting.

It then comes up with a menu allowing the change of several options. On disadvantage doing it this way is you have to mess with hyperterminal..

I am sure you can do it from the configuration tab also?

Phil

[KenB]

Hi Phil,

I upgraded to the latest firmware and experimented with some of the apps.

These don't allow the same hyperterminal loading facilities, nor are the FTP upload methods with the earlierfirmware present.

I found how to write a new default IP address into the config file and recompile/reprogram.

I'm still experimenting with the web bootloader and modifying and loading webpages.

The tools seem quite comprehensive, in the same way a chimpmanzee marvels at the contents of a brain-surgeons medical bag   



Ken

[Alan]

Hello Ken

The Maxi-Web board looks spiffing for speed, price and I.O. but the two English distributers do not offer for sale ?

Have you been dealing direct with  http://www.olimex.com

Was going to get some for general playing.

Regards

Alan

[ericw]

Alan,
I have dealt directly with Olimex for PCB's & programmers, but 18 months ago, when I tried to order a MT board from them (rather than pay the much higher price from the UK distributor ) they wouldn't accept the order. So I bought it from the U.S.

I'd advise you to try and order direct - their service and quality was excellent.

Eric