[Hampshire] Setting up electronic equipment via a direct ethernet connection.
Following my previous post, I have another request which follows on. Today's solar inverters all have ethernet ports to connect to the internet. In the old days, inverters had a screen and a row of buttons to configure the inverter, stuff like language, country in which it is operating etc. These days inverters never have screens which is probably a good thing saving on cost. To set one up out of the box, you can either connect to an internal LAN by wireless or with a cable into the Ethernet socket. You then have to connect to a webpage with an address which contains the serial number of the device. I am curious about what is going on here but have been unable to phrase a search for Google. Does the technique have a name? I am responsible for running the Christmas tree lights on a community space nearby and we have a battery power supply which is controlled by a Raspberry Pi zero. It would be great if I could make changes remotely with my phone instead of wading in the mud to get to the battery box. I guess all the heavy lifting has been done and there is a nice article out there. Thanks Roger -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Manage subscription: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG website: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Help finding wireless bridge manufacturers/suppliers
might i suggest that in most cases just installing another bt connection and setting up a vpn is the most reliable way forward. if a hard link can’t be established, substitute a 5g router. or just try 2 asus router’ s using 2.4Ghz mesh to create the back bone. but imo. the 5g with a vpn is going to work surprisingly well. an theres also starlink. Sent from my iPhone > On 5 Feb 2025, at 20:14, James Dutton via Hampshire > wrote: > > On Wed, 5 Feb 2025 at 18:24, Roger Munford via Hampshire > wrote: >> >> Thanks everybody for your kind and useful responses. >> >> The project involves two solar installations which are close to each >> other and as generators they are separate. However it appears that for >> monitoring purposes, (equipment manufactures advice) it would be better >> to have the two systems integrated hence the last minute call for a >> wireless link. It could have been incorporated into the system whilst it >> was being built but that didn't happen. I have passed on the excellent >> suggestion of a fibre link. >> >> In the distant past I did install a couple of wireless bridges across >> farmyards using normal domestic equipment costing in the order of £50 >> plus antennae and they seemed to be OK. However for this job, I thought >> that I would try and find something industrial standard . It seems that >> the sort of equipment found on Amazon although cheap appears to be >> adequate although I think a well made, rugged system is required here. >> >> A few years a go was lucky enough to be involved in a project in Africa >> and we were advised to use "Teltonika" equipment for comms and it looked >> the part, aluminium case, rail mounted. What I meant by robust. It has >> been working for 3 years without failing. >> >> My friend has ordered something Chinese from Amazon just to get going >> but chances are he will come back to it later. >> > > Hi, > > Considering the Wifi option. > An off the shelf wifi equipment can probably reach 100M line-of-sight > without needing any special antenna. > 180M might need a more directional antenna. > There are also OFCOM license considerations to consider. Limit's TX > power outdoors etc. if you don't want to need a license. > Another aspect of RF point-to-point links is that RF does not travel > in a single straight line like a laser does. > You need to pay attention to something called the "Frensel Zone" > Here is a youtube video to explain it: > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7ey2upDhRw > > So, in summary, I don't think you need to go with anything too expensive. > You could also maybe use Lora or similar to link the two solar arrays, > that will be cheaper. > > Kind Regards > > James > > -- > Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk > Manage subscription: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire > LUG website: http://www.hantslug.org.uk > -- -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Manage subscription: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG website: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Help finding wireless bridge manufacturers/suppliers
I have a friend with a wireless bridge from central Portsmouth to Southampton using ubiquity kit... Not cheap, but really robust. On Wed, 5 Feb 2025, 18:24 Roger Munford via Hampshire, < hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk> wrote: > Thanks everybody for your kind and useful responses. > > The project involves two solar installations which are close to each > other and as generators they are separate. However it appears that for > monitoring purposes, (equipment manufactures advice) it would be better > to have the two systems integrated hence the last minute call for a > wireless link. It could have been incorporated into the system whilst it > was being built but that didn't happen. I have passed on the excellent > suggestion of a fibre link. > > In the distant past I did install a couple of wireless bridges across > farmyards using normal domestic equipment costing in the order of £50 > plus antennae and they seemed to be OK. However for this job, I thought > that I would try and find something industrial standard . It seems that > the sort of equipment found on Amazon although cheap appears to be > adequate although I think a well made, rugged system is required here. > > A few years a go was lucky enough to be involved in a project in Africa > and we were advised to use "Teltonika" equipment for comms and it looked > the part, aluminium case, rail mounted. What I meant by robust. It has > been working for 3 years without failing. > > My friend has ordered something Chinese from Amazon just to get going > but chances are he will come back to it later. > > Thanks for your help. > > Roger > > On 04/02/2025 23:14, James Dutton via Hampshire wrote: > > On Tue, 4 Feb 2025 at 12:09, Roger Munford via Hampshire > > wrote: > >> A friend of mine has asked for advice on an industrial network and I > >> think the solution is a 180m wireless link across a field. > >> > >> This has to be very robust. > >> > > Hi, > > > > When you say "This has to be very robust.", what do you mean? > > Also, how future proof do you need it? Bandwidth? > > What is it linking? Two buildings the person owns? Is the field owned > > by them, or someone else. > > Why not get broadband to each building, and then VPN across the > > internet between them? > > > > I would be tempted to dig a trench and put some single mode fibre down > > it. It is a bit of effort, but 180M is not far to dig. > > It will also be future proof as you can put any bandwidth you please > > down the fibre cable. > > > > If you need robust, do you need dual links? In case one fails? > > > > Kind Regards > > > > James > > > > -- > Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk > Manage subscription: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire > LUG website: http://www.hantslug.org.uk > -- > -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Manage subscription: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG website: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Setting up electronic equipment via a direct ethernet connection.
See inline: On Wed, 5 Feb 2025 at 18:53, Roger Munford via Hampshire wrote: > > Following my previous post, I have another request which follows on. > > Today's solar inverters all have ethernet ports to connect to the internet. > > In the old days, inverters had a screen and a row of buttons to > configure the inverter, stuff like language, country in which it is > operating etc. > > These days inverters never have screens which is probably a good thing > saving on cost. > > To set one up out of the box, you can either connect to an internal LAN > by wireless or with a cable into the Ethernet socket. You then have to > connect to a webpage with an address which contains the serial number of > the device. > The inverter should come with a manual that should make it clear what to do. If you have the make/model of the inverter, any of us could find and download the manual to help you. What is normal is: 1) You download an app for your phone, and the app automatically connects to the inverter over wifi. The app then also tells you all the stats about your inverter, power used etc. 2) The manual tells you what IP address the inverter is, and you plug a laptop into the ethernet port with a normal ethernet cable and type "http://192.168.0.1"; or whatever the manual says the IP address is. That should bring up the web page you are looking for. > > I am responsible for running the Christmas tree lights on a community > space nearby and we have a battery power supply which is controlled by a > Raspberry Pi zero. It would be great if I could make changes remotely > with my phone instead of wading in the mud to get to the battery box. > > I guess all the heavy lifting has been done and there is a nice article > out there. You could maybe use a USB wifi adapter on the Pi zero and link to it with wifi from your phone. Problem being, it will eat battery power. There are lower power RF methods such as Lora or the many other onces, but then your phone won't talk lora so you would need a dongle for the phone. So I guess it's not ideal. It depends on what you need to control on the battery box. Another option is simply using infra red and use a TV remote with it to control it. That is low power but Receiver only on the pi zero side. Kind Regards James -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Manage subscription: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG website: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Help finding wireless bridge manufacturers/suppliers
On Wed, 5 Feb 2025 at 18:24, Roger Munford via Hampshire wrote: > > Thanks everybody for your kind and useful responses. > > The project involves two solar installations which are close to each > other and as generators they are separate. However it appears that for > monitoring purposes, (equipment manufactures advice) it would be better > to have the two systems integrated hence the last minute call for a > wireless link. It could have been incorporated into the system whilst it > was being built but that didn't happen. I have passed on the excellent > suggestion of a fibre link. > > In the distant past I did install a couple of wireless bridges across > farmyards using normal domestic equipment costing in the order of £50 > plus antennae and they seemed to be OK. However for this job, I thought > that I would try and find something industrial standard . It seems that > the sort of equipment found on Amazon although cheap appears to be > adequate although I think a well made, rugged system is required here. > > A few years a go was lucky enough to be involved in a project in Africa > and we were advised to use "Teltonika" equipment for comms and it looked > the part, aluminium case, rail mounted. What I meant by robust. It has > been working for 3 years without failing. > > My friend has ordered something Chinese from Amazon just to get going > but chances are he will come back to it later. > Hi, Considering the Wifi option. An off the shelf wifi equipment can probably reach 100M line-of-sight without needing any special antenna. 180M might need a more directional antenna. There are also OFCOM license considerations to consider. Limit's TX power outdoors etc. if you don't want to need a license. Another aspect of RF point-to-point links is that RF does not travel in a single straight line like a laser does. You need to pay attention to something called the "Frensel Zone" Here is a youtube video to explain it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7ey2upDhRw So, in summary, I don't think you need to go with anything too expensive. You could also maybe use Lora or similar to link the two solar arrays, that will be cheaper. Kind Regards James -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Manage subscription: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG website: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Help finding wireless bridge manufacturers/suppliers
Thanks everybody for your kind and useful responses. The project involves two solar installations which are close to each other and as generators they are separate. However it appears that for monitoring purposes, (equipment manufactures advice) it would be better to have the two systems integrated hence the last minute call for a wireless link. It could have been incorporated into the system whilst it was being built but that didn't happen. I have passed on the excellent suggestion of a fibre link. In the distant past I did install a couple of wireless bridges across farmyards using normal domestic equipment costing in the order of £50 plus antennae and they seemed to be OK. However for this job, I thought that I would try and find something industrial standard . It seems that the sort of equipment found on Amazon although cheap appears to be adequate although I think a well made, rugged system is required here. A few years a go was lucky enough to be involved in a project in Africa and we were advised to use "Teltonika" equipment for comms and it looked the part, aluminium case, rail mounted. What I meant by robust. It has been working for 3 years without failing. My friend has ordered something Chinese from Amazon just to get going but chances are he will come back to it later. Thanks for your help. Roger On 04/02/2025 23:14, James Dutton via Hampshire wrote: On Tue, 4 Feb 2025 at 12:09, Roger Munford via Hampshire wrote: A friend of mine has asked for advice on an industrial network and I think the solution is a 180m wireless link across a field. This has to be very robust. Hi, When you say "This has to be very robust.", what do you mean? Also, how future proof do you need it? Bandwidth? What is it linking? Two buildings the person owns? Is the field owned by them, or someone else. Why not get broadband to each building, and then VPN across the internet between them? I would be tempted to dig a trench and put some single mode fibre down it. It is a bit of effort, but 180M is not far to dig. It will also be future proof as you can put any bandwidth you please down the fibre cable. If you need robust, do you need dual links? In case one fails? Kind Regards James -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Manage subscription: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG website: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
