[CQ-Contest] networking loggin computers...

[Ron D. Rossi]

Folks,

Our field day group has been talking about networking our logging computers.

Rather than build special cables I thought of the following two ideas. The 
nice thing about these ideas is that any old printer extender or serial
cable 
can be used.

I am looking for comments from those of you that may have done this.

Note: The ASCII diagrams won't display nicely unless you view this note with
a 
non-proportional font.

1) build an adapter for each computer to allow us to daisy chain the
computers
as required by the logging program. You would one cable to go between each
computer. This is a 100% custom adapter.

DB-9 #3 (computer) RXD ---|   |---- RXD DB-9 #2 (goesouta to the next CPU)
                   TXD ---|---|
                          |
                          |-------- TXD DB-9 #1 (goesinta from the prev CPU)


2) build a central connection which does the daisy chaining in one place.
This
would allow us to separate computers by as much as 2X the cable length used
to
connect to the box. Any position not in use would have a TXD/RXD shorting
plog
installed. This contraption can be made from a rewired 1 of 4 DB-9 switch
box 
for a meager $15 new...connectors and metal enclosure.


DB-9 #1     RXD------|
            TXD---|  |
                  |  |
DB-9 #2     RXD---|  |
            TXD-|    |
                |    |
DB-9 #3     RXD-|    |
            TXD---|  |
                  |  |
DB-9 #4     RXD---|  |
            TXD-|    |
                |    |
DB-9 #5     RXD-|    |
            TXD------|

---
73 de KK1L...ron (kk1l at arrl.net) <><
QTH: St. Albans, Vermont
My page: http://www.qsl.net/kk1l






--
CQ-Contest on WWW:        http://www.contesting.com/_cq-contest/
Administrative requests:  cq-contest-REQUEST at contesting.com