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From: rlk@telesoft.com (Bob Kitzberger @sation)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware
Subject: Re: Can a Mac be used as a glorified timer/counter?
Summary: IF you really want to...
Message-ID: <1125@telesoft.com>
Date: 12 Dec 90 00:17:21 GMT
References: <4931@dogie.macc.wisc.edu>
Organization: TeleSoft, San Diego, CA.
Lines: 38

In some article yahnke@vms.macc.wisc.edu (Ross Yahnke, MACC) writes:
>I'm tracking down some info here for a researcher who wants to use his 
>Mac IIsi as a timer and counter. One external device he would like to 
>hook up is an infra-red beam "people counter".
>
>It may be a case of ludicrous overkill to get an A/D board to do this 
>but does anyone have a better way? How about going thru the ADB port 
>somehow. I assume there are no "off the shelf" solutions to this guy's 
>problem and he may end up having to piecemeal the thing together, but it 
>may be prohibitive in cost and/or time. Any suggestions? - Ross
>
>>>> yahnke@macc.wisc.edu <<<

I did this a while back when I used the Mac do prototype an embedded
fire alarm monitor station.  Get yourself a catalog from Opto-22 corporation,
which makes wonderful I/O boards that hang off of an RS-232C line.  Each
Opto-22 board has up to 16 relays, A/D, D/A, SSRs, etc. as well as
on-board timers/counters, etc.  Hook one up to the Mac's RS232 line
(using a RS422-RS232 converter if needed) and write a program to talk
to the  Opto-22 (you can even use a terminal emulator to get up to
speed on talking to the Opto-22 boards).  You issue commands from
the Mac to the Opto-22 board in simple ASCII (with checksums, etc. for
integrity).  Great stuff, not too expensive (maybe $100-$200 for a board
and a bunch of I/O devices).

If you need more info (e.g. Opto-22's address) drop me a line.

	.Bob.

-- 
Bob Kitzberger               Internet : rlk@telesoft.com
TeleSoft                     uucp     : ...!ucsd.ucsd.edu!telesoft!rlk
5959 Cornerstone Court West, San Diego, CA  92121-9891  (619) 457-2700 x163
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