This page is about ideas for hardware that can be use to convert RS232 data into something else more readily accessible over a long distance data link.

NetMedia makes a module called the SitePlayer that can be used to convert RS-232 serial communications over to a format that can be used on the internet. There are two versions of this device:

SitePlayer Web Server
SitePlayer Telnet

* SitePlayer Web Server can be used to communicate with a device over HTTP, and can be used with or in place of an LCD display.

* SitePlayer Telnet can be used as a long distance serial port using a port redirector program, in which a virtual serial port is created on a system and, using telnet, data is sent to/from the SitePlayer module while sends this data to/from a device connected via a serial cable. Or, you can just use telnet to connect to the device and communicate directly with the attached serial device.

A good program that creates a virtual serial port on a Windows based system is HW VSP3 - Virtual Serial Port. It works perfectly with the SitePlayer Telnet module and is free.

For *nix systems, there are a wide variety of programs to choose from:

* Ser2Net
* remserial
* serialoverip
* tcpser