OverTCPWireless (2017-05-25 22:45:06)

VemsTune Connection via TCP

See

OverTCPWifiModule

VemsTune can connect to VEMS v3 ECU (or to [VEMS Round gauge]) via TCP.

LAN Requirements - local network

If the ECU is distant instead of the local network (for experienced network-users), see WAN requirements way below.


LAN, Local Network Setup Example with TPLINK smart router (for openwrt only: using a PC for serial-TCP bridge is simpler to setup)

tplink-v3.jpg

  1. Need a wireless router with usb host and openwrt.
    1. Hardware: [TP-Link TL-WR1043ND] https://www.epointsystem.org/trac/vending_machine/attachment/wiki/WR1043ND/wr1043nd.jpg?format=raw
  2. Upgrade it to openwrt
    1. Openwrt installation: https://www.epointsystem.org/trac/vending_machine/wiki/HotSpotInstallation#InstructionsforTP-LinkTL-WR1043ND
  3. open a browser and try open the admin page.
  4. install packages: go System/software menu (of course the router needs internet connection to acomplish this step)
    1. kmod-usb-serial-pl2303 (if you have another vendor like FTDI try to find appropriate driver for it)
    2. kmod-usb2
    3. ser2net (see See Ser2netOptions)
  5. ssh to to the router and try to plug the usb-rs232 cable
  6. after dmesg should see something like this: "
    1. usb 1-1: new full speed USB device using ar71xx-ehci and address 3
    2. usb 1-1: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
    3. pl2303 1-1:1.0: pl2303 converter detected
    4. usb 1-1: pl2303 converter now attached to ttyUSB0"
  7. To make ser2net listen on TCP port 9000, append 1 line to the end of the /etc/ser2net.conf file:
    1. 9000:raw:0:/dev/ttyUSB0:19200
    2. alternatively (using a bit more options):
    3. 9000:raw:600:/dev/ttyUSB0:19200 8DATABITS NONE
  8. start ser2net: ser2net

VemsTune setup

  1. Preferences/ECU Communication
    1. select tcp: and write the correct IP:PORT in my case 192.168.1.3:9000
press detect

Enjoy your wireless V3.


I have tested this method with an Asus WL-500pP v2 router OpenWrt backfire 10.3 version, and with Pl-2303 usb serial converter succesfully.

Installed packages:

  1. kmod-usb-ohci
  2. kmod-usb-serial-pl2303
  3. ser2net

The vemstune works fine with tcp/ip connection but the communication is slower than native serial or usb-serial converter (19200baud). I have made some test:

With wired connection the main overview group refresh about 17 Hz, and the calc model refresh more than 22 Hz.

With wifi-connection tha main page below 10 Hz but calc model page sometimes go up to 22 Hz sometimes go to 3 Hz.


Router with serial port

Ubiquiti produces RouterStation Pro [1] that has a built in dB9 connector.

It comes with OpenWrt installed and we would not need an USB-Serial cable with this setup.

Although I have did not tested it yet, it should work well.


WAN Requirements - (ECU is at a remote internet location, possibly behind a firewall)

This is only for experienced network-users for now.


Setting up the ECU side PC or notebook (instead of smart-router)

To connect the VEMS ECU to the network A PC (notebook) is also suitable instead of the smart router. Actually, with a linux PC it is easier than with a smart router.

Above ("ser2net") solutions allow only 1 TCP connection (1 VemsDisplay or 1 VemsTune or other).

See