Domain: commanderx.com
Stories and comments across the archive that link to commanderx.com.
Comments · 7
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excellent use for xport
Okay, let's take a look at what's in this thing. It's got some kind of web server capability, big whoop, and a cooling unit, and it can control the heating system of the microwave. I suspect you would need either two or three pins to control these devices. The xport has three control pins.
What else do you need to support this? Just a little bit of electronic crap to tie the xport into some higher-power signals, perhaps relays or mosfets, hopefully optically isolated, to protect the $50 xport device, which is probably the most expensive part of the equation. Then you just stick some peltier junctions with heat sinks and ball bearing fans (brushless would be nice) inside the box, and a power supply to drive the xport and the peltier junctions.
Total parts cost: $150 to $250, depending on how nice you want the heat sinks to be. You could also use some big copper coolers without fans, which would cost more but last longer. This would be my preferred solution. I think even I could whip this up in about a week.
If anyone would like to sponsor me in such a project, please paypal me $250. I have a "half-pint" microwave I can use for prototyping
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Re:Not a webserver
I didn't see where this is a full webserver.
Right here: "Embedded HTTP-compliant Web server" -
Non cynical post
Typical - someone fits an entire web server into the space of an RJ45 socket, including socket space, and the top ten posts go on about what a waste of time it is! Personally, I think its great, and although I wouldn't expect toasters with this thing any time soon, it would be ideal for wiring factory equipment and such like with remote diagnostics (I get the impression this is the market they are aiming for). I think it would be massively improved if they could fit a wifi interface into the space wasted by the RJ45 socket, though. Then it might have realistic household applications.
Their development methodology is out to lunch though!
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Re:Not a webserver
I didn't see where this is a full webserver. The documentation seemed to indicate that it's a TCP/IP handler.
The brief indicates that this thingamajig has an internal web server which "serves Web pages and Java applets; it doesn't mention what the server software is (possibly proprietary, so you've got to worry about security updates unless it's open-source), but it claims to have 128-bit encryption support (hm, export restrictions). Cum grano salis: only 384 kilobytes of space and a 186 processor. So as a standalone server this thing obviously won't cut it, and as to claims of stealth, as far as I can tell it requires external power input, so no matter how tiny you'd probably notice the 120V AC -> 3.3V DC power adapter). Shame, because otherwise if it had Internet access it could make a decent sized Ethernet "repeater" with all sorts of exciting implications.
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Government-approved, too
Spec sheet on manufacturer's web site here says:
"Encryption for secure communications - 128-bit AES US Government approved Rijndael"
Does Government-approved mean what I think it means ? -
What part of...
..."Embedded HTTP-compliant Web server" don't You understand? Read the Product info.
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They'd make great controllers..
..for cheap home electronic devices you might want to web-enable (i.e. tell the 100-DVD jukebox to have the following playlist ready when you get home, have the fridge print you out dinner recipies, blah blah blah), but with 512kb of flash for the web pages and a (relatively) slow interface, they certainly wouldn't be useful for serving (and they aren't really being sold as such, despite what the tagline says - the PDF mentions serving, but the main push seems to be monitoring & control..good idea for something like this).