Networked displays offer wider flexibility

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Feb 17, 2004

TR Control Solutions can now offer multiple network solutions for new or existing users of electronic LED displays.

TR Control Solutions can now offer multiple network solutions for new or existing users of electronic LED displays.

Using the RS232 interface (found on most displays) it is now very simple to provide network access to the display via an existing local area network (wired or wireless) or via a Bluetooth network.

Portbox, supplied by TR Control Solutions, provides wired Ethernet to serial conversion, and in conjunction with a virtual serial port application (available free of charge), enables users to simply redirect an existing LED display application, to the new virtual serial port, via a LAN, and hence to the display.

So users can now direct messages to their displays (as each Portbox has its own MAC and IP address) from any PC on a network or even over the Internet.

The EZL-300W, supplied by TR Control Solutions, works in much the same way as the Portbox except that it does it without wires.

The EZL-300W is fitted with a wireless card that enables it to communicate wirelessly with a wireless access point (standard 802.11b) and hence a local area network.

Again it's simply a case of redirecting the existing application to a new virtual serial port, over Ethernet, to the target display (or displays).

As long as the existing LED display application can access serial ports beyond those installed on the computer no new software is required.

The Brainboxes BL-521 Bluetooth RS232 convertor, supplied by TR Control Solutions, is a very neat way of accessing an LED display from a Bluetooth enabled PC, laptop or other Bluetooth-enabled device.

Simply connect the BL-521 to the LED display's RS232 connector, provide power (the BL-521 is supplied with a plug-in type power pack), search for the BL-521 from the Bluetooth enabled PC, pair the devices, open the serial port and redirect the existing LED display application to the new Bluetooth serial port.

Using a Class 1 "dongle" the range of Bluetooth wireless communications is up to 100m.