RS-232 Keypad?

P

plh

Guest
I have been looking for simple low cost Keypads w/RS-232 output. What are some
good manufacturers? Looking on the Web I keep ending up at Amazon or Ebay, but I
want to call up (someone who knows the product) before buying. I need to have at
least 3 keys but more, say digits 0-9, would not hurt. Needs to have 9 pin
serial output. (Or 24 but pref. 9. Or I could use an adapter it it came with a
USB connector.)
Use is for part of a Statistical Process Control system that is already set up
w/RS-232. Presently this is set up for digital measuring instruments using the
smart switch 232BBS4 from B&B Electronics (they don't have anything like I
describe above, I asked.). In any case not all measurements are suited for
micrometers or calipers, in some cases gage pins are used. The keypad would be a
convenient way to capture the results. Machine operators would press one key for
a good component, another for undersize, and another for oversize.
I would greatly appreciate any leads.

Thank You,
Paul Hossfield
Mahr/Federal Products Co.
1144 Eddy St.
Providence, RI 02940
Phone: 401-784-3270
Fax: 401-784-3461
paul.hossfield@mahr.com

I keep hitting "Esc", but I'm still here!
 
In article <bjprg101mob@drn.newsguy.com>, arobustu@newsguy.com says...
| I have been looking for simple low cost Keypads w/RS-232 output. What are some
| good manufacturers? Looking on the Web I keep ending up at Amazon or Ebay, but I
| want to call up (someone who knows the product) before buying. I need to have at
| least 3 keys but more, say digits 0-9, would not hurt. Needs to have 9 pin
| serial output. (Or 24 but pref. 9. Or I could use an adapter it it came with a
| USB connector.)

Easy, get hold of an old redundant PC with a keyboard and a serial
port. A DOS boot floppy disk, with the one single line command in the
Autoexec.BAT to redirect output from the keyboard straight out to the
serial port. It doesn't have to have a hard disk, nor screen once set
up. Just a floppy disk set up as a boot disk.

--
Regards,
Harry (M1BYT)...

Remove the 'NOSPAM' in my email address to reply.

Free Amateur Radio Courses:-
http://www.ukradioamateur.org
 
Harry Bloomfield <harry.m1bytNOSPAM@tiscali.co.uk> wrote:

In article <bjprg101mob@drn.newsguy.com>, arobustu@newsguy.com says...
| I have been looking for simple low cost Keypads w/RS-232 output. What are some
| good manufacturers? Looking on the Web I keep ending up at Amazon or Ebay, but I
| want to call up (someone who knows the product) before buying. I need to have at
| least 3 keys but more, say digits 0-9, would not hurt. Needs to have 9 pin
| serial output. (Or 24 but pref. 9. Or I could use an adapter it it came with a
| USB connector.)

Easy, get hold of an old redundant PC with a keyboard and a serial
port. A DOS boot floppy disk, with the one single line command in the
Autoexec.BAT to redirect output from the keyboard straight out to the
serial port. It doesn't have to have a hard disk, nor screen once set
up. Just a floppy disk set up as a boot disk.
Click to expand...
Your autoexec.bat needs at least two lines; you need to set the serial port
configuration.
mode com1: 9600, n, 8, 1

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"the Wiz" <look@message.body> wrote in message
news:7pn1mvkmv5tcrpa41na2c34bgkc1h56616@4ax.com...
Harry Bloomfield <harry.m1bytNOSPAM@tiscali.co.uk> wrote:

In article <bjprg101mob@drn.newsguy.com>, arobustu@newsguy.com says...
| I have been looking for simple low cost Keypads w/RS-232 output. What
are some
| good manufacturers? Looking on the Web I keep ending up at Amazon or
Ebay, but I
| want to call up (someone who knows the product) before buying. I need
to have at
| least 3 keys but more, say digits 0-9, would not hurt. Needs to have 9
pin
| serial output. (Or 24 but pref. 9. Or I could use an adapter it it
came with a
| USB connector.)

Easy, get hold of an old redundant PC with a keyboard and a serial
port. A DOS boot floppy disk, with the one single line command in the
Autoexec.BAT to redirect output from the keyboard straight out to the
serial port. It doesn't have to have a hard disk, nor screen once set
up. Just a floppy disk set up as a boot disk.

Your autoexec.bat needs at least two lines; you need to set the serial
port
configuration.
mode com1: 9600, n, 8, 1
Click to expand...
Hmm, if memory serves then it will need more than two lines, you will have
to set the time otherwise the command prompt won't appear and load the
correct keyboard file probably. That is going back a few years :)
 
I thank you all for your help, but I am not looking to hot-rod something. I
thought perhaps there was a supplier out there with such a device, or reasonably
close. Something the size of a computer keyboard would be clumsy in service.
Calculator size would be OK.
Thank You,
Paul H.

In article <9s58b.796$Fb5.367753@newsfep2-gui.server.ntli.net>, Mjolinor says...
"the Wiz" <look@message.body> wrote in message
news:7pn1mvkmv5tcrpa41na2c34bgkc1h56616@4ax.com...
Harry Bloomfield <harry.m1bytNOSPAM@tiscali.co.uk> wrote:

In article <bjprg101mob@drn.newsguy.com>, arobustu@newsguy.com says...
| I have been looking for simple low cost Keypads w/RS-232 output. What
are some
| good manufacturers? Looking on the Web I keep ending up at Amazon or
Ebay, but I
| want to call up (someone who knows the product) before buying. I need
to have at
| least 3 keys but more, say digits 0-9, would not hurt. Needs to have 9
pin
| serial output. (Or 24 but pref. 9. Or I could use an adapter it it
came with a
| USB connector.)

Easy, get hold of an old redundant PC with a keyboard and a serial
port. A DOS boot floppy disk, with the one single line command in the
Autoexec.BAT to redirect output from the keyboard straight out to the
serial port. It doesn't have to have a hard disk, nor screen once set
up. Just a floppy disk set up as a boot disk.

Your autoexec.bat needs at least two lines; you need to set the serial
port
configuration.
mode com1: 9600, n, 8, 1


Hmm, if memory serves then it will need more than two lines, you will have
to set the time otherwise the command prompt won't appear and load the
correct keyboard file probably. That is going back a few years :)
Click to expand...
I keep hitting "Esc", but I'm still here!
 
"plh" <arobustu@newsguy.com> wrote in message
news:bjsnqe01gdt@drn.newsguy.com...
I thank you all for your help, but I am not looking to hot-rod something.
I
thought perhaps there was a supplier out there with such a device, or
reasonably
close. Something the size of a computer keyboard would be clumsy in
service.
Calculator size would be OK.
Thank You,
Paul H.
Click to expand...
There is an RS232 keyboard available, several of them in fact. The ones I
have used have a PCB about 50mm X 30mm and use a PIC, they have 0-9 keypads
on and cost about Ł8 last time I bought one. I have no sources for them now.
 
Thanks. I did find something that is not altogether unreasonable.
-plh
In article <cTl8b.357$et5.507603@newsfep1-win.server.ntli.net>, Mjolinor says...
"plh" <arobustu@newsguy.com> wrote in message
news:bjsnqe01gdt@drn.newsguy.com...
I thank you all for your help, but I am not looking to hot-rod something.
I
thought perhaps there was a supplier out there with such a device, or
reasonably
close. Something the size of a computer keyboard would be clumsy in
service.
Calculator size would be OK.
Thank You,
Paul H.

There is an RS232 keyboard available, several of them in fact. The ones I
have used have a PCB about 50mm X 30mm and use a PIC, they have 0-9 keypads
on and cost about Ł8 last time I bought one. I have no sources for them now.
Click to expand...
I keep hitting "Esc", but I'm still here!
 
"plh" <arobustu@newsguy.com> schreef in bericht
news:bjprg101mob@drn.newsguy.com...
I have been looking for simple low cost Keypads w/RS-232 output. What are
some
good manufacturers? Looking on the Web I keep ending up at Amazon or Ebay,
but I
want to call up (someone who knows the product) before buying. I need to
have at
least 3 keys but more, say digits 0-9, would not hurt. Needs to have 9 pin
serial output. (Or 24 but pref. 9. Or I could use an adapter it it came
with a
USB connector.)
Use is for part of a Statistical Process Control system that is already
set up
w/RS-232. Presently this is set up for digital measuring instruments using
the
smart switch 232BBS4 from B&B Electronics (they don't have anything like I
describe above, I asked.). In any case not all measurements are suited for
micrometers or calipers, in some cases gage pins are used. The keypad
would be a
convenient way to capture the results. Machine operators would press one
key for
a good component, another for undersize, and another for oversize.
I would greatly appreciate any leads.

Thank You,
Paul Hossfield
Mahr/Federal Products Co.
1144 Eddy St.
Providence, RI 02940
Phone: 401-784-3270
Fax: 401-784-3461
paul.hossfield@mahr.com

I keep hitting "Esc", but I'm still here!
Click to expand...
Paul,

If you need only three switches, get an old 3-knobs serial mouse.

pieter


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
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"plh" <arobustu@newsguy.com> schreef in bericht
news:bjprg101mob@drn.newsguy.com...
I have been looking for simple low cost Keypads w/RS-232 output. What are
some
good manufacturers? Looking on the Web I keep ending up at Amazon or Ebay,
but I
want to call up (someone who knows the product) before buying. I need to
have at
least 3 keys but more, say digits 0-9, would not hurt. Needs to have 9 pin
serial output. (Or 24 but pref. 9. Or I could use an adapter it it came
with a
USB connector.)
Use is for part of a Statistical Process Control system that is already
set up
w/RS-232. Presently this is set up for digital measuring instruments using
the
smart switch 232BBS4 from B&B Electronics (they don't have anything like I
describe above, I asked.). In any case not all measurements are suited for
micrometers or calipers, in some cases gage pins are used. The keypad
would be a
convenient way to capture the results. Machine operators would press one
key for
a good component, another for undersize, and another for oversize.
I would greatly appreciate any leads.

Thank You,
Paul Hossfield
Mahr/Federal Products Co.
1144 Eddy St.
Providence, RI 02940
Phone: 401-784-3270
Fax: 401-784-3461
paul.hossfield@mahr.com

I keep hitting "Esc", but I'm still here!
Click to expand...
Paul,

If you need only three switches, get an old 3-knobs serial mouse.

pieter


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.515 / Virus Database: 313 - Release Date: 1-9-2003
 
On Fri, 12 Sep 2003 20:45:30 GMT, "petrus bitbyter"
<p.kralt@hccnet.nl> spake:

|
|"plh" <arobustu@newsguy.com> schreef in bericht
|news:bjprg101mob@drn.newsguy.com...
|
|Paul,
|
|If you need only three switches, get an old 3-knobs serial mouse.
|
|pieter
|
Thank You! (Why didn't I think of that?)
-plh
 
In article <Kfq8b.21601$P03.5623204@amsnews02.chello.com>, petrus bitbyter
says...
Paul,

If you need only three switches, get an old 3-knobs serial mouse.

pieter
Click to expand...
I tried it but the problem is that, even with the ball removed, it generates
output when tilted this way and that, so it would not work for my application.

"plh" <arobustu@newsguy.com> schreef in bericht
news:bjprg101mob@drn.newsguy.com...
I have been looking for simple low cost Keypads w/RS-232 output. What are
some
good manufacturers? Looking on the Web I keep ending up at Amazon or Ebay,
but I
want to call up (someone who knows the product) before buying. I need to
have at
least 3 keys but more, say digits 0-9, would not hurt. Needs to have 9 pin
serial output. (Or 24 but pref. 9. Or I could use an adapter it it came
with a
USB connector.)
Use is for part of a Statistical Process Control system that is already
set up
w/RS-232. Presently this is set up for digital measuring instruments using
the
smart switch 232BBS4 from B&B Electronics (they don't have anything like I
describe above, I asked.). In any case not all measurements are suited for
micrometers or calipers, in some cases gage pins are used. The keypad
would be a
convenient way to capture the results. Machine operators would press one
key for
a good component, another for undersize, and another for oversize.
I would greatly appreciate any leads.

Thank You,
Paul Hossfield
Mahr/Federal Products Co.
1144 Eddy St.
Providence, RI 02940
Phone: 401-784-3270
Fax: 401-784-3461
paul.hossfield@mahr.com

I keep hitting "Esc", but I'm still here!
Click to expand...
I keep hitting "Esc", but I'm still here!
 
plh wrote:
In article <Kfq8b.21601$P03.5623204@amsnews02.chello.com>, petrus bitbyter
says...

Paul,

If you need only three switches, get an old 3-knobs serial mouse.

pieter

I tried it but the problem is that, even with the ball removed, it generates
output when tilted this way and that, so it would not work for my application.
Click to expand...

You need to remove the opto interrupters (IR LED and detector pairs)
to prevent them from sending spurious data.
--


Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida
 
In article <bk76no09u3@drn.newsguy.com>, arobustu@newsguy.com says...
| >
| >Paul,
| >
| >If you need only three switches, get an old 3-knobs serial mouse.
| >
| >pieter
|
| I tried it but the problem is that, even with the ball removed, it generates
| output when tilted this way and that, so it would not work for my application.
|
|

In that case, jam the internal rollers with a bit of 'Blue Tack' or
similar. You could perhaps alternatively remove the rollers completely,
they just clip into to place.
--
Regards,
Harry (M1BYT)...

Remove the 'NOSPAM' in my email address to reply.

Free Amateur Radio Courses:-
http://www.ukradioamateur.org
 
Paul,

Guess you have to fix the (optical) movement sensors using beewax,
nailpolish or some other glue. You can also try to make a shortcut or remove
them totaly. Should be possible to make them quiet.

pieter


"plh" <arobustu@newsguy.com> schreef in bericht
news:bk76no09u3@drn.newsguy.com...
In article <Kfq8b.21601$P03.5623204@amsnews02.chello.com>, petrus bitbyter
says...

Paul,

If you need only three switches, get an old 3-knobs serial mouse.

pieter

I tried it but the problem is that, even with the ball removed, it
generates
output when tilted this way and that, so it would not work for my
application.




"plh" <arobustu@newsguy.com> schreef in bericht
news:bjprg101mob@drn.newsguy.com...
I have been looking for simple low cost Keypads w/RS-232 output. What
are
some
good manufacturers? Looking on the Web I keep ending up at Amazon or
Ebay,
but I
want to call up (someone who knows the product) before buying. I need
to
have at
least 3 keys but more, say digits 0-9, would not hurt. Needs to have 9
pin
serial output. (Or 24 but pref. 9. Or I could use an adapter it it came
with a
USB connector.)
Use is for part of a Statistical Process Control system that is already
set up
w/RS-232. Presently this is set up for digital measuring instruments
using
the
smart switch 232BBS4 from B&B Electronics (they don't have anything
like I
describe above, I asked.). In any case not all measurements are suited
for
micrometers or calipers, in some cases gage pins are used. The keypad
would be a
convenient way to capture the results. Machine operators would press
one
key for
a good component, another for undersize, and another for oversize.
I would greatly appreciate any leads.

Thank You,
Paul Hossfield
Mahr/Federal Products Co.
1144 Eddy St.
Providence, RI 02940
Phone: 401-784-3270
Fax: 401-784-3461
paul.hossfield@mahr.com

I keep hitting "Esc", but I'm still here!


I keep hitting "Esc", but I'm still here!
Click to expand...

---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.515 / Virus Database: 313 - Release Date: 1-9-2003
 
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