Re: Internet Microphone?

[adykes@xxxxxxxxx (Al Dykes)]

In article <fen1361prl0454p7jebdd7hrfmo2rqubdk@xxxxxxx>,
Anthony R. Gold <tgold@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>On Sun, 04 Jul 2010 14:00:54 -0400, Tom Stiller <tom_stiller@xxxxxxxxx>
>wrote:
>
>> Connect a N.O. relay to the generator output _before_ the transfer
>> switch. If the phone rings, the generator is not running.  The line
>> should be busy durning the generator test period.  As for considering a
>> telephone call, it incurs no charges and requires nothing more than a
>> [cell] phone [with available service].
>
>Thanks.
>
>Even if I could do this within 47 CFR Part 68 standards, the result would be
>that the phone line (along with the  property intrusion/fire alarm system)
>would be disabled during all power outages.  And, as you might guess from the
>significant investment in the generator, those are frequent in that location.
>
>I really just want an IP connected microphone.  Any advance on an IP webcam?



Here's a cheap kit that uses an old PC detects contact contact closure
and send an email message when it happens. It is trivial to generate
the event by hooking a 120VAC relay to the genset.

  http://pcmicro.com/serialswitchsmtp/

Google will find software and wiring diagrams to do this for free,

I've used software called "Servers Alive" (free for this case) to
monitor all sorts of stuff but not contact closure. I recall thinking
about it and email to their support might come up with a how-to.

  http://www.woodstone.nu/salive/index.asp


SAlive will sample the state of the contacts at intervals and act like
a web server that draws a pretty chart of the duty cycle on the
genset. Combine this with DynDNS and you can look at the history of
your genset usage from anywhere with any browser.

Any old laptop with a serial port and an Ethernet port will be fine
for this.
--
Al Dykes
 News is something someone wants to suppress, everything else is advertising.
    - Lord Northcliffe, publisher of the Daily Mail