Questions about AC III and Jr.....debating

[fishdoc11]

Hello,

I am debating between the AC III and the Jr(seems like a common dilemma).

Will the serial port on the Jr allow one to control equipment from a distant PC?

Also if using the AC III to control 2 aquariums(is this even practical?) is there a long cord(ie 50 feet or so) available to set up a DC 8 to control another tank? I am assuming only one temp probe could be used with one controller, is this correct?

TIA, Chris

 

[clp]

Yes, you can configure, monitor, and control equipment through the Jr's serial port with AquaNotes. The max length on a serial cable is about 100 feet.
With the probe expansion box coming out next month for the AC3 & AC3PRO, it is possible to add additional pH, temp, and ORP probes. The max length of cabling for the expansion box and the DC8 is 10 feet. If you are going to have the tanks widely spaced then you'll need 2 controllers.

Curt

 

[fishdoc11]

Thanks Curt
Do you recommend purchasing the Aquanotes software instead of the aquanotes lite or are they basically the same as far as configuring, monitoring and controlling equipment through the serial port?
thanks, Chris

 

[clp]

Here is a comparison table between the two versions of AquaNotes: http://www.neptunesys.com/aquaNotes.htm#COMPARISON .

Curt

 

[fishdoc11]

Thanks again Curt.
I have seen that and I don't really understand what advantages having the report generation, web server and event logging have over not having them.
Please excuse the basic questions as computers are far from my forte.
thanks, Chris

 

[jameschho]

If you just want to control the tank from somewhere else on the local lan you can think about using aquanotes lite and a VNC server to remote control a pc tucked away within 100ft of the tank. This would even work via the internet in a pinch (slow) with some minor configuration.

 

[fishdoc11]

Thanks for the response James. What does VNC stand for? Is this a standard server that would allready be present in a normal PC?
thanks, Chris

 

[clp]

Event logging records when a pump, light, heater, chiller, etc. are turned on and off by the AquaController.

A webserver allows the AquaController data, graphs, configuration, etc. to be performed through a standard web browser. If the PC running AquaNotes is connected to the internet, then this information can be accessed from any internet connected PC, cell phone, PDA, etc.

Reports allow the database information to be printed, and exported to other formats (i.e. excel, csv).

Curt

 

[jameschho]

VNC server is a software program you run on your PC that is similar to Microsoft's remote desktop. It allows you to see the display of the remote machine and control it's keyboard and mouse remotely from another computer on the network as if you were sitting in front of the controlled computer. In my house I have a windows computer that I only use remotely, there is no keyboard monitor or mouse connected to it. It runs the vnc server, then I use the vnc client from any computer on the network to control it. It's not lighting fast or anything but for basic tasks it's totally useable. I set the screen resolution to 800x600 and use 256 colors to help speed it up.

Try tightvnc or realvnc servers. Tightvnc is free and realvnc has a free version.

http://www.realvnc.com/download.html
http://www.tightvnc.com/download.html

Make sure you read the documentation!

VNC clients are all over the place I believe both the above packages include a client (viewer). On OS X try Chicken of the VNC.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/cotvnc/

With vnc you can use AC Jr., aquanotes lite and a old pc and still be able to control it via the local network. In a pinch, if you have it preconfigured and secured, you could access the vnc from outside your home via the internet but don't expect it to be as fast as if you were on the local net. Of course if you want logging, reports or a web based control of the AC Jr. you would need to buy aquanotes.

 

[fishdoc11]

Thanks for the info guys