Keyspan USB Server

I was wondering... I am looking at purchasing the Keyspan USB Server  to serve up my PHIDGETS RFID reader to my network.  I am looking at this USB server on the recommendation of Amal.  I was wondering if any other USB print servers have been tested.  Has anyone tested a single port USB print server.  Basically I will not be using all of the ports this unit has to offer.  Since the only device to be using it will be my reader on my main entry door.  Is there an issue with other units recognizing and serving the reader?  I am looking for a less expensive alternative, since I also want RFID access on my second door.

Well, the KeySpan isn't really a USB print server, it's a USB server that works by emulating a direct USB connection to a machine. It works with printers, certain scanners, and devices like the Phidgets USB RFID reader. It does not work currently with USB webcams though.

The ZoNet is a network print server only. It works with USB printers and special printer drivers. It will not support any other devices like Phidgets readers or scanners or anything like that.

Basically, the two devices are fundimentally different.

Yeah, I totally understand your position. I feel the same way with my KeySpan units. I don't know of any other units that work like KeySpan. There are some other devices out there that are USB servers, but they are actually KeySpan units that are re-packaged with a slightly different plastic housing and re-branded as something else... but they are still KeySpan units, and they still have 4 ports, and they are still in the $100 price range.

One option you might be able to look into is a 16 foot powered "repeater" USB extension cable and a 15 foot passive extension cable past that. It might be unreliable for most devices at that length, but you'll probably get good performance out of your Phidgets reader. You won't be able to power much of anything from the 5v output on the reader due to the powered extension cable taking up most of the available current, but you should at least have something.

If you aren't planning on using any software features like email alerts or timed entry that require a PC, you might try to look at something like Chapter 5. The safe application could easily be modified to work in a front door application, and it's stand-alone operation makes it easy to install. I've actually put something like this together for my own front door: http://flickr.com/photos/28129213@N00/79268495/

I'm writing a little article for popular science next week that will detail how to build this exact stand-alone door access project. I'll be sure to post a link to the online version of the article here as soon as it's published.

Edited by amal - 15 April 2006 at 12:08am

You can easily use ASPEmail (www.aspemail.com) to do email in VB. The free version does everything you would need it to do.

If you want to do some advanced cell phone interactions, like asking you via SMS if the person can be let in or not and you responding with a Y or N, check out the txtGroups API: http://api.txtgroups.com

The basics are, setup an account using your cell phone. Then send yourself messages via the API. If you send yourself a message from your phone, you can use the API to get your messages and process your response. The service is a premium service, so to get messages on your phone costs a quarter, but you won't find two-way SMS messaging like that anywhere else.

- update -
txtGroups service only works in the US and Canada at this point.

www.txtgroups.com
www.tgpoweredby.com
http://api.txtgroups.com


Edited by amal - 16 April 2006 at 12:10pm

Great find! I'm buying a wireless one right now!