300ft distance remote display voltmeter? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: K5_489
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 06, 2024, 06:34:55 pm
content: Does such a beast exist already on the market? Using it for work, so I'd rather have polished gear than something I hacked together at home if possible.I do a lot of security beam work, where alignments are typically performed by looking for highest voltage on test points. Problem is the test points are often only on the RX end, and the TX end is often 200+ feet away.The usual procedure is to use two techs, with one screaming to the other...I've been doing it by propping up a cell phone in front of the voltmeter, then Skype'ing myself on another phone that I carry to the other end. Works well enough, but sometimes I have to carry a table/ladder/something else to prop these things up on, and I'm hoping to simplify my life.I know about the Fluke 233, thinking along that idea, but 33 foot is not nearly enough distance.

author: TimFox
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 06, 2024, 06:46:42 pm
content: What are your typical min and max values, and required resolution?In similar applications (before retirement), I often used an analog voltmeter with a “recorder” analog output at the test point, driving a long cable to a remote voltmeter (analog or digital).

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 06, 2024, 06:50:39 pm
content: an arduino as a voltmeter with xbees ?? you can create a mesh network, and use them as repeaters etc ...some of them are powerful enough ?

author: K5_489
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2024, 03:02:37 am
content: Quote from: TimFox on August 06, 2024, 06:46:42 pmFor this particular application, I'm typically running 1.50-4.00 volts DC. Hundredths of a volt resolution is plenty for this. Running out tenths gets 90% of the way, and going down in to the hundredths is that last bit of fine tuning I like to be able to call the job "done right".In general, running to 20V DC would be good for some other projects, ideally up to 120V AC/DC, but it's not an absolute requirement.Before realizing I could Skype myself, I had been using a long spool of CAT5 cable that I rigged up to be able to plug in to my Fluke 77, which worked well enough, but not the most convenient to work with. It recently occurred to me that I could simply just pick up a set of 10 foot long multimeter leads, and still set all this up on the ground, avoiding the ladder/table use, but it's still a bit of a pain to set it all up.I've also been considering picking up one of the Pokit meter kits, then simply sharing the screen of the phone rather than using the camera to view the Fluke, but that is still dependent on having internet service, which I don't always have at some of my remote sites.I realize there's a multitude of ways to "make it work", but I just hoping to be able to find something that's set up to do this already out of the box, and better than a home brew hack job, like I'm doing now.

author: BeBuLamar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2024, 12:57:51 pm
content: Check out the wireless remote I/O from Banner Engineering. You can transmit an analog voltage at that distance.https://www.bannerengineering.com/us/en/products/remote-io/wireless-io.html

author: Messtechniker
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2024, 01:39:25 pm
content: Why not search for "WLAN DMM"?Found one not too expensive at around 125 Euros.+ a WLAN Repeater if needed.

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2024, 01:40:31 pm
content: 100 yards line of site or through what?Can you carry a PC/tablet?

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2024, 01:48:02 pm
content: Couple of thoughts on off-the-shelf solutions :Mooshimeter can connect to a phone via Bluetooth - maybe there is a way to then send this over cellular?https://moosh.im/mooshimeter/Or a DMM that has an RS232 output, plus a radio modem ( 868/915MHz)

author: rifkum
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2024, 11:31:25 pm
content: This one from Fluke has a detachable display, Dave reviewed it 14 years ago...https://youtu.be/WUFrTDo03uA?si=HGbbpboLQJe0tKEC

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 08, 2024, 01:23:53 am
content: Time stamped where Dave states 10 meters or 32 feet. Think it would meet OP's 300 foot requirement?https://youtu.be/WUFrTDo03uA?t=479Here are my metes with bluetooth. None of them will work very far.https://youtu.be/e_YzwO62feQ?t=525I'm not sure about the CEM/Extech meters that use the 900MHz ISM. They may no longer be offered.

author: Postal2
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 08, 2024, 02:11:18 am
content: Quote from: K5_489 on August 06, 2024, 06:34:55 pmYou just need to convert the voltage into a tone of sound. You will hear a loud enough sound anyway, to be quieter - use walkie-talkies.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 08, 2024, 11:00:27 pm
content: Isn't there a keysight meter that converts the reading into audible beeps?

author: Zoli
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 09, 2024, 06:09:21 am
content: Bluetooth would be another option; I've worked with the Parani modules, and I can confirm that they've working for 100m(ESD-100, in open air).

author: Postal2
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 09, 2024, 04:01:32 pm
content: Quote from: Zoli on August 09, 2024, 06:09:21 amHas anyone else gotten a 100 meter bluetooth connection? I haven't. And I've tried very hard.Quote

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 09, 2024, 09:19:03 pm
content: Quote from: Postal2 on August 09, 2024, 04:01:32 pmYou'd certainly need class 1 modules at each end, directional antennas wouldn't hurt

author: Postal2
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 09, 2024, 10:27:00 pm
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on August 09, 2024, 09:19:03 pmIn modern urban conditions (in 2024, not 2008), you won't be able to communicate via Bluetooth further than 10 meters (using reasonably sized antennas). But deep in the forest or in a straight mountain tunnel, your idea will definitely work if you can attach a bluetooth module to a multimeter.

author: Zoli
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 09, 2024, 11:54:31 pm
content: Quote from: Postal2 on August 09, 2024, 10:27:00 pmLast time I tested was in 2020; handheld: Juniper FieldPC2(in hand); serial module 1.5m above ground; antenna(separate, but included with the module) on a 10X10X0.15cm Al plate. Setup was along a street in an industrial area. The ESD-100 module was obsoleted with version 1.1.4 in 2021, IIRC.

author: Postal2
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2024, 12:52:15 am
content: Quote from: Zoli on August 09, 2024, 11:54:31 pmThank you, your experience is interesting. My task for bluetooth was more trivial, I just wanted to listen to the speaker in the places where I work. At this moment I see 21 wi-fi access points at 2.4 GHz and the bluetooth modules (5 pcs) and antennas (3 pcs) I tested gave a difference of 1 meter with an average distance of 7 meters. I also noticed that the size and complexity of the antenna does not matter at all, since it increases the interference on reception to the same extent.In the end, I settled on the QCC3056 transmitter (stated range is 25 meters).

author: Zoli
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2024, 07:04:01 am
content: Quote from: Postal2 on August 10, 2024, 12:52:15 amIt is quite a bandwidth difference between the serial transmission@9600bauds in my setup and audio transmission; IMO, that's the cause of failure. My setup worked with other handhelds too( HP h5550, hx2495, Pidion BIP-6000), providing the same range; no need for export controlled items(yep, FieldPC2cannot be legally exported to Iran)

author: Postal2
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2024, 02:52:23 pm
content: Quote from: Zoli on August 10, 2024, 07:04:01 amThe idea is interesting. But I use a video transmitter 5Ghz to get the necessary distances where bluetooth does not work.https://aliexpress.com/item/1005006199175943.htmlIn general I recommend LoRa, but in this particular case (which can be resolved with one transistor by schoolboy) it is not required.

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2024, 05:18:51 pm
content: I use a WiFi enabled camera and then view the camera on my phone or laptop. Getting that kind of range out of WiFi camera will require an access point with real antenna, like a Ubiquity Nanostation M2 or M5, or maybe one of their Unifi flat panels.