reef angel and computer in different rooms

Jesader · Post by **Jesader** » Sun Nov 03, 2013 8:30 am

I will be getting my Reef Angel in the next couple of weeks. My tank and computer are in different rooms. Is this going to be a problem if I need to remove the head unit from the relay box for reprogramming? Is there a code I can use to tell the outlets what to do if they loose communication with the head unit. Thanks in advance for the help.

Jessica

Rodasphoto · Post by **Rodasphoto** » Sun Nov 03, 2013 9:49 am

I asked this same question when I first purchased the RA (Reef Angel). You can get a bluetooth module that is said to allow you to reprogram your RA. I was going to go this route because my RA is downstairs and my computer is upstairs. I just use my wife's old laptop. Also your RA needs to be connected to the relay box in order to reprogram it.

rimai · Post by **rimai** » Sun Nov 03, 2013 9:57 am

RA+ comes with a USB power cable that can be used to power up your head unit without having to move your relay box around.

Jesader · Post by **Jesader** » Sun Nov 03, 2013 11:00 am

rimai wrote:RA+ comes with a USB power cable that can be used to power up your head unit without having to move your relay box around.

Thanks! Thats the answer I was hoping for. I'm sure I'll more questions to come when I get it.

lnevo · Post by **lnevo** » Sun Nov 03, 2013 11:02 am

Your relays will be off if you are disconnecting the head unit. Keep that in mind. Your best off with the bluetooth module or having a spare laptop to program with. I do the later.

Sacohen · Post by **Sacohen** » Sun Nov 03, 2013 11:15 am

I use the bluetooth and it's great.
I never have to unplug or disconnect anything.
If you use the RA+ and remove the head unit to bring it to the computer then you are disconnecting and reconnecting everything anytime you want to change the programming.

If you bring a laptop over to the head unit then you have to disconnect and reconnect the wifi module every time you want to update the programming.

I would suggest the bluetooth if you can afford it.

The best thing I like about it (and it's a little thing) is I can log into my laptop top remotely from work. Make a change to my code and upload it while I'm at work or anywhere I have computer access.

Jesader · Post by **Jesader** » Sun Nov 03, 2013 1:39 pm

lnevo wrote:Your relays will be off if you are disconnecting the head unit. Keep that in mind. Your best off with the bluetooth module or having a spare laptop to program with. I do the later.

I do have an old laptop but its 8 years old and really slow. It does have windows XP and might work.

Jesader · Post by **Jesader** » Sun Nov 03, 2013 1:55 pm

Sacohen wrote:I use the bluetooth and it's great.
I never have to unplug or disconnect anything.
If you use the RA+ and remove the head unit to bring it to the computer then you are disconnecting and reconnecting everything anytime you want to change the programming.

If you bring a laptop over to the head unit then you have to disconnect and reconnect the wifi module every time you want to update the programming.

I would suggest the bluetooth if you can afford it.

The best thing I like about it (and it's a little thing) is I can log into my laptop top remotely from work. Make a change to my code and upload it while I'm at work or anywhere I have computer access.

Yes I'm aware that I would have to disconnect it and I will not be getting the wifi at this time. I might look into the bluetooth down the road. I only have a small 10 gallon tank so I would only be using it for really basic stuff. I dont think I'll be removing it often to reprogram. I have ffuture plans to upgrade to a 40 gallon and at that time I may look at other options. For future reference, what do I need to go the bluetooth route?
Thanks again for everyones input.

Sacohen · Post by **Sacohen** » Sun Nov 03, 2013 2:01 pm

No Problem.
You'll be surprised how much you want to tweak or change the programming, if you really get into it.

I didn't think I was going to be doing that much programming and I'm not now that I got things setup, but in the time when I was setting it up and tweaking things to get them just right it was very nice to have the bluetooth.

You may not need the bluetooth even when you go to a 40 gal, but I'm just giving my opinion.

lnevo · Post by **lnevo** » Sun Nov 03, 2013 3:03 pm

You should be fine with xp. Worst case you can throw ubuntu on it and run the Linux version. Thats what i did with my wife's old one.

Jesader · Post by **Jesader** » Sun Nov 03, 2013 4:41 pm

[quote="lnevo"]You should be fine with xp. Worst case you can throw ubuntu on it and run the Linux version. Thats what i did

Sorry if this is a stupid question, I'm not very computer savey, how do I install ubuntu? Is this dowloaded or bought? What is ubuntu?

lnevo · Post by **lnevo** » Sun Nov 03, 2013 6:26 pm

Its a linux operating system. Its free you download a cd and install it. It is a replacement for microsoft windows.

Jesader · Post by **Jesader** » Sun Nov 03, 2013 6:43 pm

lnevo wrote:Its a linux operating system. Its free you download a cd and install it. It is a replacement for microsoft windows.

Thanks for the info. Did a little research and sounds interesting I might have to give it a try.

davaraj · Post by **davaraj** » Sun Nov 03, 2013 7:30 pm

Jesader wrote:
lnevo wrote:Its a linux operating system. Its free you download a cd and install it. It is a replacement for microsoft windows.
Thanks for the info. Did a little research and sounds interesting I might have to give it a try.

Ubuntu is a very neat OS. Easy to install and run. No blue screen of death as in Windows. Updated every few months with the latest Linux kernel and best of all, it's free. Download and burn it on a DVD and then install. You can also run it off the DVD/CD as a live system. Once you are satisfied you then install on your PC or Laptop.

Jesader · Post by **Jesader** » Mon Nov 04, 2013 4:35 pm

lnevo wrote:You should be fine with xp. Worst case you can throw ubuntu on it and run the Linux version. Thats what i did with my wife's old one.

I going to be doing this on my laptop. My plan is to install ubuntu and remove XP. Do I need to do something different when it comes time to download the installer? The only options I see are for Windows and Mac.
Thanks for the help!

lnevo · Post by **lnevo** » Mon Nov 04, 2013 5:41 pm

binder has a package for linux you can download. It has the 1.0.9 libs but they updated just fine to 1.1.0 for me.

lnevo · Post by **lnevo** » Mon Nov 04, 2013 5:42 pm

I think the download for it is in the contrib section if not I'll wait for him or roberto to reply

johniii · Post by **johniii** » Tue Nov 05, 2013 4:52 am

http://forum.reefangel.com/viewtopic.php?t=1846
Follow the instructions in this thread

binder · Post by **binder** » Tue Nov 05, 2013 1:42 pm

lnevo wrote:I think the download for it is in the contrib section if not I'll wait for him or roberto to reply

johniii beat me to the reply.

ReefDevil · Post by **ReefDevil** » Sun Nov 17, 2013 7:27 pm

Or just get a super long usb extension cable if you don't make changes often, its a fairly cheap fix and only need to unplug the wifi attachment.

Reef4Free · Post by **Reef4Free** » Wed Nov 20, 2013 8:31 pm

Wait a second, are you saying that you can't reprogram RA over the local network ?

Because my computers are all uptstair...and the tanks downstair... i don't use laptops.. can you reconfig RA over lan ?

or web interface ? Does RA have its built-in server ... how does it work ?

Sacohen · Post by **Sacohen** » Wed Nov 20, 2013 9:11 pm

Correct the RA+ does not have a LAN connection.

The only way to program it is thru the USB cable or BlueTooth.

It has a web portal that you can make changes and adjustments in if you set it to store the settings in the internal memory, but to program it, add new tasks and new hardware it has to be done thru the USB programming cable or BluTooth connection.

In your situation it looks like your only option is the BlueTooth module.

Reef4Free · Post by **Reef4Free** » Wed Nov 20, 2013 9:46 pm

oh i see...

or to disconnect the main unit and bring it upstairs.... right ?

While the main unit is disconnected... is there anything running ? or do you have to shutdown everything to disconnect the unit ? if the reprogramming takes let say 2 hours.. does it mean your tank is just dead quiet for 2 hours ?

lnevo · Post by **lnevo** » Thu Nov 21, 2013 12:10 am

You can work out most the coding issues before plugging it in. The code can be compiled before you unplug everything...but yes, it will shut everything off.

rossbryant1956 · Post by **rossbryant1956** » Thu Nov 21, 2013 5:32 am

you do not want to be unplugging and moving. Some of those connections are very fragile, specifically the temperature connections. I went with the 35 foot USB cable and it works great for me. Your best bet is a small laptop, or the blue tooth connection.

If you turn out to be like the rest of us you'll love this so much you'll always be tinkering, adding new features, trying different things; you need to remain flexible.

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