I plan to attach a slotted opto coupler to the motor of my treadmill to generate pulses. The motor has a slotted wheel designed for this purpose. I will then divide and count the pulses using perhaps 74LS90's. Then interface that using rs232 to a desktop pc and somehow access the data, save it to a file and periodically, ftp it to a server. I know the count needs to encoded somehow along the way. And I am hoping this doesn't tie up a significant portion of the computer's processing power.
A big assumption is that this is the proper way to gain access and process the data. I've read on this forum that MScomm would be a candidate to acquire the data. I'm wondering whether I am on the right track or completely derailed. I've done a little work with PIC's, but don't know whether their use is really necessary for this. And I haven't had to interface them to a computer.
Also, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that something is already available to purchase from one of the hobby online stores that would do a major portion of what I'm trying to do. I would like to keep this project as simple as possible. We have a new baby with us now and my wife will shoot me if I spend an inordinate amount of time on this.
I'm just looking to find out whether anyone knows of a straight-forward way to accomplish this without spending a major portion of the child's college funds.
Thank You for your time,
Frank
A big assumption is that this is the proper way to gain access and process the data. I've read on this forum that MScomm would be a candidate to acquire the data. I'm wondering whether I am on the right track or completely derailed. I've done a little work with PIC's, but don't know whether their use is really necessary for this. And I haven't had to interface them to a computer.
Also, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that something is already available to purchase from one of the hobby online stores that would do a major portion of what I'm trying to do. I would like to keep this project as simple as possible. We have a new baby with us now and my wife will shoot me if I spend an inordinate amount of time on this.
I'm just looking to find out whether anyone knows of a straight-forward way to accomplish this without spending a major portion of the child's college funds.
Thank You for your time,
Frank