Does this Ethernet device exist? What is it called?
April 1, 2011 10:47 AM Subscribe
Does this Ethernet device exist? What is it called?
So I have this embedded single-board computer (SBC) inside a large steel box, and I want to bring-out a wired 10/100 Ethernet connection from an RJ45 jack on the SBC about 12 inches to a panel-mount-type RJ45 jack on the rear side of the box. Moving the SBC is not an option.
It would be easy enough to make a cable to do this, except for one thing: I really need to see the "link up" and "activity" LEDs at the back of the box as I won't be able to see the SBC.
I'd prefer not to modify the SBC to bring the LED signals to the rear RJ45. Is there a little off-the-shelf powered gadget that incorporates an RJ45 jack, a PHY/framer chip, and associated electronics to get me what I want?
So I have this embedded single-board computer (SBC) inside a large steel box, and I want to bring-out a wired 10/100 Ethernet connection from an RJ45 jack on the SBC about 12 inches to a panel-mount-type RJ45 jack on the rear side of the box. Moving the SBC is not an option.
It would be easy enough to make a cable to do this, except for one thing: I really need to see the "link up" and "activity" LEDs at the back of the box as I won't be able to see the SBC.
I'd prefer not to modify the SBC to bring the LED signals to the rear RJ45. Is there a little off-the-shelf powered gadget that incorporates an RJ45 jack, a PHY/framer chip, and associated electronics to get me what I want?
Best answer: How about a few lengths of fiber optic cable that you route from the leds to the outside of the box?
posted by bottlebrushtree at 11:03 AM on April 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by bottlebrushtree at 11:03 AM on April 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
How is this different than a tiny (4 port?) 100T hub and a regular RJ45 cable? Result is a female port (three unused ones) and link/activity LEDs.
posted by rokusan at 11:05 AM on April 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by rokusan at 11:05 AM on April 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
rokusan made my suggestion, a small hub/switch.
I've seen various cat 5/5e cable couplers and extenders, but I don't think they have activity lights on them.. (Short of something like a USB to ethernet adapter..)
posted by k5.user at 11:07 AM on April 1, 2011
I've seen various cat 5/5e cable couplers and extenders, but I don't think they have activity lights on them.. (Short of something like a USB to ethernet adapter..)
posted by k5.user at 11:07 AM on April 1, 2011
Response by poster: I really don't need a switch or even a hub, although I'm still considering this. The problem with switches and hubs is I'd have to cut a big rectangular hole in the back of my box for the jacks to stick out, then I'd have to bring an RJ45 cable out from inside the box to plug into one of the jacks.
Not the best aesthetically, and this is going to be a commercial product. Best result would be a bulkhead / panel-mount RJ45 jack with LEDs.
posted by ZenMasterThis at 11:25 AM on April 1, 2011
Not the best aesthetically, and this is going to be a commercial product. Best result would be a bulkhead / panel-mount RJ45 jack with LEDs.
posted by ZenMasterThis at 11:25 AM on April 1, 2011
May I ask, why do you really need to see the lights? There's not a lot of useful information there.
posted by mhoye at 11:29 AM on April 1, 2011
posted by mhoye at 11:29 AM on April 1, 2011
Response by poster: This box will go out to an oil drilling rig and will be plugged into who-knows-what, often in time-critical, stressful scenarios by relatively unsophisticated people. The lights provide a basic continuity / connectivity / communication diagnostic.
posted by ZenMasterThis at 11:41 AM on April 1, 2011
posted by ZenMasterThis at 11:41 AM on April 1, 2011
I think I get what you're saying -- inside the box, you'll have a rj45 cable plugged into the onboard ethernet, and the other end of the cable will be wired into a female rj45 jack that's mounted to the exterior of the box.
My hub suggestion was meant in the "put a hub on top of (outside) the box, and run a cable from it to the exterior jack", but you took as "mount a hub inside the box" (requiring a bigger hole in the box)
Does your solution have to be mounted/contained inside the box ?
If so, you might find bottlebrushtree's answer best - look at a computer case and see how they redirect a motherboard power LED to the case display. (Though that still means drilling more holes in your box). (I haven't seen a jack or panel mount that was lit, FWIW)
posted by k5.user at 11:58 AM on April 1, 2011
My hub suggestion was meant in the "put a hub on top of (outside) the box, and run a cable from it to the exterior jack", but you took as "mount a hub inside the box" (requiring a bigger hole in the box)
Does your solution have to be mounted/contained inside the box ?
If so, you might find bottlebrushtree's answer best - look at a computer case and see how they redirect a motherboard power LED to the case display. (Though that still means drilling more holes in your box). (I haven't seen a jack or panel mount that was lit, FWIW)
posted by k5.user at 11:58 AM on April 1, 2011
Break out the soldering iron, make a little PCB and use some of these?
posted by schmod at 12:00 PM on April 1, 2011
posted by schmod at 12:00 PM on April 1, 2011
The best thing i could find was this
http://www.provantage.com/cyberdata-010988~7CDAT00X.htm
posted by majortom1981 at 12:24 PM on April 1, 2011
http://www.provantage.com/cyberdata-010988~7CDAT00X.htm
posted by majortom1981 at 12:24 PM on April 1, 2011
Best answer: Actually, these might be better
I can't find the exact one being sold anywhere, but it looks like Amphenol will sell you a PCB with a panel-mount RJ45 on one side (complete with LEDs), and a plan ol' RJ45 on the other, along with two LED contacts. You'll need to do a little soldering to connect the LEDs from the SBC, although this really should be a very minimal effort.
Alternatively, get a USB ethernet adapter, and stick that right on the panel, or try something like this if you've got a PCIe slot and ethernet board available.
posted by schmod at 12:27 PM on April 1, 2011
I can't find the exact one being sold anywhere, but it looks like Amphenol will sell you a PCB with a panel-mount RJ45 on one side (complete with LEDs), and a plan ol' RJ45 on the other, along with two LED contacts. You'll need to do a little soldering to connect the LEDs from the SBC, although this really should be a very minimal effort.
Alternatively, get a USB ethernet adapter, and stick that right on the panel, or try something like this if you've got a PCIe slot and ethernet board available.
posted by schmod at 12:27 PM on April 1, 2011
Response by poster: Thanks, schmod; this gets me into the neighborhood!
I'm also looking at Ethernet breakout boards with PHY and MAC.
posted by ZenMasterThis at 12:35 PM on April 1, 2011
I'm also looking at Ethernet breakout boards with PHY and MAC.
posted by ZenMasterThis at 12:35 PM on April 1, 2011
Best answer: You can also handle the ethernet port yourself as you planned and use one or two light pipes to redirect the LEDs to the surface of the box. That's how a lot of PCs get the power light and other indicators from the motherboard to the front of the case.
posted by zachlipton at 12:51 PM on April 1, 2011
posted by zachlipton at 12:51 PM on April 1, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by ZenMasterThis at 11:00 AM on April 1, 2011