Current Cost Data Cable RJ45 – USB
Posted by Notcot on May 24, 2010 in Photography |
Product Description
RJ45 to USB (A) ‘active’ cables allow the download of data from the Currebt Cost Display to a PC.
Users with a Vx.06 ( or greater ) will be able to download both historical and dynamic data, users of the Vx.05 software will be able to access dynamic information only.
The cables can be used on either the Classic or the ENVI CC128 displays.
The cable includes the profilic ( USB-serial ) chipset – the driver can be found on our website www.currentcost.com
The output from the display is an xml string, users should either feel technically comfortable in working with this or plan using one of the available online applications.
- RJ45 to USB Data Cable allows you to download data from your Current Cost Display to a PC
- Open a world, where you can collect data about energy usage
- Makes your Current Cost Display more effective
- Historical data
I ordered one of these with my ENVI 128, confused that it might have turned up late after I received my main unit I found it enclosed in the box with the ENVI.
It worked out-the-box on Ubuntu Karmic, detected as a USB serial controller and attached to ttyUSB0 (iirc), running ‘cat /dev/ttyUSB0′ immediately read off the XML stream in all it’s glory.
No problems with the build quality unlike the ENVI itself, a more general-purpose USB serial controller with a DE-9 connector would have been nice but you can’t have everything.
Rating: 5 / 5
Just to put the review into perspective I use the cable in conjunction with the Current Cost Envi and the recommended Techtoniq Energy Station 2.0 software.
Firstly, I found the cable well made and the packaging adequate for posting. However, what I didn’t expect was to discover that the driver wasn’t recognised by Windows 7. However, I found Current Cost support to be first class and a new driver was sent via e-mail within hours.
As I have already stated I use the Techtoniq Energy Station 2.0 software and found that the cable sends the data without problems from the Envi and displays it in a wide range of formats to truly discover my electricity consumption.
I would have recommended a `Five Star’ rating but the initial problems with drivers slightly blemished a very good product.
Rating: 4 / 5
Having already purchased a Current Cost meter and been impressed with its functions, I thought it would be great to connect it to the computer. So I purchased this cable. The cable itself is fine. Easily installed and connected to the computer. However, I see no benefit in the cable. All the software that appears to make use of the data is expensive (when considering you are trying to cut your bills!). I thought I could simply connect the device to my computer and start capturing data. First you need to download software from a third party compan. They all want a fee or subscriuption. I could find no software provided by the manufacturer. This may have changed or I may have missed something, but make sure you know what you will get before buying this. The adverts make it sound useful, the reality is limited.
The Current Cost meter is great, the PC software not so great. I did try a couple of free trials, but found the software to be too invasive (hosting data on the internet) and too expensive.
I hope this changes soon. I will continue to seek out new software. I could not find a way of donwloading any history. It appears to require the computer to be on to collect data – this also seems to be counter productive to reducing energy use!
Rating: 3 / 5
The hardware – an RJ45 , cable and USB dongle, was as described, well made and delivered promptly.. However, the most up to date driver I could find does not support Windows 7 properly and there appears little or no activity to update it. So, on XP and possibly Vista (but I don’t know)it works just fine. Caveat emptor!
Rating: 4 / 5
This device was not what I hoped.
Maybe it would have done what it claimed, but it was so badly made that it fell to pieces when I plugged it into my computer.
It would have been better quality if it had come from a supermarket christmas cracker.
I’m quite handy with a soldering iron, but it was not possible to repair as the connectors to the USB socket had broken off inside the circuit board (which is inside the end of the cable which goes into your computer).
It is disappointing that Current Cost decided to use a completely non-standard connecting-lead and then manufactured it to such low standards.
I can’t find an alternative manufacturer, or the pieces to make one myself, so I don’t think I have any alternative than to buy another one, take it to pieces and re-inforce it.
Depressing that a company that makes nice things like its main units behaves so cynically with a necessary add-on like this.
Rating: 1 / 5