One question that frequently comes up when customers are trying to determine what equipment to buy for a new installation is:  "How do we connect a computer running SK-NET™ software to the SK-ACP Control Panels?"

 

We offer several ways to connect a computer running SK-NET™ software to our SK-ACP controllers. Let's review the options.

 

Under 100 feet: If the computer is within 100 feet of the closest panel you can run 6-conductor, shielded 22 AWG cable and connect directly to your COM port. Using our handy SK-PLUG9 makes this extra easy. Be aware, however, that many newer computers do not have a serial COM port. In such a case, you will also need a USB-to-Serial converter, such as our SK-USB, to make the connection.

 

 

Up to 4000 feet: If you want to hard-wire the computer to the panels, but the distance is over 100 feet, use our NET-CONV-P adapter. This converts your serial COM port from RS-232 to RS-485. Using a twisted pair cable, you can now run up to 4000 feet to the access control panels.  If you do not have a COM port, you can either use a USB to serial converter (SK-USB) or you can purchase an interface board from your PC supplier and install it in your computer.   

 

Dial-up: If you cannot run wires from the computer to the access system, such as when they are in different buildings, you might want to communicate through the phone lines using a 56k baud modem. We recommend that you purchase our SK-MDM, but another external modem may work. However, you must purchase SK-NET-MLD version of the software to use a modem, the basic version of SK-NET™ will not work with remote locations.

 

SK-LAN-MOD

Existing Network: Many installations today use the existing computer networking infrastructure to connect the system to one or more PCs.  Our SK-LAN-MOD Network module (which plugs directly into the SK-ACP board) allows you to connect a control panel directly to your network.  The basic version of SK-NET™ allows one TCP/IP connection, so you can use your network to connect to the first SK-ACP, connecting additional panels to the first panel using RS485. SK-NET-MLD allows multiple TCP/IP connections over an existing LAN, which means that by adding a LAN module to each panel, you can connect every SK-ACP directly to your local area network.

 

If you want to connect to remote locations over the internet, install an SK-LAN-MOD Network Module in one panel at the location, and connect it to your router.  This panel becomes the Gateway panel for your remote location.  You will have to contact your Internet Service Provider to order a fixed IP address for the remote location.  If additional control panels are required at the location, they may be "daisy chained" from the Gateway panel, using RS-485. 

 

If more than one computer in the network needs to be able to work with SK-NET™

simultaneously, we offer Client/Server versions of SK-NET™ that allow 2, 5, 10 or more users to share databases located on a common server.

  

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