wwhigginsjr wrote:...The solution from Phidgets also seems pretty robust. One thing I don't understand is how to get the temperature (and/or other analog) sensors to places far away from a USB (other?) connection. Am I missing something or are Phidgit sensors limited to the space immediately around a computer?
The good news is that there are several good solutions, including the one you have already bought. But, to answer you question re: the Phidgets... I recently posted this for a similar question in
another thread.
I wrote:...the Phidgets Controllers are quite flexible and might meet your needs. Probably the 1012 or the 1018.
But, since these are USB devices, they would probably be too far from your Mac to connect via standard USB. That means some type of USB over cat-5 (~ $40) or USB over Ethernet (~$100) device for each location. I have had good luck with the Keyspan products like the US-4a (4-port USB 1.1) and the U2S-2A (2-port USB 2.0) devices.
Also, at the present time the AppleTalk for the Phidgets controller is broken in Snow Leopard (10.6)... ...But, it is being worked on and should be available soon.
As for the soldering. It is actually quite simple, but if you have never done it before, tele-learning via a user forum may not be the most effective. (Though you might get by with a video instruction from
YouTube.) So, I'd suggest that you try to find someone to do it for you. You might be able to find a local ham radio operator, or you could go to the local electronics outlet (Radio Shack?) and I am sure they can either do it or suggest someone who can. Cost should be cheap, like
well under $20. If you reply with your general location, you might even find someone here on this board that could do it for you. (If you are near the SF Bay area I'd be glad to help for free
).