[Nut-upsdev] Problem with bestfcom and old Ferrups

[Chris Adams]

I have an old (1997) Best Ferrups (model FE18KVA) that I am trying to
monitor for the first time, but all the Best drivers fail to communicate
with it.

In ups_sync() in bestuferrups.c and bestfcom.c, the "time" command is
sent and a one-line response is read.  However, on my UPS, that command
returns the current time and then prompts for a new time setting.  I
worked around that by just sending another "\r" (on an UPS that doesn't
prompt for the time that will just send an empty command and return
another prompt).  I added:

	execute("\r", buf, sizeof(buf));

to the end of ups_sync().

However, then neither bestuferrups or bestfcom recognize my UPS.  It
does not support the "fc" command, and bestfcom rejects the output of
the "f" command, which is:

=>f
02060938340100010001000002150122000001740021250000136059980187002500000028080941
=>

bestuferrups rejects the output of the id command, which is (the ^L^Z is
actually the control codes):

=>id
^L^Z
FERRUPS Uninterruptible Power System
By Best Power Technology, Inc.
Route 1 Highway 80 / P.O. Box 280
Necedah, WI  54646  USA
Sales:   (800) 356-5794
Service: (800) 356-5737
FAX:     (608) 565-2221

Copyright (C) 1993, 1994, 1995 Best Power Technology, Inc.

Model:    FE18KVA
Unit ID:  FE18K03385
Serial #: FE18K03385
Version:  8.09
Released: 09/24/1997

=>

Ideas or suggestions?

-- 
Chris Adams <cmadams at hiwaay.net>
Systems and Network Administrator - HiWAAY Internet Services
I don't speak for anybody but myself - that's enough trouble.