Classic internal jack - double duty

[Hockey]

I have a Classic with a non-functioning Remote jack - RX and/or TX don't work.   As a result, the MNGP is connected to the Slave jack.  That works fine.  However the MNGP now occupies the jack used for sending RS232 Modbus data to an ESP32 webserver/logger.

So I dusted off a mechanical RJ45 A/B switch and use it as follows:
A:  Connect Classic and MNGP
B:  Connect Classic and ESP32

99.9% of the time I am not looking at the MNGP, so it is typically always switched to 'B' (ESP32).  When I do need to use the MNGP, I switch to 'A', do what I need to do, and then reconnect to 'B'. It takes a bit of time for the MNGP to initialize, but everything seems to work fine when I switch back and forth.   The ESP32 recognizes when disconnected, and does not log data or update the webserver.

Not particularly exciting for most folks, since a bad Remote jack is probably not that common.  However as I understand, there are no available jacks when configuring Follow Me... making a RS232 based webserver via ESP32 impossible.  I plan to uses this 'switch' method when I turn on Follow Me.  Any hiccups/problems I am not thinking of in this?

As for connections, I had to butcher a few ethernet cables.  RJ45 on the switch side, crimped RJ12 on the other ends. Trying to figure out the pinouts got a little confusing, so I tested continuity through the switch and crimped the RJ12 connectors appropriately.

I guess another way to deal with this is to get Modbus data via ethernet.   Next project...

I would upload photos, but it's a little bit too Frankenstein at the moment.

[boB]

What are you doing with an RJ45 cable ?  Do you mean RJ11 (phone jack) ?

Does the top MNGP  phone jack power up the MNGP ?  Or do you just get Got Comm ?

boB

[Hockey]

I am using an RJ45 A/B switch...  because thats what I had lying around. 

So I took an ethernet cable and cut off one connector and crimped on a RJ11 using 6 conductors.  Rj45 end goes to switch, rj11 goes to Classic.

Second cable same thing.  RJ45 to switch port A, rj11 end to mngp.

Third cable:  Rj45 to switch port B, other end to esp32.

I would have rather used a rj11 A/B switch,  but did not have one.