I hope this is the right forum for this question…
I would like to replace a cable between a Tablet PC and a portable measuring device we use at work. The portable device has an RS232 compatible port on it and I currently transfer data through a cable to a USB port on the Tablet, using a USB/RS232 adapter.
Is it possible to replace this with a wireless or IR link? From what I have seen so far, IR may be too short range (we would ideally like up to 10-15metres/30-45 feet). The Tablet PC already has WiFi capability, if this can be used somehow. The software on the Tablet is running a Visual Basic program to grab the data from the COMM port (the USB adapter provies a driver which emulates a COMM port), and whatever solution I use has to be able to do the same.
Finally, the solution has to be lightweight and either be powered via the RS232/USB ports or by a small battery (no AC adapters).
Traditionally I guess this would have been carried out by a radio-modem, but these are expensive and clunky. Any ideas/pointers in the right direction? (please forgive me for shamelessly picking your collective brains!)