Are you sure you don't have equipment already present that cab be coerced into providing an "activity" signal that could be used to trigger a relay? For instance, if there were a cisco router there connecting the remote ethernet to the real world, it might be one of the ones with an auxiliary serial port, capable of receiving reverse-telnet connections and being connected to all manner of equipment. Ditto if the printer is connected to some sort of PC or print server already... BillW -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist