Connect sensors to a mobile phone

These guys sure seem to have figured it out:

Never thought I'd shudder at the sight of a hunk of Perfboard...

-- jm

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A little pricey tho...

Does the phone have a modem port?

Or there is a commercial version here:

Try this

Less than $200 and uses a spare Ericsson mobile phone

John

Peter K wrote:

Hi Peter, the SMS kit at the various retailers is all the same kit! I have noted that Dick Smith is much more expensive than thes others. I have bought a kit but not assembled it yet. One problem I have is that it is not so easy to get the phone cable, so Ill have to make my own. Strathfield is selling suitable clips for $3.95 at present.

Of course, if your pump and sensors are remote from each other it could become an expensive affair as you may have to buy seperate controllers for each location. A reliable power supply is also required, and you may want to measure pump volts as well so you know the pump can start.

Anyhow have fun and let us know how you go. Regards Paul

Hi Pete, The kit from Jaycar will do exactly what you want to do.

Send me an e-mail if you need a schematic and some advice on how to control your pumps.

I have done a similar project using the Jaycar kit as in Silicon Chip magazine.

Regards Vinnie

Another one:

Paul and Vinnie

Thanks for the response. I have looked at the Jaycar kit and it will do the job if you only want to turn switches on and off and receive alarms etc. There are quite a few other SMS controllers available that will also do this. I was looking for a device to actually send data from the sensors.

Regards Peter

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It would be a lot easier to set up a computer controlled system - eg a laptop with input from those sensors and controlling the pump etc. You could set it up so you can log into the computer from your home to monitor what is happening, and change settings as required.

David

Peter K wrote:

Probably no good as it it is not CDMA - not much digital service in the bush.

David

John wrote:

Hi Peter, hmm, it seems that you might want to measure realtime. sending realtime SMS is going to cost you a fortune. It seems better that you set a minimum trigger value and it then causes the system to SMS you when the trigger is reached. Im thinking that the (a?) systm could be rigged that you dial into rather than SMS.

hope this helps Paul

Why keep yourself in the loop?

A local control system can do the control and then you could log into it remotely occasionally, using the mobile terminal as the Modem. Or maybe periodically upload the status to a web server and grab it from there.

SMS is not a very efficient communication channel - and in any case you will need to parse and authenticate commands sent via SMS which will require some custom hackery when making up the messages.

Is there the possibility of utilising Radio for sending data?

ie: could you set up a small trunking or repeater system to send the data to your house?

Might this watering system be for some special plants that smoke good when dried out?????????????????????????????? Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha oohhh look at the bunnies, they're all coming to get me, Aaarggghhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!

You might also wanna install a Movement sensor or entry alarm, in case some official people try to access your "farm" to see what you grow!

It could text you with the message "Shit, Shit, RAID > I have a small farm that is located in an area with mobile phone coverage. I

Not practical with 150KM.

Very likely |-)

It's a rope farm? :^)

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Maybe go read the Silicon Chip (in the past 12 months I believe) issue which dealed with this specific area. Apparently it can be done.

Cheers.

Try ETMpacific.com.au. They have GPRS/SMS microcontrollers meant for this sort of control.

They will be more expensive than the SC kit, but you get what you pay for. I guess it avoids needing to get a phone as well.

Dale.

Peter K wrote:

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