Thread: Archive

Originally Posted by mbaratta

Zorro,

Any thoughts on doing a mini version of phonecontrol?

One that uses a barebones cellphone and a microcontroller?

see thread:

GPS to cell phone output somehow ???

I think this is a great idea, and if you have experience coding for microcontrollers this could be a simple project.

Phonecontrol jr. Gps edition.

thanks

Yes, you're right, simple it would be. If you use a Basic Stamp, you even don't need experience for microcontroller coding ... cause it's simply Basic.

But it wouldn't be cheap anyway. Just a short calc:

1 x Basic Stamp: ~$50 (not the big one)
1 x Starter kit: ~$130 (just one needed)
1 x Mobile phone: ~$80 (2nd hand, cheap one)
1 x GPS mouse: ~$100
1 x "Mainboard": ~$40 (where you mount the Stamp on. ports, a power regulator, converters, plugs and stuff)
1 x Layout & PCB: ~$15
1 x Case: ~$10
This makes round about: $295 (without the Starter kit and without any kind of backup battery). I think, there are some solutions out there you can get for less but at least for the same price without doing any soldering / assembling.

Beside, don't forget that your GPS mouse / antenna has to be mounted somewhere on your cars roof (at least where it can be "seen" from the satellites) and GPS signals are not very powerful. This makes it a kind of vulnerable. You just have the rip of the GPS or cover it into something that keeps the satellite signals from the receiver.

However, I like the name you gave it: PhoneControl Jr.

Originally Posted by Ricky327

Zorro,

I think the project can be made much cheaper.

A PIC based should only cost about £20 the most. Thats including the board, regulator and support chips.

The BASIC stamp is not exactly an economical solutions...so stay away from them

Yes sure, but a Basic Stamp is a PIC (with just a bit more software on board)
And you'll still need some kind of mainboard where you place the regulator / converter / plugs for the GPS and the mobile phone.

In fact the expensive parts are the GPS and the mobile phone.

There would be an imginable solution using the LBS (Location Based Services) then you'll need only the phone. But:
1. LBS is not yet available everywhere (if you leave such a location, your car's gone)
2. You'll need a phone with a bit more intelligence (such as the ones with a Symbian OS for example)
And guess what... then you'll pay for the phone as much as for the other stuff togehter

Originally Posted by Ricky327

In fact the expensive parts are the GPS and the mobile phone.

We already have them, so its not part of the cost

Most poeple in here just want the controller.

By the way...phone control is really nice. Thanks for the good work.

I just installed it but cant get it to work with infrared. Not sure if im doing it right.

As far as I understood the thread, you'll need a separate phone to place it anywhere hidden (e.g. the drivers seat). You won't do that with your regular phone, do you?

A few questions about PhoCo:
1. Did you install the IrCOMM driver?
2. Did you try to establish the connection trough HyperTerminal?
3. Did you read the documentation (chapter 10)?

Originally Posted by Ricky327

We all have some phone thats can be hidden away, you know the one you get embarassed to be seen using one


1 No
2 No
3 No



Im doing it now

Cheers.

Yes, I know...

Ok do it... I go to bed now.

Please be aware of one thing: Don't use port numbers above 16 for IrCOMM (you'll be asked at setup). PhoCo can't handle it otherwise.

N8!

Back to the original thread.
I've found something called L.O.S.A (shortform for List Of Stamp Applications)
[http://www.hth.com/filelibrary/txtfiles/losa.txt]

Entry #158 looks very promissing
I'd say anyone who's interessted should contact this guy.

================================================== ==================
Title : Automatic Vehicle Location / Mobile Asset Tracking [# 158]
================================================== ==================
Date : 990429
Author: Richard Frost
E-mail: rfrost@mail.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Stamp model : BS2-IC Module
Code available: No
Filename : N/A
URL : N/A
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Description :

BS2-IC provides initialization, timing, filtering, and data
compression for remote units containing a GPS (Global Positioning
Systems) receiver and a CDPD (Cellular Digital Packet Data) wireless
modem. The standard for GPS data is serial at 4800 baud, and the
BS2 can handle this reliably.