Almost certainly no because there is most likely no modem at the other end you can dial to feed a text message to that will translate and forward to the cellular network. I say most likely because the hams may have this working but you are very restricted in what you could send (no commercial or third party messages). Your best way is probably to use the internet to send the message as you can send SMS via computer. At least we can do this in Oz.
SMS require an entry point and if you can locate a service that provides a local phone number to dial up an SMS server, you can gain access to SMS - even worldwide.
So there really isn't much engineering or modification required - just a modem at the right baud rate and with the right log in script. Expect a fee based service. I was looking into SMS in Taiwan as a means to notify green house owners of environmental changes that might affect their crops.
Hmmmm... I'm not positive, but if I remember correctly, I asked a very direct question in my post that would require a yes or no answer. I will assume your answer is no
Hmmm.... I would have thought that 'NO' was easily inferred from the sparseness of my reply however it would appear that I should have been somewhat verbose with NO with a pedantic like yourself instead of offering a solution to your question.
Pedantic interesting word. However, while you thought you were offering a valid solution, you neither offered a valid solution or an answer. If I thought that GSM was a valid solution, I would have never asked the question in the first place. Let me ask you this... If you were locked inside a vault, and you had a choice between a cellular phone or a hardwired phone to communicate with the outside world, which one would you pick? And of course why?
Google has a great service that is great for this.
Connect the propeller to a network ( all you need is a network IC, mic IC and speaker IC almost all are on the prop board. Then again you might not need the mic IC and speaker IC since you want only text). Next connect to the internet and take advantage of the Google voice service. You will obviously have to create a Google account and obtain a voice number but Lucky its all free. The Google servers will dial or text any number in the US for free.
Whilst not wanting to ponder your proclivity for being locked in a vault I can't but wonder why the the only message you would send (sent via land line or otherwise) would be "Error 1", "Error 2", or "Error 3
Because I am building automated machinery that I do not want to have to babysit. If something goes wrong, I want the most dependable means of communication to notify me that something has gone wrong, so I can return from the local tavern to fix it.
Interesting, just a thought though, being three sheets to the wind (after the local tavern), soldering irons, not to mention electricity are a bad mix.
That is pretty darn cool, but I am trying to avoid tying my machine to a computer. Right now all I need is a dedicated 20 Amp / 120 Volt receptacle to run the machine. I was hoping that the addition of a phone line and modem would enable my machine to communicate with the outside world.
The addition of a phone line and modem would (with a lot of software) enable your machine to communicate with the outside world. The problem is the software and who you'd connect to using a standard modem like this. Here's an article describing dial-in SMS servers. You'd have to find one and arrange for the service. There's no existing software for the Propeller that would format the messages for you and manage the exchange with the server. You'd have to do that yourself. Here's a link I found to a list of dial-up SMS servers. Here's another link to the description of the TAP protocol.
That was a very well researched and thought out response. I sincerely thank you for all the time that it must have taken to put that together for me. I most definitely appreciate it. By looking at the information that you so kindly provided, it appears that it will be daunting task, and one that will have to be put on hold until I finish everything else and start producing my product regularly. Which means someone would have to check on the machine periodically. However, without looking, I would imagine that the Microsoft Developer Network has some TAP source code available, perhaps written in C++ or VB. They are pretty good about that kind of stuff. Of course it would have to be ported, providing it is available, but I don't think that would be a major issue, I could be wrong.
Anyhow, thank you so much for the information.
Bruce
P.S. If I find TAP source code, I will provide a link so that others may view it.
It doesn't really take much time. A couple of Google searches, then following a couple of the links. Try it. It's amazing what you can find with a little bit of effort.
Ok, so here's a idea. Rather than deal with SMS, just have it call your cell phone, or any phone, and just output morse code, or some distinctive audio tone. It doesn't have to say "error 1", etc... Could be one, two, or three beeps, or different pitches, or anything audio really. That way, it goes to voice mail, answering machine, whatever you have. Could be your ear, if you want.
A secondary option would be to have a computer listening on a land line. Dial it up, dump the error info, and it can simply e-mail it to you, or somebody, or your cell-phone.
Approximately 90% of my available time is spent searching the internet for valuable information. If I cannot find a good source, then I at least try to find guidance from someone that may know the answer, or where I can find the answer.
You can also program the Prop to leave a voice message. See this thread. Although my approach lacks polish and recognizability, it's still very usable with a limited and fore-known vocabulary. As with the beep approach, though, the devil will be in the details of making the call and recognizing the cue to begin speaking.
I used to have servers with modems attached. I could call them and do stuff or they could call me. The call was enough. If I got that call they needed attention. In my view the fewer service dependences the better. It is not sexy that way, but it is cheap and robust. Cell tech changes and comes with lot of nagging details. By contrast the modem use I describe is unchanged for many years. Do it once test then deploy how and where needed.
Thanks for the link. You certainly have given me much more to think about. I don't think making the call should be that horrendous, however recognizing the cue for recording is quite a different animal. But I would imagine that a modem has a listening system for such events.
Anyhow thanks for the input, I definitely appreciate it Phil.
I have pondered this modem thing before. TAP is not that hard to implement. If you figure it out, you can send a text message using a terminal program, which is the best way to learn. Not all carriers support it, but ones I know that do are - Verizon Wireless, Cingular(with subscription), SouthernLinc. I think they are a little wary about spamming, but I suppose most spammers aren't hard up enough to do it over a phone line.
The biggest trouble will be creating the interface to the phone, and handling baud rate, etc. If you could find an external modem that you could open and close like a serial port(the way a computer handles it), I think it would be a piece of cake.( Well, not quite)
Most modems with the sv92pp chip can handle streaming bytes to audio. They will also respond to touch tones.
In regards to "SMS-it", for some reason, there are few of these services available in the USA. The UK/Europe has a bunch of these types of services, but I have yet to find a reasonable service in the US.
I have decided to call Cermetek Microelectronics tomorrow afternoon and tell them what I want to do. If I purchase one of their modems, I would imagine that I could receive a fair amount of customer support. And perhaps they might have a very simple solution to offer.
idbruce
Posts: 6,197
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SMS require an entry point and if you can locate a service that provides a local phone number to dial up an SMS server, you can gain access to SMS - even worldwide.
So there really isn't much engineering or modification required - just a modem at the right baud rate and with the right log in script. Expect a fee based service. I was looking into SMS in Taiwan as a means to notify green house owners of environmental changes that might affect their crops.
I simply want to send one of three messages: "Error 1", "Error 2", or "Error 3".
Bruce
Cheers
Hmmmm... I'm not positive, but if I remember correctly, I asked a very direct question in my post that would require a yes or no answer.
Bruce
Do you have an example that you would be willing to provide?
Bruce
Cheers
Pedantic interesting word. However, while you thought you were offering a valid solution, you neither offered a valid solution or an answer. If I thought that GSM was a valid solution, I would have never asked the question in the first place. Let me ask you this... If you were locked inside a vault, and you had a choice between a cellular phone or a hardwired phone to communicate with the outside world, which one would you pick? And of course why?
Bruce
Connect the propeller to a network ( all you need is a network IC, mic IC and speaker IC almost all are on the prop board. Then again you might not need the mic IC and speaker IC since you want only text). Next connect to the internet and take advantage of the Google voice service. You will obviously have to create a Google account and obtain a voice number but Lucky its all free. The Google servers will dial or text any number in the US for free.
I may post code soon for this.
Now that is a very good reply. I hope you do post some code. Do you have a part # example for the network IC?
Bruce
Because I am building automated machinery that I do not want to have to babysit. If something goes wrong, I want the most dependable means of communication to notify me that something has gone wrong, so I can return from the local tavern to fix it.
Bruce
"Error 1", "Error 2", or "Error 3
Cheers
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/07/a-whole-computer-inside-an-altoid-tin-video.php
*** more
http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/electronic/ae43/?cpg=cj
******Ethernet controller ic
http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=ENC28J60-I/SP-ND
I would have to agree with that. However, I was just using that as an example. Haven't had a drop of liquor in about 6 months.
Bruce
That is pretty darn cool, but I am trying to avoid tying my machine to a computer. Right now all I need is a dedicated 20 Amp / 120 Volt receptacle to run the machine. I was hoping that the addition of a phone line and modem would enable my machine to communicate with the outside world.
Bruce
That was a very well researched and thought out response. I sincerely thank you for all the time that it must have taken to put that together for me. I most definitely appreciate it. By looking at the information that you so kindly provided, it appears that it will be daunting task, and one that will have to be put on hold until I finish everything else and start producing my product regularly. Which means someone would have to check on the machine periodically. However, without looking, I would imagine that the Microsoft Developer Network has some TAP source code available, perhaps written in C++ or VB. They are pretty good about that kind of stuff. Of course it would have to be ported, providing it is available, but I don't think that would be a major issue, I could be wrong.
Anyhow, thank you so much for the information.
Bruce
P.S. If I find TAP source code, I will provide a link so that others may view it.
A secondary option would be to have a computer listening on a land line. Dial it up, dump the error info, and it can simply e-mail it to you, or somebody, or your cell-phone.
Lots of ways to use modems.
Approximately 90% of my available time is spent searching the internet for valuable information. If I cannot find a good source, then I at least try to find guidance from someone that may know the answer, or where I can find the answer.
Bruce
I don't care what the other forum members say about you, that was a fantastic idea
WOW! That was a simple solution.
Thank you so much for that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bruce
You can also program the Prop to leave a voice message. See this thread. Although my approach lacks polish and recognizability, it's still very usable with a limited and fore-known vocabulary. As with the beep approach, though, the devil will be in the details of making the call and recognizing the cue to begin speaking.
-Phil
Thanks for the link. You certainly have given me much more to think about. I don't think making the call should be that horrendous, however recognizing the cue for recording is quite a different animal. But I would imagine that a modem has a listening system for such events.
Anyhow thanks for the input, I definitely appreciate it Phil.
Bruce
The biggest trouble will be creating the interface to the phone, and handling baud rate, etc. If you could find an external modem that you could open and close like a serial port(the way a computer handles it), I think it would be a piece of cake.( Well, not quite)
Most modems with the sv92pp chip can handle streaming bytes to audio. They will also respond to touch tones.
I have decided to call Cermetek Microelectronics tomorrow afternoon and tell them what I want to do. If I purchase one of their modems, I would imagine that I could receive a fair amount of customer support. And perhaps they might have a very simple solution to offer.
Bruce