GPRS/GSM Shield For Arduino Help needed please...

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › GPRS/GSM Shield For Arduino Help needed please...

cosmiccarver

40 posts

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#153692 5-Oct-2014 09:52

hi there... i have a small project where i wish to use a arduino GPRS/GSM shield as a power supply controller for a solar powered remote wifi repeater station.

to minimize the solar energy requirements i need to be able to power on/off with a SMS text message.

i am following this guide... http://www.instructables.com/id/Control-the-relays-via-GPRS-SMS/

the GPRS/GSM shield is fitted with a Spark sim card however it is not connecting to the network... i have tested the sim card & know that is active.

i have no previous experience or training however i seem to find my way with a little assistance at times...

:-) yup this is one of those moments... really would like some pointers in the config to get this shield connected..

thanx

warren

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BDFL - Memuneh
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Geekzone

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#1147524 5-Oct-2014 09:57

Spark doesn't have GSM/GPRS - those are old 2G technologies. If you need to use these then Vodafone or 2degrees are the way to go.

cosmiccarver

40 posts

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#1147534 5-Oct-2014 10:17

oh wow... i feel such a goof... i was in pbtech the other day to get a 2degrees sim & i couldnt figure out how to open the sim card holder & neither did the help desk person... so off i went to find the nearest 2degrees store for advanced technological assistance, only that the closest store was in fact a spark store where the brilliant guy, casually(much to my embarrassment) flicked open the holder & valiantly earned for the spark coffers my hard earned 5 bucks...

i'll be rushing off now to splash out again on a 2deg sim and will follow up on this on how i get on...thanx for the speedy reply..

ps...

for sale 1 spark sim card...hardly used.. going cheep $4.50

:-)

cosmiccarver

40 posts

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#1147635 5-Oct-2014 15:55

ok i have a working 2° sim card & the activity lights indicate network connectivity however no response yet to the sms text message sent to the gsm shield

freitasm

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#1147642 5-Oct-2014 16:12

Do you have a SMS code that will return a status from the unit?

cosmiccarver

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#1147646 5-Oct-2014 16:45

looking into that now...

nakedmolerat

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#1147667 5-Oct-2014 17:10

Chuck the SIM card into the normal phone first. I'm pretty sure that you need to 'activate' the SIM card before use.

cosmiccarver

40 posts

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#1147715 5-Oct-2014 17:39

yup done that...received sms text message on mobile phone ok

im getting way out of my depth here...

http://www.elecrow.com/wiki/index.php?title=GPRS/GSM_Shield_v1.0#Upload_Sketch_to_Arduino

learning now about AT commands however i have not been able to get the serial monitor sketch working... using Arduino IDE 1.0.6

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cosmiccarver

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#1147752 5-Oct-2014 18:24

ok got the serial monitor working...

Niel

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#1147806 5-Oct-2014 18:56

Why not connect the shield to a PC serial port first and get it working with a terminal emulator?
This might help: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_phone_AT_commands

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cosmiccarver

40 posts

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#1147819 5-Oct-2014 19:12

bingo... a timely visit from a savvy friend has revealed that the gprs/gsm shield is in fact working as it should...looking like a hardware issue in the relay shield... will update soon...

Yabanize

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#1147831 5-Oct-2014 19:34

So I assume you are using a battery not just a solar panel?

cosmiccarver

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#1147853 5-Oct-2014 20:17

yes the rated solar energy system for 24 hr operation retails at around $1000...if i can power on/off as required i can get away with a $50 panel i already have & an old battery from my truck that seems to have some life...

as well as solving a problem this project is an exploration for me in the use of arduino technology which i had learned of some time ago. i would like to use arduino to provide low cost interactivity or functionality to my sculptural work...the next step will be motion detect, accelerometer & probably wifi connectivity...

JeremyNzl

359 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1147871 5-Oct-2014 20:38

Hi, you mention wifi repeater station.
Have you considered this device.

http://www.gowifi.co.nz/coming-soon-new-products/tycon-power-remote-station-monitor.html

It is ethernet capable. and can probably do what you are wanting to achieve. I think you can even set rules for the relays

Cheers

Jeremy

cosmiccarver

40 posts

Geek

#1147903 5-Oct-2014 22:04

my wifi repeater has no ethernet or mains power access hence the need for sms control...

set up is as follows...

from house with adsl connection & edimax wifi range extender unit sending 600m up hill to remote, solar powered sms controlled edimax wifi range extender sending to workshops located 800m down other side of hill way out of sight of house with adsl connection

JeremyNzl

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#1147906 5-Oct-2014 22:10

Neat project. I thought u may have been using ubiquiti gear, in which case you would have had wifi at the repeater.
I have done something similar, I am pushing my vdsl via a solar repeater 3kms using ubiquiti m5's
I get 30mbs with 2 ms increase in latency.
Good luck with your project.

Cheers

Jeremy

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