Regal 2250 - Remote boat monitor

[mlines]

Pleased with progress, I have the web database running and the graphical display running using pre-coded modules from the internet (ie. I cannot claim to have written them!)

http://www.sportsboat.org.uk/index.php/live-data

[Matt13]

Well the gsm card has arrived today. An accelerometer, real time clock and GPS is on its way. This will give me 3 axis motion detection, location and an accurate timestamp

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Yeah but will it play angry birds?

[mark101]

Do you know what they're talking about Matt? I'm lost


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[Ianfs]

Well the gsm card has arrived today. An accelerometer, real time clock and GPS is on its way. This will give me 3 axis motion detection, location and an accurate timestamp

Which provider did you use?

How does the system transmit and receive?

[mlines]

The solution is a two part solution with the two parts connected over the Internet

The part with the display which I showed here is a standard internet website http://www.sportsboat.org.uk/index.php/live-data
It has had some some software installed that receives data connections over the internet and displays it on the gauges.

The other part is a small computer (called an Arduino, there are others around such as the more sophisticated Raspberry Pi) , This is a tiny (credit card sized computer that can have sensors attached which it reads. It also has communication cards that can be fitted. I have got the mobile phone (GSM) card. This card can talk to the Internet just like a smartphone can.

Therefore the Arduino and its sensors sit in the boat, running off the battery, and reporting to the internet the readings, the website then displays them,

Hopefully this explains it.

I have the website ready and receiving data (currently fake data I am giving it)

I have the Arduino reading the sensors and displaying on its own display the results.

Now I have to get the mobile phone card to connect to the Internet so the data can be sent to the website.

Being a mobile phone card it can send/receive data and SMS texts so I can also talk to the boat and control things (future development).

I will just use any network provider (O2, vodaphone etc.) on a cheap SIM with a small data allowance.

Martini

[Ianfs]

Now I have to get the mobile phone card to connect to the Internet so the data can be sent to the website.

Yes Martin, this was my question. I think I now see that it doesn't recieve but only transmits the data. However does the mini computer have a modem, or will it transmit via another device?

[mlines]

The GSM card will transmit and receive. It can transmit/receive SMS and also TCP/IP data just like a smartphone. It actually has a voice port as well so its really a mobile phone on a card.

The mini computer has input and output ports that can talk to devices.

[mlines]

And if you remember the old modems from the past, you control it with the AT command set. This has been extended to include commands to send SMS and send internet data

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[Ianfs]

Excellent piece of information.
Therefore, given that the wavelength is speed by frequency, is that right or is it the other way around? No it cant be, it has to be right, a GSM card could actually have a half wave aerial installed or even a full wave in the plastic surround!

That's right isn't it, about 8mm for a half wave and 16mm for a full wave at 1800mhz?? Give or take!! And that is longer pro rata than a VHF boat mounted aerial!!

[mlines]

regal.2250.IMG_20150605_153203.jpg (192.84 KiB) Viewed 22434 times

Its a quad band device 850/900/1800/1900

So at 800Mhz the wavelength its around 35cm and at 1900Mhz its around 19cm

So with a 1/4 wave at the highest frequency being around 4cm the aerial in the picture is around a 1/4wave at the highest band.