6 ms·

Coyote Board - A 2G GSM Shield for Arduino

22 points by franklovecchio 13y ago

codezero 13y ago
It's not entirely clear in the description, but it sounds like data is sent to 2lemetry and then from 2lemetry it's sent to your server via POST. It's too bad that you can't just send data directly, but I guess this probably means that 2lemetry will require specific structured data and will limit requests. They say the limit is TBD which is pretty vague and not very inspiring.
- tkellogg 13y ago
  2lemetry is running an MQTT broker - MQTT is a standard protocol designed by OASIS for these sorts of low-power, low-bandwidth scenarios. It's a pub/sub system and you'll probably get away with a few messages per minute. I think the 2G hardware might be the limiting factor here.
  - codezero 13y ago
    Thanks, very informative.
- DanBC 13y ago
  From their faq: > We are modeling data limits around scenarios where a sensor value is sent to an HTTP endpoint once or twice per minute. Expect final rate limits to be in that range. For specific questions on increased rate usage, please email us at info@2lemetry.com. Higher end plans are available.
  - codezero 13y ago
    Awesome, thanks.
discardorama 13y ago
Since it's not clear from the description: do you pay for sending the data or not? If not, whose network does it use, and why are they allowing use of their network for free?
- codezero 13y ago
  From the award levels, it looks like you don't pay for data per se, but you may be capped on the number of requests you can do per month, and maybe they offer increasing that cap for money. See this comment for some info about the protocol: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6644515 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6644515
beardicus 13y ago
This looks fairly neat. The "don't pay for a plan" part is a bit odd though... as far as I can tell you're only getting a year of free low-bandwidth data, and after that it'll cost you. I queried the creator on kickstarter... he said $3 a month would be a worst case cost for said connectivity after your initial year is up. Perhaps more importantly, he indicated that it would be possible to not use their server as a middleman, but that they need to get their analytics right before allowing that. Currently going through their server allows them to maintain sane data rates, apparently. Personally, I couldn't find a one-off GSM data only SIM for less than $8 a month in my searches... even at multiple year prepay... so this sounds like a pretty good deal. I'm maybe more interested in just the cheap dumb pipe option, but really their "middleware" server does sound handy.
gluxon 13y ago
I always miss my bus in the morning. I've had the idea to stuff a remote tracker in one of the bus seats for a while... this makes it possible.
- tkellogg 13y ago
  Just make sure to buy 3 or 4, they probably switch busses every now and then.
- asteli 13y ago
  APRS has been used for vehicle tracking for a while (it was first devised in the 80s). It is dependent on independently operated base stations to relay data to the internet, and since all transmitters contend for the same frequency it may not be feasible in high-use areas. You also need a Ham technician license (35-question written exam). On the plus side, it's totally free to use. Wiki on APRS: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_Packet_Reporting_System http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_Packet_Reporting_Syst... Live feed of beacons in the SF Bay Area: http://aprs.fi/#!lat=37.87810&lng=-122.27100 http://aprs.fi/#!lat=37.87810&lng=-122.27100
jimmcslim 13y ago
So you can't put your own SIM in this and ping your own server?
- nileshtrivedi 13y ago
  Looks like it. The video says "No SIM cards".
  - franklovecchio 13y ago
    No sim cards, correct.
- deleted 13y ago
  [deleted]
snom380 13y ago
I wish they would explain what this GSM shield does apart from the one year subscription and connection to their own platform? There are several unlocked GSM shields and modules available with working libraries and tutorials for under $50, using the exact same GSM module (SIM900): http://dx.com/s/Sim900?category=499 http://dx.com/s/Sim900?category=499
- franklovecchio 13y ago
  None of those appear to be Arduino "shields", unless I'm not looking at them correctly? An Arduino shield is plug/play, whereas I would define a generic "module" as not.
  - snom380 13y ago
    This one is a shield: http://dx.com/p/manolins-sim-900-gsm-gprs-shield-expansion-board-wireless-module-w-antenna-for-arduino-black-215144 http://dx.com/p/manolins-sim-900-gsm-gprs-shield-expansion-b... And so is this: http://dx.com/p/arduino-compatible-gsm-gprs-shield-wireless-extension-board-module-w-antenna-adapter-144865 http://dx.com/p/arduino-compatible-gsm-gprs-shield-wireless-... And this (includes an Arduino Uno compatible board for $80):http://dx.com/p/elecfreaks-diy-gprs-gsm-learning-development-set-works-with-arduino-products-222149 http://dx.com/p/elecfreaks-diy-gprs-gsm-learning-development...
petersand 13y ago
Here's an Arduino (clone) board with a GPRS option, flash memory for logging data between transmissions, and some other features for remote data acquisition: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/386717175/sodaq-a-lego-like-plug-in-rapid-prototyping-board http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/386717175/sodaq-a-lego-l...
oceanplexian 13y ago
Embedded development is not like web development. Sometimes these things might stay in a remote location sending telemetry data for a few years. I'm surprised, this being GSM, that they don't put a slot on the board as an optional add-on. Are there technical reasons for this, or is it just designed to shut out competition?

It's not entirely clear in the description, but it sounds like data is sent to 2lemetry and then from 2lemetry it's sent to your server via POST. It's too bad that you can't just send data directly, but I guess this probably means that 2lemetry will require specific structured data and will limit requests. They say the limit is TBD which is pretty vague and not very inspiring.

tkellogg 13y ago
2lemetry is running an MQTT broker - MQTT is a standard protocol designed by OASIS for these sorts of low-power, low-bandwidth scenarios. It's a pub/sub system and you'll probably get away with a few messages per minute. I think the 2G hardware might be the limiting factor here.
- codezero 13y ago
  Thanks, very informative.
DanBC 13y ago
From their faq: > We are modeling data limits around scenarios where a sensor value is sent to an HTTP endpoint once or twice per minute. Expect final rate limits to be in that range. For specific questions on increased rate usage, please email us at info@2lemetry.com. Higher end plans are available.
- codezero 13y ago
  Awesome, thanks.

discardorama 13y ago

Since it's not clear from the description: do you pay for sending the data or not? If not, whose network does it use, and why are they allowing use of their network for free?

codezero 13y ago
From the award levels, it looks like you don't pay for data per se, but you may be capped on the number of requests you can do per month, and maybe they offer increasing that cap for money. See this comment for some info about the protocol: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6644515 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6644515

beardicus 13y ago

This looks fairly neat. The "don't pay for a plan" part is a bit odd though... as far as I can tell you're only getting a year of free low-bandwidth data, and after that it'll cost you. I queried the creator on kickstarter... he said $3 a month would be a worst case cost for said connectivity after your initial year is up. Perhaps more importantly, he indicated that it would be possible to not use their server as a middleman, but that they need to get their analytics right before allowing that. Currently going through their server allows them to maintain sane data rates, apparently. Personally, I couldn't find a one-off GSM data only SIM for less than $8 a month in my searches... even at multiple year prepay... so this sounds like a pretty good deal. I'm maybe more interested in just the cheap dumb pipe option, but really their "middleware" server does sound handy.

gluxon 13y ago

I always miss my bus in the morning. I've had the idea to stuff a remote tracker in one of the bus seats for a while... this makes it possible.

tkellogg 13y ago
Just make sure to buy 3 or 4, they probably switch busses every now and then.
asteli 13y ago
APRS has been used for vehicle tracking for a while (it was first devised in the 80s). It is dependent on independently operated base stations to relay data to the internet, and since all transmitters contend for the same frequency it may not be feasible in high-use areas. You also need a Ham technician license (35-question written exam). On the plus side, it's totally free to use. Wiki on APRS: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_Packet_Reporting_System http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_Packet_Reporting_Syst... Live feed of beacons in the SF Bay Area: http://aprs.fi/#!lat=37.87810&lng=-122.27100 http://aprs.fi/#!lat=37.87810&lng=-122.27100

jimmcslim 13y ago

So you can't put your own SIM in this and ping your own server?

nileshtrivedi 13y ago
Looks like it. The video says "No SIM cards".
- franklovecchio 13y ago
  No sim cards, correct.
deleted 13y ago
[deleted]

snom380 13y ago

I wish they would explain what this GSM shield does apart from the one year subscription and connection to their own platform? There are several unlocked GSM shields and modules available with working libraries and tutorials for under $50, using the exact same GSM module (SIM900): http://dx.com/s/Sim900?category=499 http://dx.com/s/Sim900?category=499

franklovecchio 13y ago
None of those appear to be Arduino "shields", unless I'm not looking at them correctly? An Arduino shield is plug/play, whereas I would define a generic "module" as not.
- snom380 13y ago
  This one is a shield: http://dx.com/p/manolins-sim-900-gsm-gprs-shield-expansion-board-wireless-module-w-antenna-for-arduino-black-215144 http://dx.com/p/manolins-sim-900-gsm-gprs-shield-expansion-b... And so is this: http://dx.com/p/arduino-compatible-gsm-gprs-shield-wireless-extension-board-module-w-antenna-adapter-144865 http://dx.com/p/arduino-compatible-gsm-gprs-shield-wireless-... And this (includes an Arduino Uno compatible board for $80):http://dx.com/p/elecfreaks-diy-gprs-gsm-learning-development-set-works-with-arduino-products-222149 http://dx.com/p/elecfreaks-diy-gprs-gsm-learning-development...

petersand 13y ago

Here's an Arduino (clone) board with a GPRS option, flash memory for logging data between transmissions, and some other features for remote data acquisition: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/386717175/sodaq-a-lego-like-plug-in-rapid-prototyping-board http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/386717175/sodaq-a-lego-l...

oceanplexian 13y ago

Embedded development is not like web development. Sometimes these things might stay in a remote location sending telemetry data for a few years. I'm surprised, this being GSM, that they don't put a slot on the board as an optional add-on. Are there technical reasons for this, or is it just designed to shut out competition?