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Spark Fun dropped a load of wonderful with some new goodies - A GSM/GPS module that you can query when you call it, awesome (you can finally make a GPS enabled rotary cell phone, ring ring) - and the open source Arduino board (see MAKE 07).
GM862 Cellular Quad Band Module with GPS - This is the latest technology available to the M2M (Machine-to-Machine) market. The GM862-GPS combines the powerful GSM engine of the GM862 with a SiRF III 20-channel high sensitivity GPS receiver. Call up the module, issue the GPS query command, and you'll have NMEA data! If this unit is within range of a cellular tower, you'll know where it is within 9 meters anywhere on the surface of the earth - Link.
Arduino USB Board - Arduino is an open-source physical computing platform based on a simple i/o board and a development environment that implements the Processing/Wiring language. Arduino can be used to develop stand-alone interactive objects or can be connected to software on your computer (e.g. Flash, Processing, MaxMSP). The open-source IDE can be downloaded for free (currently for Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux) - Link.
Related:
Arduino Fever - The tale of a cute, blue microcontroller that fits nicely in the palm of your hand, and the expanding community of developers who love and support it. MAKE 07 - Page 52.
anybody know if this is compatable with the make controller kit?
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If you're asking about the Arduino, think of it as an alternative to the Make Controller Kit. Make's box is more of a do-everything, power box. The Arduino is a little simpler and more svelte -- works especially well with small and portable projects. I just got two Arduinos in, and they're fabulously compact and very nice to use. Think about what you might want to do and come up with your specs first, then pick a board like Make's or Arduino.
The cellular module, meanwhile, is another story -- it's controlled just by using a SIM card and AT commands. I'm actually not clear on how you'd connect to it (via a serial modem?) -- anyone else?
Reply to this comment
If you're asking about the Arduino, think of it as an alternative to the Make Controller Kit. Make's box is more of a do-everything, power box. The Arduino is a little simpler and more svelte -- works especially well with small and portable projects. I just got two Arduinos in, and they're fabulously compact and very nice to use. Think about what you might want to do and come up with your specs first, then pick a board like Make's or Arduino.
The cellular module, meanwhile, is another story -- it's controlled just by using a SIM card and AT commands. Looks like this would be the easiest way to connect it via serial to a computer:
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=477
But maybe someone else has another idea?
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Arduino rocks!
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