next topic »

[on:]

Hello everyone;
Home Automation Lighting is what i am gonna do. In my project we can control lights using computer via internet(I think with arduino web server). Also control with my android phone. I want to make an android application for this.
But i am not sure which arduino is fit to my project. I think 'Arduino Mega ADK' and 'Arduino Ethernet Shield w/o PoE R3' is enough for me. I dont know this things is compatible for each other. I worked with arduino in my erasmus term. I only made LED blinking etc. But i liked arduino and wanna do this project. So, I am new with arduino. I dont wanna buy wrong things. Please help me to choose and give me hint for good starting.
Best regards...

[Reply #1 on:]

What you buy really depends on your requirements. How many lights are you trying to control? How are you controlling those lights? Wirless? Wired? X10? How does the Android come into this? Are you going to physically hook-up the android to the Arduino, or is it going to be wireless? Does it need to be controlled by anywhere, or just when you are close by?

[Reply #2 on:]

Thanks for replied. Firstly, i wanna control only 1 light. The main idea in my project is being Android project. I have to make an android application for this. In hardware part i chose arduino. Because i worked a bit with it. Project must be wireless, because my project has to supply controlling my light in other cities via internet. In this case i want to give a static IP to my light. With this way we can reach system when we write this IP to phone or computer.
The close by part is when i run my android application on my phone, it connect with arduino and do what i want(open or close light). And also this part will be wireless.
Arduino for this project must supply ADK, and i found 'Arduino Mega ADK'. For controlling for other cities need 'Arduino Ethernet Shield w/o PoE R3'. But i dont know what can i use when i close by? dont know Ethernet shield is enough for it? If not enough, i need wireless shield or bluetooth shield?
I am sorry for asked a lot of things. As i said i am new with arduino and my knowledge is limited.

[Reply #3 on:]

Project must be wireless

The whole thing? That's going to make it difficult to hook things up.

because my project has to supply controlling my light in other cities via internet.

Ok, we got requirement (1) Must be able to change the state of the light through the internet.

In this case i want to give a static IP to my light.

That might be a little tough, light's do not know what IP addresses are. So we know you need to control this over the internet, which means you'll have to have an internet connection. So as far as a static IP address goes, that's going to depend on your ISP. Of course, if you are going through a router with NAT (most have this), then you will also need a local static IP, which is easy enough with Ethernet/WiFi.

The close by part is when i run my android application on my phone, it connect with arduino and do what i want(open or close light). And also this part will be wireless.

Does the android have an internet connection? It would be much easier to go back to the first requirement of changing through the internet like everyone else rather than adding another layer of complexity by adding Bluetooth/RF/NFC/Etc...

Arduino for this project must supply ADK, and i found 'Arduino Mega ADK'.

What do you mean by "must supply"? You have to use the ADK? None of your requirements at the moment call for the need for the ADK, nor is a mega really necessary.

For controlling for other cities need 'Arduino Ethernet Shield w/o PoE R3'. But i dont know what can i use when i close by? dont know Ethernet shield is enough for it? If not enough, i need wireless shield or bluetooth shield?

If you're planning on using an Ethernet Shield, then it doesn't look like the "whole project" has to be wireless.

You're requirements are still a little fuzzy; I have gathered that you need to be able to control over the internet, but have no idea what type of internet is available, if any at all. You also say the Android needs to connect wirelessly, but we don't know if the device itself needs to connect wirelessly.

[Reply #4 on:]

That might be a little tough, light's do not know what IP addresses are. So we know you need to control this over the internet, which means you'll have to have an internet connection. So as far as a static IP address goes, that's going to depend on your ISP. Of course, if you are going through a router with NAT (most have this), then you will also need a local static IP, which is easy enough with Ethernet/WiFi.

DDNS may be a solution to this problem, i know it worked for vnc'ing into a computer across the internet using a isp that has non-static ip adressing.

[Reply #5 on:]

DDNS may be a solution to this problem, i know it worked for vnc'ing into a computer across the internet using a isp that has non-static ip adressing.

Maybe, but it depends on the router/pc/network. DDNS requires some client to send updates; be it the router or a PC. It may also be completely unnecessary if the ISP is already providing a static IP.

[Reply #6 on:]

Well, i understand that making whole project without wire is too hard for a beginner like me. I searched a bit more and i found this video =>'' That guy made a project. I think i can make project like that. He is also using an IP to connect with system. But the first diffrence his project and mine is = At the end of the video he controlled lights also with his iPad. But in my project i want to control with my android application. It will be simple application. When i run the application, application wants to connect internet. And i will reach the IP which i gave it. Then i will control lights.(But i dont know in this part do i need an android development kit for my arduino?).
The second diffrence as i said is my lights need to control other cities which are closer my city.
I dont have to use Arduino Mega ADK. I thought, my project will has android application for control. Thats why i said that. Equipments were my thoughts. We can change them. Cheaper way will be best for me. So, according to that video and my requests, am I gonna need 1 arduino, 1 ethernet shield, 1 solid state relay? But arduino and ethernet shields have a lot of types. I dont know which ones are best for me?

[Reply #7 on:]

But the first diffrence his project and mine is = At the end of the video he controlled lights also with his iPad. But in my project i want to control with my android application.

Shouldn't make a difference; he is just using the web browser on the iPad, which Android's also have. As long as you setup a webserver using the Arduino ethernet, then any device will be able to connect to it.

It will be simple application. When i run the application, application wants to connect internet. And i will reach the IP which i gave it. Then i will control lights.(But i dont know in this part do i need an android development kit for my arduino?).

Do you have to write an Android app? If you need to have a web interface for the people outside of the city, then why not just use that same interface with a the Arduino's browser?

The second diffrence as i said is my lights need to control other cities which are closer my city.

Which has little do with the Arduino (short of having a network connection) and everything to do with your network and router.

I dont have to use Arduino Mega ADK. I thought, my project will has android application for control.

The ADK can communicate with the Android over a wired connection; you need a wireless one, and you're already using an ethernet shield and likely HTML to control it, so why not just use the same framework with the Android.

I dont know which ones are best for me?

The Uno and just about any of the Wiznet based Ethernet shields would work fine. The relay will depend on the current requirements of the light you are trying to switch.

[Reply #8 on:]

I understand all thing you told me except this;

Do you have to write an Android app? If you need to have a web interface for the people outside of the city, then why not just use that same interface with a the Arduino's browser?

Yes, there suppose to be android app. With computer control part i can use arduino's browser. But with phone control part i have to create a basic android app. I think if i hook up my android app and Arduino's browser, my problem will be solved. If it is not possible, i need to create 1 for computer and 1 for phone?
And I decided to buy this equipments => 'Arduino UNO R3' and 'Arduino Ethernet Shield Rev3 WITH PoE Module'.
I really look forward to start coding if i understand this last problem...

[Reply #9 on:]

If you have to use an an

I think if i hook up my android app and Arduino's browser, my problem will be solved.

The Arduino doesn't have a browser, your computer and your android have browsers. Browsers communicate with web servers primarily through HTTP. The Arduino, in this case would be a web server. The easiest way to have the webserver change the lights state based on the http request, and have the android app and the web browser each provide a UI to take care of that.

[Reply #10 on:]

I got it now. Thanks a lot for your whole help. You told me all i need with your patience. I appreciate that.
Best regards...