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[on:]

Hi all and welcome to my brand new project! RoomBox.

RoomBox is an opensource domotica project which mainly focussus on people who are (temporary) disabled and lazy people.

I’m a dutch guy attending HAN University. The reason that this blog will be in English, is because i want people from all over the world to be able to contribute and look for help.

Stay tuned on this project, meanwhile checkout the images below! These are renders from how i would like to see the final project







The core of this box should include RF Controlling, IR Controlling and relay switching. Upon this there should be an app interface which connects to a ASUS WL-500G router. Yep, a router containing OpenWRT

I'll keep ya'll posted!

[Reply #1 on:]

Dear Roombox Guys and Girls,

Today we've been through alot of ups and downs, do's and don'ts and works and don't works. But we've made our first major progress in the project!

Today we've been able to control a TV through Infrared, with the microchip controller aboard of Arduino.

So, what do you get when you combine everything on this image:



Exactly! This video! Check it out

http://www.youtube.com/embed/kVB6tccjqbA

The next functionality will be the RF Sending through the wireless power sockets. You will see

[Reply #2 on:]

Hey All,

Today is another big day, i've managed to add the second functionality of the core module. It's the wireless power control over 433mhz.

For those who have no clue what i'm talking about:

• Low Power Device 433 MHz (LPD433) transceiver radios are short range, licence free communication devices authorized for use in many parts of the world. In some countries, however, voice is not allowed over LPD.

So what it basicly does is sending a little signal over the air to toggle wireless power sockers as this ones:

To power this all; i've used the transmitter from the following url: http://www2.conrad.nl/goto.php?artikel=130428

The sketch for this is available here:

http://roombox.nl/download/RoomboxSendRFCode.ino

Now all sit back and relax; here is the movie of it to see it work!

http://www.youtube.com/embed/AvXmmqcrIYQ

[Reply #3 on:]

Hi Folks,

Today i've managed to switch relays using my arduino kit.<a href="http://www.glacialwanderer.com/hobbyrobotics/?p=9"> I found this circuit on the web</a> and edited it to switch a couple of relays instead of one.



See movie below:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/GrL-ncJh9as?feature=player_embedded

We're now looking at almost finishing the hardware. So far, i've managed to complete: RF switching and listening,  IR sending and listening and Relay switching. I've also started working on the hardware-software bridge.

[Reply #4 on:]

HI Folks,

This maybe nice to see. I'm switching a large amount of RF controlled powersockets with the 'RoomBox core'. It's working through the WL-500G connected to the Arduino!

Enjoy watching:

http://www.youtube.com/embed/zrc6XMx1ZiM

[Reply #5 on:]

This is the final circuit board build by me for Roombox. The board contains a couple of important things.

- RF Receiver
- RF Sender
- 4 Relays
- Connector for IR leds.

If anyone want to see the final circuit drawing, please let me know in the comments. I'll draw the circuit!



For your guys information. This is working already; from a webinterface which is connected to the WL500G.Bit of source information to the rightfull owners:

 * Using Remote Switch library by Fuzzilogic: https://bitbucket.org/fuzzillogic/433mhzforarduino/wiki/Home
 * Using serial port reading example by PockyBum522: http://forums.adafruit.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&p=122799
 * Using string to long example by: davekw7x: http://www.arduino.cc/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1286545227

[Reply #6 on:]

Nice work

[Reply #7 on:]

I agree, nice project.  This is going to keep you busy for a long time though.

[Reply #8 on:]

Agreed on that one. However, it may take up to half a year (or 20 school weeks) to finish this project. And since it should work from an opensource/community type of thing; it should never be done.

Would love to have input from other people!

Thanks for your intrests people!

[Reply #9 on:]

Dear Woodehh,

really interesting project I was looking for.

For some reason I hope you agree to give me (even in mp if necessary) all needed code and plan to make your roombox.

Two reason for that :
1) I will need it to remotely activate my homeserver. I currently can wake it up with the etherwake command but it could be interesting to also be able to switch other peripherals on or off following what I need.

2) I want to upgrade the security of my house. Then this roombox could be interesting to randomly activate some lights.

And those both need could then be activated by my ASUS WL-500g Premium router (also configured in OpenWRT).

In place of using wireless between the router and the roombox is it possible to use them connected by RJ45 cable ?

Sincerely thanks for all you can share with me because I still never touch at the Arduino HW and SW. Then it could be my first touch but also with a really needed home automation approach.

Have a nice day and with pleasure to read you soon.

Miguipda ;-)