Getting data from a sensor over the internet

Projects General Guidance
1

Hi,

I have a problem and I was wondering if anyone can provide some guidance as to where to start.

I would like to create a prototype that senses if an object exists or not (or preferably multiple objects). I would also like to get this information over the internet.

This would be reported on a status page that told you if there was anything in front of the sensor or not.

Does anyone know of examples that have been done with Arduino that achieve this or any advice?

I am just starting out with Arduino and have not used it yet but want to experiment.

Thanks,
Dom.

2

Does anyone know of examples that have been done with Arduino that achieve this or any advice?

The WebServer example in the Ethernet library does this, for analog pins. Changing the example to use some digital pins would be trivial.

3

PaulS:
The WebServer example in the Ethernet library does this

Thanks, I found what you were talking about here: http://arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/WebServer and it looks like exactly what I want to use. I will start there.

This also assumes the use of an ethernet connection. Has anybody found ways of communicating to an Arduino over wireless or even 3G networks? I was thinking you could maybe hook up a 3G dongle to the Arduino. Would this be possible?

4

Has anybody found ways of communicating to an Arduino over wireless or even 3G networks?

Of course.

I was thinking you could maybe hook up a 3G dongle to the Arduino. Would this be possible?

Probably not. Depends on the dongle, but most are USB slaves. As is the Arduino. A USB slave can not control a USB slave. Only a USB Host/Master can control a USB slave.

Adding a USB Host shield would solve the problem, but then you need to write all the code to control the 3G dongle. Save the aggravation and hassle and buy the right hardware.

For your second project, maybe. Not for your first.

5

PaulS:
Save the aggravation and hassle and buy the right hardware.

What would the right hardware be to achieve this? I'm ambitious :slight_smile:

6

What would the right hardware be to achieve this?

A GPRS/GSM shield. Or a WiFi shield.

I'm ambitious

Good. You google them, then.

7

Thank you very much for your help. I will go away and work with this.