iPhone/Android to Wifi to Arduino

Projects Networking, Protocols, and Devices
1

Hello everyone, I have a quick question on compatibility for a project I'm starting work on.

I need my arduino to create a wifi signal strong enough to be picked up by an iPhone or Android device up to 1000 yards away. This is quite a distance, I know, but wifi is probably my only option, as there is no possibility for an external device to be attached to the phone.

My idea was to use:

WiFi DiamondBack 1.0 -- Arduino Compatible WiFi
http://www.cutedigi.com/product_info.php?products_id=4570
As my "brain" for the project, it only needs to take input from one source, to be put out as wifi.

Backfire 2.4 GHz WiFi Antenna

As an external directional antenna to give me the distance I need.

What needs to be sent to the phone is a point on a standard (x,y) Coordinate plane, not in real time.

Thanks for your help.

2

This is quite a distance, I know, but wifi is probably my only option, as there is no possibility for an external device to be attached to the phone.

you could consider some repeaters in between ...

3

robtillaart:

This is quite a distance, I know, but wifi is probably my only option, as there is no possibility for an external device to be attached to the phone.

you could consider some repeaters in between ...

That was brought up already, but it won't work, because this will most likely be going from ridge to ridge across a river basin.

If the antenna I linked isn't strong enough, are there any antennas with more power that could get the job done?

4

I have seen articles a long time ago to increase the range of a wrt router by using pringles boxes (== tubes with alu foil ) to aim the wifi beam .
see - http://askbobrankin.com/10_ways_to_boost_your_wifi_signal.html - point 5

5

robtillaart:
I have seen articles a long time ago to increase the range of a wrt router by using pringles boxes (== tubes with alu foil ) to aim the wifi beam .
see - Here’s How to Boost Your WiFi Signal - point 5

But the problem is, I don't plan on using a wrt router, just the built in wifi with the blackwidow... I assume, however, that it follows a similar concept to the wrt router, and a commercial antenna will work. The finished product is going to a client, so a pringles can won't work haha.

6

You could hook it up for a (directional) yagi antenna. check wikipedia.

7

TimZaman:
You could hook it up for a (directional) yagi antenna. check wikipedia.

Like this??

http://www.radiolabs.com/products/antennas/2.4gig/18eleyagi.php

Oh, and because this is an N-type adapter, and I'm assuming that the arduino uses a UFL, should I pick up an adapter cable?

8

Bump?

9

Not sure exactly what you are trying to do, but if you expect your phone by itself to connect 1,000', that might be difficult due to the limited power output of the phone. Can you now connect your phone to a wifi spot at 1,000'? In the below link I looked at some high power wireless routers and high gain antennas. You might connect an arduino with an ethernet shield to a wireless router with a high gain directional antenna to beam across the gap. If the phone still can't connect, then place another similar wireless router setup on the phone side of the gap and bribge the routers. Then the phone can connect to the phone side router. Back in the day I use to war drive using a homemade directional antenna just to see how distant connections I could find.

http://www.lynxmotion.net/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=6343

10

zoomkat:
Not sure exactly what you are trying to do, but if you expect your phone by itself to connect 1,000', that might be difficult due to the limited power output of the phone. Can you now connect your phone to a wifi spot at 1,000'? In the below link I looked at some high power wireless routers and high gain antennas. You might connect an arduino with an ethernet shield to a wireless router with a high gain directional antenna to beam across the gap. If the phone still can't connect, then place another similar wireless router setup on the phone side of the gap and bribge the routers. Then the phone can connect to the phone side router. Back in the day I use to war drive using a homemade directional antenna just to see how distant connections I could find.

http://www.lynxmotion.net/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=6343

Exactly why I was planning on using a high gain antenna. So, running a high-gain antenna directly to a wifi shield isn't possible I gather. The finished product really can't have another router on the phone end of things, I'll have to work something else out if I can't connect to an antenna...