X10 Community Forum
🖥️ActiveHome Pro => ActiveHome Pro General => Topic started by: webrod on May 07, 2011, 06:32:08 AM
-
Hi,
I am wondering if there is a means to make a call from AHP thanks to a cellphone.
I have a cellphone that I don't use, and now you can subscribe for 1$ per month.
So I could let an additional cellphone 7/24 linked to a PC (USB or bluetooth).
But I don't know if there is a way to make a call from AHP (or even from an external command).
is it possible?
it would be a cheap way to notify an alarm.
Thanks
rod
-
If you can find a Windows program that can dial the phone, you can launch it from a macro, perhaps.
-
Hi,
actually I did a small test yersteday with a sony ericsson vivaz.
I did install the driver so it is shown as a modem in windows.
For sure I can use it to access internet, but when I tried to use a software like winphone, it said that the "vocal" feature is not a feature of the modem, so Winphone disabled the "voice" feature.
It was not possible to call withWinPhone.
I didn't investigate further, maybe it's only possible to make an internet connection, and not a call....
thx
Rod
-
..., but when I tried to use a software like winphone,...
Is Winphone a program that runs on a PC and can access a cellphone thru its modem driver? If so, can you please provide some info as to who offers this program? I tried to search on "winphone", but apparently that term is a very popular abbreviation for "windows phone 7" and that's all that gets returned for my search.
-
it's the first one when you google.
Like here:
http://www.01net.com/telecharger/windows/Bureautique/telephonie/fiches/50341.html
It's to make call or send fax through a modem.
So I guess it should work with a cell phone as soon as it is connected through bluetooth or USB, and with the specific driver on windows so it is seen as a modem (which is the case with the sony VIVAZ)
Please note that I have found this:
http://forums.x10.com/index.php?topic=13287.msg74010#msg74010
It looks EXCITING!!! Will test ASAP!!!!
Rod
-
If you wish to make a voice call you need a voice modem!
a fax or data modem will not work.
In the third party software look for AlertDialer
I think it will do what you want if you have a compatible voice modem.
>!
-
my god, it looks exactly what I am looking for!!!!!!
#:)
-
unfortunatelly, I did a test witrh a sony ericsson vivaz, and a NOKIA 6100, both have a modem not recognized as voice modem.
Do you have an idea how I can know that a cellphone does support voice modem before I buy it?
Is there a website with this information?
So I buy one with this feature (if possible a old one, as it will remain beside the PC...).
Actually, it's strange because when I received a call with the cellphone connected to the PC, I got a notification message and was able to answer the call from the PC, with the Nokia PC suite application. How is it possible if the mode does not support voice????
Or maybe AlertDialer does not check correctly???
thanks for your help
Rod
-
AlertDialer was designed to use a PC voice modem internal or external.
I'm not sure how your connecting to your cell.
Does AlertDialer see your phone as a modem at all?
Does windows Hiper Terminal see your phone as a modem?
Are you able to make a call with Hyper Terminal?
-
Hi,
I did connect the phone with a USB cable.
It is seen as a modem by AlertDialer.
But at startup it says it is a data modem.
I didn't try Hyperterminal, as I don't know which command I should sent :-\
Do you know them??
Thanks
Rod
-
Hi,
I did connect the phone with a USB cable.
It is seen as a modem by AlertDialer.
But at startup it says it is a data modem.
I didn't try Hyperterminal, as I don't know which command I should sent :-\
Do you know them??
Thanks
Rod
You can find the commands on the internet! http://michaelgellis.tripod.com/modem.html just one example.
It is possible the phone is using VOIP which Alertdialer isn't designed for.
You may need a cell phone docking device Like: http://www.phonelabs.com/prd05.asp that allows corded phones to use the cells connection.
Of coarse then you'd need a voice modem in the PC or between the two. ::) :'
I guess you could always send a dumb call out (no annoucement or interaction)
Even Hyper terminal could do that from AHP ::) :'
>!
-
Hi,
actually I did a test with Hyperterminal.
I can call a number, but I can't hear anything.
It's already good as it can be used to notify me about an intrusion for instance.
As the cell phone would have a dedicated subscription, it will have a phone number specific for that purpose.
So If I receive a call on my own cell phone from this phone number, it means there is an intrusion!! I don't need to hear any message.
Then I have to find a way to do it from command line, so I can start a batch from AHP when there is a sensor detection.
FYI here is the result I got from a software called "voice modem tester":
<> TESTING NOKIA 6300 USB MODEM <>
POOR: MODEM NOT VOICE CAPABLE
OKAY: NO CAPABILITY FOR CALLER ID
OKAY: DTMF KEY DETECTION NOT CAPABLE
OKAY: SPEAKER PHONE NOT AVAILABLE
OKAY: SPEAKER PHONE/VOL/GAIN NOT ADJUSTABLE
OKAY: NO LOCAL PHONE DEVICE (HANDSET)
OKAY: NO HOOKSWITCH PHONE INFO
POOR: PLAY\REC (16BIT 8KHZ MONO) UNSUPPORTED
Phone Event: ERROR (6) = Not a Voice Modem
<> MODEM HAS BEEN OPENED <>
I am still trying to find out if a cell phone with voice modem does exist or not
Thanks for your help
Rod
-
Hi,
actually, for cellphone without voice feature, it is still possible to send a SMS with the description of the alert.
I hope this can be added to tools like AHP or alertdialer and so on.
I use "gammu" for that purpose (both sending a SMS alarm or receiving SMS for triggering any X10 senarios like enabling the alarm)
Rod
-
Well sending a sms is just a email.
AHP can do that now as can PCC, Ihouse, X10dispatcher and a number of other programs.
Though I'm not sure how one would do it with a connected cell phone.
-
yes they can send an email.
I use this feature.
But:
- you don't always have an access to your email, so receiving a SMS is nice (assuming you always have your cell phone with you)
- if the thief cuts the land line, then it's really useful to use a GSM, it will always work
- if the thief cuts the whole power, then you can also trigger that and send the notification by GSM (assuming you have a "battery" for the PC)
For this you just need a dedicated old cell phone thay you let forever beside the PC, and a cheap 1$/month subsciption just for that purpose.
When there is a senario triggered from AHP, it can call a .bat file, that will use gammu to send an alert by SMS.
It could even provide the name of the senario as a parameter, so you know which one is involved.
On top of the X10 story, You can also build your own small software that:
1) detects whether the internet connection is broken (if the thief cut the land line) to send the SMS (quite easy, just need to ping a website for instance or any other means).
2) detects whether the power is down (if the thief cut the whole power). One means: with gammu, you can know from the GSM whether it is connected to the power or to the battery only...
Another solution from outside if you have a web server at home.
You can ping your internal web server from an external web site (just need to host a website outside).
If your internal web server does not respond, then you know there is a problem.
Rod
-
webrod, where can you find cell phone plan for $1/month? I would be interested myself.
-
sorry but I am in France, I don't know where you live (and don't know for other countries actually).
It's actually 1.5€/month, and you can leave when you want!!
Even after one month.
And it counts each second (not each whole minute!!).
And no minimu of call per month... EVen if you never call, you do not loose the subscription.
Here is the link in french:
http://www.prixtel.com/particulier/offre-telephone-mobile/forfait-chrono-sans-engagement/chrono
Of course the cost per minute is a little bit more expensive than other: 0,12€/minute
But who cares, it's just to send an alarm, so it does not happen that often...
BTW I did have already one like this for my car, so If I have an accident, it calls the police.
I will subscribe to another one for the alarm purpose
I hope you have the same in your country :)
Rod