OT - but i'm sure someone here will have an idea

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S

Si K

Guest
Got a problem

Some complete sh*t broke into our stable yard last night - they cut the
metal around the padlocks on the 30foot container we use as a storage shed.

Our biggest problem with the location is that "rural" doesn't get close -
the nearest house is 1/2 mile away, and we have no power.

So, I was trying to think of something that I could do to at least alert
when someone is poking around where they shouldn't be.

So, first thoughts, are a simple light beam jobby across the tops of the
fences around the container - positioned over the fences where no-one would
normally go. Easy enough, maplin do a kit.

But what I want to trigger is either a phone call or an sms - anyone know of
a way to interface to a PAYG phone to send an SMS on demand?

Si


 
On Wed, 10 Nov 2004 10:23:08 -0000, "Si K"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Got a problem
>
>Some complete sh*t broke into our stable yard last night - they cut the
>metal around the padlocks on the 30foot container we use as a storage shed.
>
>Our biggest problem with the location is that "rural" doesn't get close -
>the nearest house is 1/2 mile away, and we have no power.
>
>So, I was trying to think of something that I could do to at least alert
>when someone is poking around where they shouldn't be.
>
>So, first thoughts, are a simple light beam jobby across the tops of the
>fences around the container - positioned over the fences where no-one would
>normally go. Easy enough, maplin do a kit.
>
>But what I want to trigger is either a phone call or an sms - anyone know of
>a way to interface to a PAYG phone to send an SMS on demand?
>
>Si
>
There is probably an elegant hi-tech means of interfacing to a phone,
but on mine, if you press the "green" button twice it redials the last
number.

In a kind of Wilf Lunn or Heath Robinson manner, it might be possible
to arrange the lightbeam thingy to trigger either a solenoid or a
small electric motor with an eccentric, which would repeatedly press
the call button on your phone, thus redialling a preset number.

If you set the phone to call either another mobile, or a landline with
caller ID, you would know where the call was coming from.

Does it show I am a mechanical, not electrical engineer?

David


 

"rads" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:eek:[email protected]...
> On Wed, 10 Nov 2004 10:23:08 -0000, "Si K"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >Got a problem
> >
> >Some complete sh*t broke into our stable yard last night - they cut the
> >metal around the padlocks on the 30foot container we use as a storage
shed.
> >
> >Our biggest problem with the location is that "rural" doesn't get close -
> >the nearest house is 1/2 mile away, and we have no power.
> >
> >So, I was trying to think of something that I could do to at least alert
> >when someone is poking around where they shouldn't be.
> >
> >So, first thoughts, are a simple light beam jobby across the tops of the
> >fences around the container - positioned over the fences where no-one
would
> >normally go. Easy enough, maplin do a kit.
> >
> >But what I want to trigger is either a phone call or an sms - anyone know
of
> >a way to interface to a PAYG phone to send an SMS on demand?
> >
> >Si
> >
> There is probably an elegant hi-tech means of interfacing to a phone,
> but on mine, if you press the "green" button twice it redials the last
> number.
>
> In a kind of Wilf Lunn or Heath Robinson manner, it might be possible
> to arrange the lightbeam thingy to trigger either a solenoid or a
> small electric motor with an eccentric, which would repeatedly press
> the call button on your phone, thus redialling a preset number.
>
> If you set the phone to call either another mobile, or a landline with
> caller ID, you would know where the call was coming from.
>
> Does it show I am a mechanical, not electrical engineer?
>
> David

I like this idea - simple but effective

Si


 
rads wrote:

>>But what I want to trigger is either a phone call or an sms - anyone know of
>>a way to interface to a PAYG phone to send an SMS on demand?

So it will need to be battery powered ? For how long between charges ?

Try this

http://www.galtech.co.uk/gsm-autodialler.htm

Try [email protected] for the price.

The current requirement is 45mA continuous, which will need a 12V
battery around 40 amp/hour to last 1 month without charging, though you
might get a little bit from a solar panel.]

You will need to put a little aerial somewhere too,

Steve
 
The power of a beam-break circuit is probably going to need bigger
batteries still. How about a microphone that can listen to the noise of
folks breaking in, and phone if it gets too loud ?

Steve
 
See http://www.rfsolutions.co.uk/acatalog/GSM_Telemetry.html

I use this and its a good system for the price. There are more expensive
systems that do more.




"Si K" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "rads" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:eek:[email protected]...
>> On Wed, 10 Nov 2004 10:23:08 -0000, "Si K"
>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>> >Got a problem
>> >
>> >Some complete sh*t broke into our stable yard last night - they cut the
>> >metal around the padlocks on the 30foot container we use as a storage
> shed.
>> >
>> >Our biggest problem with the location is that "rural" doesn't get
>> >close -
>> >the nearest house is 1/2 mile away, and we have no power.
>> >
>> >So, I was trying to think of something that I could do to at least alert
>> >when someone is poking around where they shouldn't be.
>> >
>> >So, first thoughts, are a simple light beam jobby across the tops of the
>> >fences around the container - positioned over the fences where no-one
> would
>> >normally go. Easy enough, maplin do a kit.
>> >
>> >But what I want to trigger is either a phone call or an sms - anyone
>> >know
> of
>> >a way to interface to a PAYG phone to send an SMS on demand?
>> >
>> >Si
>> >
>> There is probably an elegant hi-tech means of interfacing to a phone,
>> but on mine, if you press the "green" button twice it redials the last
>> number.
>>
>> In a kind of Wilf Lunn or Heath Robinson manner, it might be possible
>> to arrange the lightbeam thingy to trigger either a solenoid or a
>> small electric motor with an eccentric, which would repeatedly press
>> the call button on your phone, thus redialling a preset number.
>>
>> If you set the phone to call either another mobile, or a landline with
>> caller ID, you would know where the call was coming from.
>>
>> Does it show I am a mechanical, not electrical engineer?
>>
>> David
>
> I like this idea - simple but effective
>
> Si
>
>


 
"Si K" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Some complete sh*t broke into our stable yard last night - they cut the
> metal around the padlocks on the 30foot container we use as a storage
shed.

Sorry to hear that. An immediate, cheap (semi)solution is a simple "CCTV in
24 hour use" sign.

If you were a potential perp, would you take the chance?

--
Pete Foster - www.xmob.co.uk


 

"Steve Taylor" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> The power of a beam-break circuit is probably going to need bigger
> batteries still. How about a microphone that can listen to the noise of
> folks breaking in, and phone if it gets too loud ?
>
> Steve

Batteries aren't problem, as we have a constant cycle of charing batteries
for electric fences, so to draw a bit more from them isnt a probem.

The nature of the location, 1/2mile from civilisation but next to a road and
the M25 is such that whatever I choose to implement has to be reasonably
clever, hence thinking the light beam over the fences where no-one would
normally go, then the trigger being light beam and door of container being
opened.

Si


 
On Wed, 10 Nov 2004 10:23:08 -0000, "Si K"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Our biggest problem with the location is that "rural" doesn't get close -
>the nearest house is 1/2 mile away, and we have no power.

How are you going to power any security devices?.
Solar panels and some leisure batteries might work well, or are there
any better ways that you have thought of?

 

"Steve Taylor" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> The power of a beam-break circuit is probably going to need bigger
> batteries still. How about a microphone that can listen to the noise of
> folks breaking in, and phone if it gets too loud ?
>
> Steve

Batteries aren't problem, as we have a constant cycle of charing batteries
for electric fences, so to draw a bit more from them isnt a probem.

The nature of the location, 1/2mile from civilisation but next to a road and
the M25 is such that whatever I choose to implement has to be reasonably
clever, hence thinking the light beam over the fences where no-one would
normally go, then the trigger being light beam and door of container being
opened.

Si


 
Si K wrote:

> The nature of the location, 1/2mile from civilisation but next to a road and
> the M25 is such that whatever I choose to implement has to be reasonably
> clever, hence thinking the light beam over the fences where no-one would
> normally go, then the trigger being light beam and door of container being
> opened.

Light beams will pull a fair amount of current I thought , but I have
just seen one right in your power budget, but don't know about price.
takes 10mA for the transmitter and 47 for the receiver, so you are up to
around 80ah for 1 month's storage - Leisure battery territory.

http://easylinkuk.co.uk/page30.html

Steve
 
So Si K was, like,

> > If you set the phone to call either another mobile, or a landline with
> > caller ID, you would know where the call was coming from.
> >
> > Does it show I am a mechanical, not electrical engineer?
> >
> > David
>
> I like this idea - simple but effective
>
> Si

No-one's mentioned the pre-aimed, pre-loaded shotgun yet. It
circumvents the need for a text/phone/audio alert altogether. And a
police investigation, if you're as remote as you say and you hide the
body well.

Rich
 
On Wed, 10 Nov 2004 11:34:00 -0000, "Pete Foster"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>"Si K" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> Some complete sh*t broke into our stable yard last night - they cut the
>> metal around the padlocks on the 30foot container we use as a storage
>shed.
>
>Sorry to hear that. An immediate, cheap (semi)solution is a simple "CCTV in
>24 hour use" sign.
>
>If you were a potential perp, would you take the chance?

Yeah, because being if the nearest house is 1/2mile away, the nearest
copper will be about 4 hours away, and they're not going to do
anything when you report it anyway.

Alex
 
What immediately sprang to mind was car alarms.

There are various movement/ultrasonic car alarm systems that come with
pagers, the alarm goes off - it pages you. It's all 12v so easy to wire up
to an old car battery or something similar.

Muddy


"Si K" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Got a problem
>
> Some complete sh*t broke into our stable yard last night - they cut the
> metal around the padlocks on the 30foot container we use as a storage
> shed.
>
> Our biggest problem with the location is that "rural" doesn't get close -
> the nearest house is 1/2 mile away, and we have no power.
>
> So, I was trying to think of something that I could do to at least alert
> when someone is poking around where they shouldn't be.
>
> So, first thoughts, are a simple light beam jobby across the tops of the
> fences around the container - positioned over the fences where no-one
> would
> normally go. Easy enough, maplin do a kit.
>
> But what I want to trigger is either a phone call or an sms - anyone know
> of
> a way to interface to a PAYG phone to send an SMS on demand?
>
> Si
>
>


 
Si K wrote:

> Got a problem
>
> Some complete sh*t broke into our stable yard last night - they cut the
> metal around the padlocks on the 30foot container we use as a storage shed.
>
> Our biggest problem with the location is that "rural" doesn't get close -
> the nearest house is 1/2 mile away, and we have no power.
>
> So, I was trying to think of something that I could do to at least alert
> when someone is poking around where they shouldn't be.
>
> So, first thoughts, are a simple light beam jobby across the tops of the
> fences around the container - positioned over the fences where no-one would
> normally go. Easy enough, maplin do a kit.
>
> But what I want to trigger is either a phone call or an sms - anyone know of
> a way to interface to a PAYG phone to send an SMS on demand?

Easy alternative: bear traps.

 
On Wed, 10 Nov 2004 10:58:17 +0000, rads
<[email protected]> wrote:

>There is probably an elegant hi-tech means of interfacing to a phone,
>but on mine, if you press the "green" button twice it redials the last
>number.
>
>In a kind of Wilf Lunn or Heath Robinson manner, it might be possible
>to arrange the lightbeam thingy to trigger either a solenoid or a
>small electric motor with an eccentric, which would repeatedly press
>the call button on your phone, thus redialling a preset number.

Scary - this was exactly the setup I had in Grumble and worked a treat
with an old Ericsson T888 or somesuch. Now replaced, by the way, as
the phone died.

 
On Thu, 11 Nov 2004 00:17:41 +0000, Mother <"@ {m} @"@101fc.net>
wrote:

>On Wed, 10 Nov 2004 10:58:17 +0000, rads
><[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>There is probably an elegant hi-tech means of interfacing to a phone,
>>but on mine, if you press the "green" button twice it redials the last
>>number.
>>
>>In a kind of Wilf Lunn or Heath Robinson manner, it might be possible
>>to arrange the lightbeam thingy to trigger either a solenoid or a
>>small electric motor with an eccentric, which would repeatedly press
>>the call button on your phone, thus redialling a preset number.
>
>Scary - this was exactly the setup I had in Grumble and worked a treat
>with an old Ericsson T888 or somesuch. Now replaced, by the way, as
>the phone died.

I have an SH888 complete with battery in the back of the 101 should
you have use for it. The power connector appears identical to the one
on my P910, so I may charge it up and see if it works. An much abused
and totally reliable device.
--

Tim Hobbs

'58 Series 2 88" aka "Stig"
'77 101FC Ambulance aka "Burrt"
'03 Volvo V70

My Landies? http://www.seriesii.co.uk
Barcoding? http://www.bartec-systems.com
Tony Luckwill web archive at http://www.luckwill.com
 
So Alex was, like

>
>> If you were a potential perp, would you take the chance?
>
> Yeah, because being if the nearest house is 1/2mile away, the nearest
> copper will be about 4 hours away, and they're not going to do
> anything when you report it anyway.
>
> Alex

I live in a similar rural situation - nearest house ½ mile, cops about 5
miles - but how long would it take them to turn out?. Sadly, you're right.
I have a shotgun and plenty of cartridges, but I have resisted leaving it
under the bed for all kinds of reasons. (Burglars - it's in a secure gun
safe.) I am thinking of asking Santa for a baseball bat, however.

--

Rich

Nullum Gratuitum Prandium


 
Richard Brookman vaguely muttered something like ...
> So Alex was, like
>
>>
>>> If you were a potential perp, would you take the chance?
>>
>> Yeah, because being if the nearest house is 1/2mile away, the nearest
>> copper will be about 4 hours away, and they're not going to do
>> anything when you report it anyway.
>>
>> Alex
>
> I live in a similar rural situation - nearest house ½ mile, cops about 5
> miles - but how long would it take them to turn out?. Sadly, you're
> right. I have a shotgun and plenty of cartridges, but I have resisted
> leaving it under the bed for all kinds of reasons. (Burglars - it's in a
> secure gun safe.) I am thinking of asking Santa for a baseball bat,
> however.

I used to play Ice Hockey ... ;) The sticks are pretty spectacular when
wielded in front of someone intent on no good. tends to make them change
their minds .. ;)

--
Paul ...
(8(|) Homer Rules !!!
"A tosser is a tosser, no matter what mode of transport they're using."


 
On 10 Nov 2004 08:15:55 -0800, Richard Brookman wrote:

> No-one's mentioned the pre-aimed, pre-loaded shotgun yet. It
> circumvents the need for a text/phone/audio alert altogether. And a
> police investigation, if you're as remote as you say and you hide
> the body well.

Some one will find it or notice someone is missing. However you can
get (or make) holders for (blank if you must) cartridges with a spring
driven firing pin released by a trip wire. The unexpected flash/bang
would be a brown trouser job I would have thought...

Technology to alert you that something/one is present is one thing but
how about making access difficult in the first place? Can you plant a
nice thorny hedge alongside the existing fence, attach coiled razor or
barbed wire to to the top?

You say you have fencers, wire one to the container? or to something
you have to get past/climb through/over to get to the container. Might
be worth taking advice on what warning notices would be a good idea to
have about. Otherwise some scroat will try and sue you for damages...

--
Cheers [email protected]
Dave. pam is missing e-mail



 
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