An exploration into the possibilities for individual construction and customization of the most ubiquitous of electronic devices, the cellphone. By creating and sharing open-source designs for the phone’s circuit board and case, we hope to encourage a proliferation of personalized and diverse mobile phones. Freed from the constraints of mass production, we plan to explore diverse materials, shapes, and functions. We hope that the project will help us explore and expand the limits of do-it-yourself (DIY) practice. How close can a homemade project come to the design of a cutting edge device? What are the economics of building a high-tech device in small quantities? Which parts are even available to individual consumers? What’s required for people to customize and build their own devices?
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Nice project, although I would have chosen a more DIY compatible module like the Simcom SIM900D (something) or the smaller SIM700DZ (or something).
From my experience the main problem actually is power for the GSM module. You need a fairly low impedance source to be able to reliably supply enough power for those 4 amp surges. The voltage may (according to the datasheet) only drop 200 mV or so. That’s 50 mOhms. However it you run it at the maximum voltage (4 Volts) it’s more forgiving.
What can solve the problem is that most (if not all) GSM-modules have a built in charger for Lithium Ion batteries, so you can use those as a power source.
What I’d do with such a device would be a terminal to my computer at home. Those GSM modules often have an integrated TCP/IP stack.
o_O
That is just awesome!!!
Who cares about customizing your phone when you can MAKE a custom phone?
Nice project, although I would have chosen a more DIY compatible module like the Simcom SIM900D (something) or the smaller SIM700DZ (or something).
From my experience the main problem actually is power for the GSM module. You need a fairly low impedance source to be able to reliably supply enough power for those 4 amp surges. The voltage may (according to the datasheet) only drop 200 mV or so. That’s 50 mOhms. However it you run it at the maximum voltage (4 Volts) it’s more forgiving.
What can solve the problem is that most (if not all) GSM-modules have a built in charger for Lithium Ion batteries, so you can use those as a power source.
What I’d do with such a device would be a terminal to my computer at home. Those GSM modules often have an integrated TCP/IP stack.
More info can be found in my 2600 article available in beautiful print at your local store, or directly from 2600, or if you can’t get it there, it’s also here http://casandro.dyndns.org/2600/towards_a_hacker_friendly_mobile_world.txt