Celluar Automation
- A Quick Guide To Re-Animating Your Home and Re-Connecting Your
Home Security System
If you own a home security system, and are being monitored
by a private company, friends, or a professional call center;
then you already have that comfortable feeling. This online info
is for those wanting to re-connect cheaply or are just curious
about dropping the land-line and turning to cellular connectivity
for automation which; is the next best upgrade you can give your
home.
In 2011 Cobra
Electronics Corp. got a New Product Choice Award for its
Cobra PhoneLynx.
This little thing is not new, in fact; its just a simple Bluetooth
Gateway. These gateways as they are called; are activated by
a cell phone somewhere near by, and come in many different styles
and cost. Cobra's award was for the best simplicity and comsummer
use plus the cost is quite affordable when you look around. There
are two versions of this little device, and both work great.
The Cobra PhoneLynx BT215a <--("a" is for
android) model (about $70) lets you setup and monitor the device
with your android phone. The BT215 version without android control
just acts as a simple connection. You can get the regular BT215
for under $50 bucks on the net or you can get it at most popular
retail stores like; Sears, Frys, Kmart, and some phone or hardware
stores. The android version is about $20 bucks more and the most
popular which; could make it hard to find.
As mentioned; this is not exactly a new device to make
your home phone-line (and all the other stuff) work again. There
have been several different manufactured gateway devices which
do the same thing as the PhoneLynx, but do alot more. Some may
contain battery backup, home networking with wifi, internet security,
and even caller ID with answering system.
For several friends and myself, I chose the PhoneLynx as
a fast and simple way to connect my home security system and
drop the land-line. If you dropped your land-line already, this
is one of the best upgrades or additions you can do. All you
need is; a basic cell phone with bluetooth. As mentioned
earlier; shop around for the new phone and its uses. I found
an LG TracFone
with camera, messaging, and bluetooth on sale$19.99 with a year
of service for $99 at my local pharmacy (CVS/RiteAid). These
little phones are easy to use and keep, with No contract, No
credit check, and No questions.
In the past few years there have been a couple long/short
term cell phones available for the elderly or disabled from SafeLink,
LifeLine and others (watchout for scams!) These "welfare"
phones can be paid for by insurance or even the state or government.
If you are on Medicaid, Disability, or even food stamps, you
might be eligible for one of these simple "limited use"
phones. Examine the contract or agreement before you sign, and
make sure it has the Bluetooth headset feature.
Only if you know what you are doing should you modify or
change these devices. Here is the basic change I did for my own
system. All you need is; a car charger that is 9vDC at 200-400ml
Amp (about a 3rd of an amp) and use it as the power for the PhoneLynx.
Incase power failure, the system will still work for weeks, even
months (mine went about 120 days on fully charged 12vDC 5Ah Alarm
Battery (about $40-$45) from my local battery store.
Emergency power is part of the home security system, so
if your current battery is good; it should handle the extra draw
from the PhoneLynx with no probs, but if your battery is old
or you don't have one; get a NEW one. They are usually lead/acid
type and quite heavy. They can last about 1-3 years with good
charging habits. The basic cigarette lighter/car charger from
most popular retail stores will work for the BT215 or BT215a;
just be sure to use a rating of 9VDC and it has to be about 200-400mA,
it should be under 500mA or (half an amp) anything more and you
run the risk of burning-out the device alot quicker than designed.
For devices that require a little more kick, I found a
car charger at Walmart
for about $24 and it is the new(er) kind. It has a (5VDC@500mA)
USB port for charging my phone, tablet, and other devices. It
has a selectable power switch, so you can choose the voltage
you want (its got almost 2 full amps!). I bought several of these
for myself and friends, they make a great gift.
There really is no such thing as "long distance"
anymore, but if you live outside of town or are up in the hills;
then maybe look into a cell booster or some kinda amplifier.
Some of the amplifiers out there are rather expensive, but only
if you go over 5 watts. Right now, the average amount of power
your phone has...is just under 1. The price of these extra or
sometimes needed amps vary too much to list here. I suggest you
look around on ebay, amazon, and all the other places for awhile
before deciding on what you need.(check zBoost out first, they
have many models available, and have been around fer sometime).
If you decide on using an amplifier for your new phone,
be sure to have enough backup power for your needs. If you decided
you need extra cell range or power, then maybe using a motorcycle
battery or car battery might be your best bet for backup power.
Plus it will handle the power needs of some of the larger amps
out there.
When using a motorcycle or vehicle battery, make sure you
have it in a well-ventilated area and protected from the weather
or from kids and animals. An old computer cabinet will work,
and it also has a power supply that can charge the battery now
and then when it needs it. Never place a batter on steel table,
counters, concrete, rocks/dirt, or any surface that can conduct
electricity or be damaged by leakage. Try to keep it on a piece
of wood or plastic blocks at all times. Even though they are
proven safe, you should never actually handle these batteries
with your bare hands, especially if it may be several years old.
With the new phone line in your house; you can now hookup
your old devices and things that made it cool like... Automation.
The times have changed but the needs are still the same; automatic
control of your house from anywhere in the world! Its not new;
in fact its been around for nearly 50years. So, if you own an
X10 security system
or use stuff like the X10 Phone Responder or the 'ol Active Home
System, then you'll be totally charged to know; you can call
your house again :-)
NOTE: You can also use the new DIY (do it yourself) Home
Security Systems being sold on eBay, Amazon,
or at your local retail or online store (Walmart, Kmart, Sears etc..)
For only $99 bucks these new wireless systems can be installed
anywhere such as; your car, truck, boat, office, guest house,
pool shed or anywhere you need security. Just make sure it has
a DIALER built-in.
If a break-in occurs, you can "listen" to what's
happening in your house or car before you call the police. Plus
you can ARM or DISARM it with just a phone call, All the good
(LED) sets come ready to protect right out of the box, and should
include a couple keychain remotes.
Shop around for the system you want, there are lots to
choose from, and not all are created equal. The more expensive
systems can run into the hundreds, and may require you to have
a cell phone SIM card to get started..
Some of the products listed below are limited, and maynot
be immediately available. Shop around and be patient, especially
if you are looking for a certain model...good luck & stay
safe!
-cc2012
BLUETOOTH PHONE/GATEWAYS
(this is just a few of the best
available)
Cobra BT215/BT215a
Grace Digital Cell2Tel
CellFusion
Xtreme's XLink BT/BTTN (bttn=telephone device options)
IntelliTouch XLink BT
GE/Siemens Gigaset One (G1)
Cell Amplifiers, Boosters,
and Repeaters
(As of 2010 - all new amps,
boosters, or repeaters should be Dual Channel- 800MHz/1900MHz
compatible. Take your time when shopping for this equipment;
there hundreds of choices, and check with your phone company
when you buy your new phone, they will be happy to tell you what
channel it uses)
zBoost Cell
Amplifier (newest standard
model is: YX545 dual)
Wilson Electronics Cell Booster (kinda expensive but has
lots of stuff)
Dr. Tech Signal Booster (more high-power, high-price devices)
Multimedia & Software