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01-22-2012, 05:34 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Pensacola, FL
Posts: 374
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question
As I understand it a photocell is a form of a variable resistor, so the board "knows" about the presence of light by sensing a specific voltage. Could you possibly eliminate a possible failure mode by just direct wiring the ringer/vibrate with a resistor in parallel or in place of the photocell? Basically the ring/vibe of the phone sets it off?
__________________
RV-? in planning stages.
RV-14 #140050 SOLD
Permanently willing to contribute fuel for RV rides
Helicopter ATP/CFI(I)
ASEL/AMEL Commercial/Inst/CFI(I)
Aerobatic Instruction available
Atlanta based.
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01-22-2012, 06:11 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Sumner, WA
Posts: 722
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Good question Dean. I guess the only downfall of using something online is you wouldn't receive the confirmation text.
I have the GSM-RELAY by www.waferstar.com. (bought off ebay). It seams to be about the same as the GSM-AUTO unit.
I had originally thought I would only text it, but it's a lot easier just to call. I have my cell in the whitelist so it'll only take calls from me. It rings twice and immediately goes to voicemail. This turns on my hangar heat for 30 minutes. I love it!
Something else pretty cool. The power has been out all over the place lately. (snow storm with freezing rain). I figured my hangar probably didn't have power either so instead of driving up there I just texted a status check. Sure enough no reply. The cool part is when the power did come back on 6 hours later, I received a reply to my status check.
__________________
Jeff Bloomquist
Sumner, WA
PP-ASEL, IR
RV-7A
Flying
1150 Hours
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01-22-2012, 07:11 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Delta, CO/Atlin, BC
Posts: 2,391
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dean Pichon
I installed a GSM-AUTO remote relay in my hanger today. It works great. I am wondering if any of you more experienced users have identified any internet based text service providers that would allow the switch to be controlled from a computer.
I tried several, but all seemed to append some junk to the coded instructions which causes the GSM unit to reject the message. I am using an AT&T sim card.
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I'm currently working on an internet-based switch that would work similar to the cell switch, but uses direct internet connection (presuming you have such at your hangar). There is a little relay switch that can be programmed to run a bigger relay (enough to handle the electric heater current). I'll post when I get it tested, probably in a couple weeks. This eliminates having to pay a cell phone bill every month - just requires an old computer to be on in the hangar and you can control from home.
Greg
__________________
Greg Arehart
RV-9B (Big tires) Tipup @AJZ or CYSQ
N 7965A
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01-22-2012, 07:57 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Bellevue, NE
Posts: 686
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Greg, Can you design it for multiple hangars? Sure would be cool if one person in the hangar row had a computer, and we could all turn on our heaters remotely. I'd think it would be a low voltage line strung to the addition hangars controlling a relay in each hanger. What do you think? Thx, Jim
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01-22-2012, 08:15 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Nathrop Colorado
Posts: 68
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Question for Jeff about WHITELIST
"I had originally thought I would only text it, but it's a lot easier just to call. I have my cell in the whitelist so it'll only take calls from me. It rings twice and immediately goes to voicemail. This turns on my hangar heat for 30 minutes. I love it!" End Quote
I've been looking for an app like the'whitelist' you mention. I only see this sort of thing available for land lines.
Roger Bloomfield
Buena Vista, co
RV-9
RV-8 Painted
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01-22-2012, 09:33 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Sumner, WA
Posts: 722
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Roger, I haven't heard of an app for that but it seems reasonable. The whitelist in the GSM-RELAY is integral to the box and is programmed with a PC or by text.
__________________
Jeff Bloomquist
Sumner, WA
PP-ASEL, IR
RV-7A
Flying
1150 Hours
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01-23-2012, 08:03 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Delta, CO/Atlin, BC
Posts: 2,391
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Jim,
Possible. My current plan will connect to the internet via wireless (there is a guy down the row who has a wireless broadband router, so we all get internet from him). I actually will use the wireless connection going to my old laptop, which will just sit in the corner of the hangar quietly humming away until I take control of it remotely from home. Then it's a simple matter of running a tiny program that flips the remote switch to turn on the power. I suppose I could wire up several remote switches, each with their own program, but it would be just as simple to set up several computers, one in each hangar.
Greg
__________________
Greg Arehart
RV-9B (Big tires) Tipup @AJZ or CYSQ
N 7965A
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10-07-2016, 07:28 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Collierville, TN (M41)
Posts: 120
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I am resurrecting this old thread as I research solutions for turning on my engine heater from home. It looks like technology has changed since this thread was originally posted and this switch from Amazon looks like a good, cost effective alternative to buying one of the kits from apogee.com or the UPhoneIt sold by Aircraft Spruce.
I was hoping one of you electronic geniuses would take a look at this and let me know if you see any reason that this would not be a good solution to starting an engine heater from home. I would think that the biggest concern would be the amperage rating of the relays, but it looks like these are rated at 30A each, which should be plenty.
Thanks for the help.

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RV7 - N533CV
Based at Holly Springs, MS (M41), near Memphis, TN
The clouds beckon. I must go fly.
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10-07-2016, 09:03 AM
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Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 532
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I use this unit to turn on my engine heater and hanger heat. (It has 2 channels) I operate it with a T-Mobile SIM card. It was a bit of a pain to set up (due to T-Mobile customer service). Once it was set up, however, it worked great and has done so for 3 seasons. I add $10 to the SIM card once a year just to keep it active.
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10-07-2016, 10:36 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Austin
Posts: 28
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GSM (and GPRS) devices are second generation (2G) and by the end of the year, you'll only be able to use them through a special T-Mobile program.
https://newsroom.t-mobile.com/news-a...t-lifeline.htm
Else you'll have to find a 3G or 4G device, or look into devices for Verizon or Sprint.
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