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Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : ESP & SMS
| Author | Message | ||||
| PeterB Guru  Joined: 05/02/2015 Location: AustraliaPosts: 655 |
Good morning All. My wife has some real health problems and I have spent quite a lot of time finding and devising ways of making life easier for both of us but there is one problem still to solve. If I drop dead or get shot by a jealous husband (I still have hopes  ) my wife will be on her own for as long as it takes someone to discover her. She can't be relied upon to push a button etc.So, I have ordered an ESP8266. I have read a reasonable amount on the ESP but usually finish up learning how to turn a light on & off using an Arduino. What I need is an automatic system to send an SMS (DAD DEAD) to a family member if I fail to push a button every so often. The idea is a PIC 170 bolted to the ESP. Is it possible to send an SMS from an ESP? or, does such a system exist? Peter |
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| lizby Guru Joined: 17/05/2016 Location: United StatesPosts: 3470 |
There are several ways you can do this. If you're sure of wifi connectivity, you can send an email message to a phone number (at least, this is true in the U.S.). For instance, I can from my computer send a email to myphoneno@tmomail.net, and the subject line appears as an sms message. Since the ESP can be wifi connected and can send emails, this should work standalone--even the ESP-01, I think--no button press after a given time and the message is sent. You might look at the recently released Annex basic system for the ESP8266 (search thebackshed for "annex"). Alternatively, something like this A9 gprs module can send an sms message using cell phone technology. Two caveats with that though--my similar A6 GPRS modules have sometimes failed to get a connection when my phone does without any problem, and I seem to recall reading somewhere that Australia is phasing out the cell phone technology used--someone with local info may be able to provide guidance. With T-Mobile, it only costs me $3 a month to be able to send up to 30 messages. Another possible way is to have a raspberry pi zero w at your home with an A6/A9 module (I have this setup working). With your cell phone, you send it an sms message at whatever interval you choose. If it doesn't receive the message, it sends the emergency sms message. If you are certain that you will always be in the location where the button is to be pressed, then that simplifies the problem, and I think ESP-01 + Annex + button would work. (ESP-01 would probably work, but I prefer using the D1 Mini, which can be had for about $4 U.S.) PicoMite, Armmite F4, SensorKits, MMBasic Hardware, Games, etc. on fruitoftheshed |
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| PeterB Guru Joined: 05/02/2015 Location: AustraliaPosts: 655 |
Good evening in your case lizby. Thanks for your reply. I have seen reference to emails but assumed the recipient would have to check to see it but, in fact, my phone plays music when an email arrives. I can't read it on my phone but I know it is there so I will look further. I am surprised that something like this does not exist. Peter |
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Turbo46 Guru Joined: 24/12/2017 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1646 |
What about when you go to sleep or have a nanna nap? A heart monitor could automate that or is once a day operation often enough? How about a PIR system that will detect movement in places that only you go or you wife would not go unaided? You could devise something that triggers a commercial medical alert that would ring somebody when your heart stops for a time or you fail to operate a 'dead man's switch'. NBN permitting. Bill Keep safe. Live long and prosper. |
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| PeterB Guru Joined: 05/02/2015 Location: AustraliaPosts: 655 |
G'Day Bill My first thought was a cup sitting on the SOS button of her unused phone slowly filling with water unless I tipped it out. Then somebodies phone rings and then what? But I thought there must be a more complicated method and I am really surprised that this problem isn't more common and has been dealt with. It is possible to have a volunteer ring every day. How to detect death? It is possible, I did think a (lack of) hydrogen sulphide detector might work, I'm good at that. The time delay would need to be about 12 hours just for me to sleep but that is better than a week. Just another interesting problem Peter |
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| BrianP Senior Member  Joined: 30/03/2017 Location: AustraliaPosts: 292 |
Aah.. the elephant in the room! "NBN permitting" "How to detect death? It is possible, I did think a (lack of) hydrogen sulphide detector might work, I'm good at that"   B |
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| Turbo46 Guru Joined: 24/12/2017 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1646 |
I just though 'it's the sort of thing there should be a smart phone app for' and there is an android one here. There doesn't seem to be one for the iphone though. It should be simple: set one or more daily alerts, if not acknowledged within a certain time, send an SMS. Bill Keep safe. Live long and prosper. |
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| PeterB Guru Joined: 05/02/2015 Location: AustraliaPosts: 655 |
Well done Bill  When I am confronted by a problem I tend to think in terms of arc welders and 8 bit micros and Cab. Sav. never a smart phone app. I must update my thinking. I will give it a try and now for my next problem. What to do with the ESP8266 when it arrives in a few days. Use it to hold bits of paper onto the peg board? Peter |
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| PeterB Guru Joined: 05/02/2015 Location: AustraliaPosts: 655 |
G'Day Bill I have installed your app and will give it a go. I would like to have the option of a button but never mind. There are several "MAN DOWN" apps which do seem to do the same thing. Peter |
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| Turbo46 Guru Joined: 24/12/2017 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1646 |
I hope one of them works out. If you are serious about a use for your ESP8266 or even some more info check out Randon Nerd Tutorials. Bill Keep safe. Live long and prosper. |
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| PeterB Guru Joined: 05/02/2015 Location: AustraliaPosts: 655 |
G'Day Bill and anybody who might be interested. Both ANDROID & APPLE have an app. called LONEALARM which looks good. My ESP thing has yet to arrive. Peter |
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