hobby cellular (was: Re: The future of our hobby (was Re: ImageDisk project is canceled)) - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

30 Dec 2005

-------------Original message-------------
Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2005 21:30:02 +0000 (UTC)
From: Alexey Toptygin <alexeyt at freeshell.org>
Subject: hobby cellular (was: Re: The future of our hobby (was Re:
	ImageDisk project is canceled))

On Fri, 30 Dec 2005, Scott Stevens wrote:

<snippage>
...
 Speaking of homebrewed cellphones, the hardest part
will be getting the 
specs. Even with GSM, where the 3GPP has thankfully published everything 
for free, reading and understanding all of that is a mamoth undertaking.
<cough>9.02</cough> 
...
 Then again, you'll need at least a base station,
MSC and protocol analyzer 
just to test the damned thing... <sigh> the barrier to entry into voice 
telecom is still astronomic, and not likely to lower much if the current 
players have any say in the process. 
...
  			Alexey 
----------------Reply---------------

Unless, like Tony, you want to build it out of discrete transistors, it looks
pretty trivial. The detailed description of how they converted a rotary desk 
phone into a cell phone (complete with the original ringer!) makes fascinating 
reading (nice pictures, too).

http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/categories.php

Too bad it's too late for Xmas; for only $399 you could have asked your SO
to put one under the tree.

BTW, they also have a $10 USB<>RS-232 converter which might interest 
someone.

mike