Walkie-Textie Wireless Communicator
8 days ago
- #Wireless Communication
- #DIY Electronics
- #LoRa
- The Walkie-Textie is a handheld device for sending text messages using the LoRa wireless protocol, ideal for areas without mobile signals.
- Features a 12-key keypad with multi-tap input, OLED display, and supports LoRa frequencies like 433 MHz, 868 MHz, and 915 MHz depending on region.
- LoRa offers ranges up to 3 miles in urban and 10 miles in rural areas, with license-free frequency bands.
- Device includes a status bar showing signal strength, beeper status, and battery level; beeper can be toggled on/off.
- Circuit based on HopeRF RFM95W LoRa module and ATtiny814 microcontroller, with options for different ATtiny models.
- Supports various power options including LiPo batteries or AAA batteries, with a typical current consumption of 24mA.
- Construction involves a custom PCB, with options for different antennas including a simple wire or SMA connector with 'rubber ducky' antenna.
- Software utilizes Tiny Graphics Library for display, Sandeep Mistry's Arduino LoRa library for wireless communication, and includes features like message encryption for privacy.
- Program can be compiled using megaTinyCore and uploaded via a USB to Serial board.
- Includes resources for PCB design files and further suggestions for enhancements like automated receipt confirmation.