wifi pinger

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http://www.instructables.com/id/WiFi-Pinger/

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WiFi Pingerby pyxis on April 3, 2008

Table of Contents

WiFi Pinger ..................................................................................................................

Intro: WiFi Pinger ..........................................................................................................

Step 1: Parts List ...........................................................................................................

File Downloads ...........................................................................................................

Step 2: Schematic ..........................................................................................................

Step 3: Build ..............................................................................................................

Step 4: Adaptor ............................................................................................................

Step 5: Adaptor Build .......................................................................................................

Step 6: Configure ..........................................................................................................

Related Instructables ........................................................................................................

Comments ................................................................................................................
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Intro: WiFi PingerA Pyxis Design Project.

This instructable describes an RF beacon using WiFi - we call it a 'Pinger'. It is intended to be used as an alternative to, or to complement, GPS in location basedapplications. The 'WiFi Pinger' has been specifically designed to operate with the mediascape software described here (nb still under development April 2008). An eaapplication using similar non-WiFi technology is described in this press release .

The Pinger uses a WLAN Compact Serial Module to transmit a pre-configured beacon signal as part of the WiFi standard. It can thus be recognised by any WiFiequipped device. It is compact and low powered and has an (approximately) omnidirectional radiation characteristic. We use it to identify (or tag) places, people orobjects enabling recognition by mobile receivers such as WiFi equipped PDAs or cellphones.

The range of the Pinger is around 100m outdoors - and it's intended that the mscaper software will be able to be set for short, medium or long range. It can be powereand/or charged from a USB source - its battery life is over 12 hours.

Step 1:Parts ListTo build a WiFi Pinger you'll need the following (mostly from RS ):-

1 x 0.22 ohm resistor (RS 135-500)1 x 47uF 6.5v capacitor (RS 547-9732)2 x 10uF 10v capacitors (RS 547-9776)3 x MBRA140 Schottky diodes (RS 625-5650)1 x flashing red LED (RS 228-6032)1 x FMMT717 pnp transistor (RS 215-6515)1 x LM3622 LiPoly charger IC ( DigiKey )

1 x USB socket (RS 515-2011)1 x 4 way Molex 1.25mm socket (RS 279-9285)

1 x 12 way Molex plug case plus leads (RS 319-1042 & 279-9544)1 x on/off switch (RS 334-268)

S103 WLAN Compact Serial Module ( RF Solutions (UK) or Datahunter (US) )pcb from expressPCB (or pyxisdesign ) (pcb shown below and file attached)1 x dual PLF423566-S Varta LiPoly battery (RS 457-8282)Hammond case (RS 613-8319)

... and tools for surface mounting soldering.

File Downloads

wifi_ping.pcb (7 KB)[NOTE: When saving, if you see .tmp as the file ext, rename it to 'wifi_ping.pcb']
http://www.instructables.com/files/orig/FT7/WU5E/FEVQEUYQ/FT7WU5EFEVQEUYQ.tmp?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=fileshttp://www.instructables.com/files/orig/FT7/WU5E/FEVQEUYQ/FT7WU5EFEVQEUYQ.tmp?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=fileshttp://www.instructables.com/files/orig/FT7/WU5E/FEVQEUYQ/FT7WU5EFEVQEUYQ.tmp?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=fileshttp://www.instructables.com/files/orig/FT7/WU5E/FEVQEUYQ/FT7WU5EFEVQEUYQ.tmp?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=fileshttp://www.pyxisdesign.net/http://www.expresspcb.com/http://www.datahunter.com/http://www.rfsolutions.co.uk/acatalog/index.htmlhttp://www.digikey.com/http://uk.rs-online.com/web/http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/newsroom/press/2006/061023a.htmlhttp://www.mscapers.com/


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Step 2:SchematicHere's the circuit diagram :-

Step 3:BuildHere's a sequence of photos showing how to assemble the Pinger - this is where you build-it-yourself!

Image Notes1. The blank pcb

Image Notes1. First add the surface mounted components - 1 x IC; 1 x transistor; 3 x diodesand 3 x capacitors

Image Notes1. Add the wired through components - USB socket; switch; resistor; molexsocket; and led (underside).

Image Notes1. Wire in the plug for the S103 - 1 is +V; 4 is Rd; 6 is Td; and 12 is Gnd.


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Image Notes1. Use double sided foam tape to fix the battery to the underside of the board.(Note one of the four pcb fixing holes will need to be obscured). Then solder thebattery leads to the board (either side of the red led).

Image Notes1. Now you can mount the S103 using 2.5mm screws and 5mm spacers - andthen plug in the connector to the main board.

Image Notes

1. The case will need two slots cut in it as shown. One in the end 8mm x 22mmfor the on/off switch and USB socket; and one in the side 8mm x 16mm for theconfiguration socket.

Image Notes

1. The pcb and battery assembly can now be fitted neatly in the box. Useanother piece of double sided foam tape between the battery and the box tohold it in place - you can see this clearly in the next photo ..

Image Notes1. The completed WiFi Pinger


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Step 4:AdaptorBefore using the pinger, you'll need to configure it - this requires a special adaptor lead.

The schematic is below and a photos of the build process are in the next steps ....

Step 5:Adaptor Build

Here are the parts required (and RS Stock Nos) :-

1 x Molex 4 way plug plus leads (279-9162 & 279-9544)1 x DS276 RS232 level convertor (138-297)1 x 10uF 16v capacitor (538-1922)1 x BAT41 Schottky diode (544-4679)1 x 9w 'D' type plug (female) and enclosure (544-3749 & 425-7755)and a 1.1" x 0.6" piece of stripboard

The assembly process is shown in the images. Do make sure you get the polarities of the capacitor and diode correct!

Image Notes1. Here's the stripboard with the track cut; three links added and soldered to theD type socket. (note pins 1 and 4 are unused; the track next to pin 2 is cut; and

pin 5 is ground)

Image Notes1. Next add the DS276 and Schottky diode to the top of the board. Note also thblack ground link across the board.


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Image Notes1. Underneath it's a bit more fiddly! Add the capacitor, with a little insulation tobe on the safe side, and a link from pin 2 on the D type to pin 4 on the DS276.

Image Notes1. Here's the completed adaptor - do be careful to connect the molex plugcorrectly (look at a molex socket to identify pin1). Pin 1: V+ Pin 2: Td Pin 3: RdPin 4: Gnd

Step 6:ConfigureYou'll need to connect the Pinger to a PC running Hyperterminal using an RS232 cable and the adaptor. Set the terminal to 38,400 baud 8-N-1.

After connection, on powering up the S103, the backspace key should be repeatedly pressed until 'Command' appears on the terminal screen. The following commanshould then be entered to configure the pinger:-

Mode A (sets Ad-hoc mode instead of infrastructure)SSID Pinger_xxxx (sets SSID (name) to Pinger_xxxx)Chan x (sets channel to x where x = 1 to 11 (US) 1 to 13 (EU))PSMode 1 (switches on power saving)SE (save and exit)

Settings can be confirmed by entering the first word of the command.

Once the Pinger is configured you're ready to go. Connect it to a USB host to charge the battery, then turn it on and look for pings! A fully charged Pinger should run foover 12hrs - it'll need around four hours to recharge.

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Comments

23 comments Add Comment

static says: Apr 11, 2010. 2:39 AM REPAppears that you should have called the device a beacon and left it that. :) naming it a pinger confuses A ping is generally sent to a target, with a responsefrom the taget expected. Beacons are generally broadcasts that can be received by multiple stations, even if only 1 or more can make use of the databroadcast, response from a receiving station may not be expected. Then again it may be HP fault for first calling something that's not a ping a ping

Davedwin says: Mar 27, 2009. 5:28 AM REPHi, I'm looking to make a similar project (very similar). All I need to do is broadcast a pre-configured SSID. No traffic, just the SSID as a kind of 'hey I'm on'

deal. I'm trying to find a retailer for your S103 WLAN module used, but can't find it on the recommended sites. Does ANYONE (not just pyxis) know of anyother brands that might help me out? --Davedwin

pyxis says: Apr 23, 2009. 10:08 AM REPRF Solutions in Lewes UK have stock ...http://www.rfsolutions.co.uk/acatalog/WLAN_to_RS232_Module.html

Cliff

Davedwin says: Apr 24, 2009. 9:16 AM REPThanks Cliff. Not sure if I'm ready to pay for shipping from the UK just yet ;-) Plus I started testing the XBee + Arduino for now. Hopefully I will be abto lose the PC and get this LCD working soon. It's always something when your inventing. LOL

agent says: Apr 18, 2009. 3:10 AM REP.;dHmm... It'd be pretty cool to make an SSID 'spammer'. ;P

Masowai says: Apr 19, 2009. 7:09 PM REPAlready exists, at least a software version. Its called MDK3. Its only available for a Linux-based OS, though. The SSID "spammer" you're looking fois more commonly referred to as "beacon flooding". Check out MDK3, it has sooo many cool modes. I think you'll like it.

agent says: Jan 17, 2010. 9:02 AM REPI actually found this feature in Metasploit. Problem is that the wireless card needs a certain chipset (that I don't have) or to get an expensiveexternal card.

tater killer says: Mar 3, 2009. 11:51 AM REP2 things can i use a mini usb cable and use on a bus

pyxis says: Mar 4, 2009. 1:51 AM REPHi - my design uses the USB mini AB socket, so a mini USB cable should be ok (note - this only provides power and can't be used for configuring themodules). Not sure which type of 'bus' you're asking about - if it's a USB bus, then yes, no problem; if it's a transport bus it should also be ok (though Idon't know anyone who's tried this).

pierow says: Apr 11, 2008. 8:41 AM REPI guess I'm still unclear on what this is used for? I read through the Mediascapes page briefly but I don't understand what role the WiFi pinger plays?

altaria1993 says: Apr 11, 2008. 2:06 PM REPit obviously pings your WiFi connection..

omnibot says: Apr 11, 2008. 2:28 PM REPYes? And the practical side of that is .. what?

netbuddy says: Sep 23, 2008. 5:35 PM REPYou can "ping" a WiFi router, like a WiFi hot spot detector tells you when your in range of a WiFi point. The practical side would be that you cantest for your router has its wifi "on" so that you do not spend hours trying to trouble shoot your issues with connecting to the internet... Turning oWiFi in the router when not using it is best all round security as is setting WPA and using a non-broadcast SSID.

altaria1993 says: Apr 11, 2008. 2:35 PM REPthat you can see how fast your WiFi connection is.
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PhoenixTheAssassin says: Apr 18, 2008. 9:52 AM REPIt sounds more like a location based wireless appliance. Meaning that your access point( at cisco it would require an access point with lightweight softwareand a Wireless Lan Controller licenses for Location. Then, using the WLC you can determine where the pinger is - or any other client on the network. Thatanyway, is how it sounds to me, coming from Cisco :)

covcreo says: Apr 17, 2008. 6:37 AM REPBUT WHAT DOES IT DO????????

-Aj- says: Apr 17, 2008. 10:40 PM REPit transmits a "pre-configured beacon signal" ... or so ive heard. O.o

-Aj- says: Apr 17, 2008. 10:39 PM REPSwaeet bro! use these puppies for ground based GPS. so what i have to print my own boards then? coolies, need an excuse to use up the old supplies. lo

nilmahj says: Apr 16, 2008. 10:31 AM REPso...... you strap one to your kids when they're playing in the woods and you find 'em with your GPS? sounds like a hide'n'seek hack to me. looks coolthough.

pyxis says: Apr 12, 2008. 1:18 AM REPThanks for your comments and suggestions. Obviously my intro didn't do its job! I've added some more background which I hope will clear things up.

NETSYS says: Apr 11, 2008. 10:30 PM REPlol...you guys are so funny.....cant stop laughing.... lol

curtosrules says: Apr 11, 2008. 9:40 AM REPI am with you on that one, I am lost

Joe Jacobs says: Apr 11, 2008. 7:27 PM REPSame here...can't it be used to check if a device is connected to wifi?
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