Blog move

This will be my last post at this address as I've moved over to a new blogging platform: Jekyll. Jekyll is much more versatile and has allowed me to start playing around with CSS, HTML and gives me more flexibility on what I choose to do.

I'm using github pages to host the new site and I'll be writing a little bit about my experiences in the near future.

http://willprice.github.com/

Gmail Notifier

4 Years ago Tom Paton posted this and I asked him about his code, thus prompting him to post this. 4 Years later, now finally equipped with some know how and a little bit more experience with microcontrollers and programming, I thought this a fairly ideal project to have a bash at.

I adapted his python code to something a little more appropriate for my usage:

(replace username and password with your username and password. You might also need to fiddle with the serial port I've got mine setup as /dev/ttyUSB1)

Here's the Arduino code:

I'll be updating this post as I go, with pictures and videos. I've currently put a servo in a little mailbox made out of card and when I have an email the flag is raised. I'm working on getting the right sized enclosure and am currently using a Arduino Pro Mini which has no USB interface and I have to work out how to remedy this. Admittedly, this is a total waste of an Arduino as it's overkill for this project, but at the moment I don't have enough time to learn how to write C code for AVR micros, but when I do, I'll make this a little less wasteful and hopefully use a micro with USB support built in. But for the time being -- Arduino and USB to UART Adapter.

TP-Link WR703N, OpenWRT, MPD et al

Finally, a post....
I bought a TP-Link WR703N [1], it's a little router meant to be used in conjunction with a 3G Modem, it works as an access point broadcasting a wireless connection allowing multiple devices to utilize the modem at once (quite a clever idea, however, not one I'm interested in using), hence I decided to flash it with OpenWRT [2]

Specs:
RAM - 32Mb
ROM - 4Mb
USB port (USB2)
CPU - Atheros AR7240 - 400Mhz
Wireless - Atheros AR9331 - b/g/n

Powered by a micro usb port, 5.7cm x 5.7cm, serial interface.
(These are just the basics, more here [3])

OpenWRT Install:
The device comes preinstalled with Chinese firmware, I connected the router via ethernet and configured Arch to have the IP 192.168.1.2 (in /etc/rc.conf) but you could also easily use wifi to upload the new firmware.

After connecting to the router, keep hovering over the menu items, the page file names are in English, keep expanding the drop down menus until you find one with a page name similar to 'software upgrade', something along those lines (I do believe it's in one of the last sections). Go to the OpenWRT wiki and download the 'vanilla' firmware for the router, upload this, once the router has upgraded the firmware, it should reboot.

Having now installed the OpenWRT firmware, you can connect to the router via the ethernet port if you configure your computer's IP to be 192.168.1.2, telnet into the router using:
telnet 192.168.1.1
There you are presented with the CLI of the router where you can start manipulating things. Use opkg update to update the packages list and opkg install *package name* to install applications

These are simply the basics and much more informative instructions can be found on the OpenWRT forums and wiki.

OpenWRT Configuration:
I wanted to use the router as a wireless client (i.e. similar to a computer), I used the following network configurations

/etc/config/network

config 'interface' 'loopback'
option 'ifname' 'lo'
option 'proto' 'static'
option 'ipaddr' '127.0.0.1'
option 'netmask' '255.0.0.0'


config 'interface' 'lan'
option 'ifname' 'eth0'
option 'type' 'bridge'
option 'proto' 'static'
option 'ipaddr' '192.168.1.1'
option 'netmask' '255.255.255.0'


config 'interface' 'wan'
 option 'proto' 'dhcp'

/etc/config/wireless

config 'wifi-device' 'radio0'

option 'type' 'mac80211'

option 'channel' '11'

option 'macaddr' '38:83:45:a2:14:18'

option 'hwmode' '11ng'

option 'htmode' 'HT20'

list 'ht_capab' 'SHORT-GI-20'

list 'ht_capab' 'SHORT-GI-40'

list 'ht_capab' 'RX-STBC1'

list 'ht_capab' 'DSSS_CCK-40'

config 'wifi-iface'

option 'device' 'radio0'

option 'network' 'wan' #Set the adapter to act as a wide area network -- not sure why

option 'ssid' 'Price LAN'

option 'key' '*******'

option 'encryption' 'psk2' # My network uses psk2 security

option 'mode' 'sta' #Setup client mode

In the section 'config 'wifi-iface'' I've setup the router to act as a client by setting the 'mode' to 'sta' which sets the router to act as a client rather than an access point.

USB Support:
I needed USB support as the router only has a 4mb flash which isn't sufficient to install transmission, mpd, mpc etc. I updated
/etc/opkg.conf to remedy this (look at the wiki page on opkg, there is a section on how to do this).

Now I could install to my memory stick using the command
opkg -d usb install *package name*
This usually works fairly well, I had to update my PATH variable in /etc/profile to reflect the new install directories.

I've also played around in /etc/rc.local setting up some startup applications.
I've got mpd, transmission-daemon and mpc (adding playlists) on startup. 

Links:
[1] - $22/£15 - http://www.volumerates.com/product/genuine-tp-link-tl-wr703n-150m-11n-mini-wifi-wireless-router-for-instant-wifi-connection-99273
[2] - https://openwrt.org/
[3] - OpenWRT wiki page on WR703N - http://wiki.openwrt.org/toh/tp-link/tl-wr703n

I might continue to update this post as I progress with the project. I aim to use this router to act as a internet radio, I'll probably use an arduino to interface it with an LCD and rotary encoder.