Using a Modem Without a Computer/Pc

finnpark

Hi,

Is it possible to send data to a web server/internet page from a modem or the like without having a PC/Laptop/Mobile Phone etc.

What I would like to do is connect some harware to my phone line at home that will send data read in from some harware devices to another server I will ahve running elsewhere. Is it possible to do?

So just to make it clearer. I want to send some values (numbers) from my telephone to a webpage or straight onto a server database. I cannot have a PC or mobile phone connected. and it must be cheap. Just though it mightbe possible to connect a modem straight up to the telephone line and write some code a chip to access the server?

MunsterCycling

Emm no TBH whats wrong with having a comp do it?

finnpark

Well it is a project Im trying to do with a budget less than £200.

pH

There are hundreds of 2nd hand computers worth nothing that would do this. I ended up giving aways PIIs a couple of months back. You should be able to pick up a 128Mb/PII for nothing and put linux on it.

ressem

I assume you meant using a serial modem, not USB or PCi.

Possible? Sure.

If this is just a once off then probably some pic or atmel development board, with a max-232 and small memory chip could be used for a low price.

Then you'd have to program the pic to send your dialling string, isp username and password, http commands, modem hangup.

Don't see how this is any different to attaching an old mobile with built in GSM modem though, except for learning purposes.

By the way, in case I gave the impression that this is trivial, you'll need to get familiar with using for example, a micro TCP/ip stack written for a microcontroller. e.g. http://www.sics.se/~adam/uip/ports.html

liamo

finnpark wrote:

I want to send some values (numbers) from my telephone to a webpage or straight onto a server database.

So what you want is to be able to interact with a remote application via a telephone handset? Yes, it can be done reasonably cheaply (but there is a price in terms of level of difficulty). If the remote server was running Asterisk and had an approprate card for accepting calls, then an application could be written to interact with your call and insert your supplied data into a database.

Asterisk = Free
PSTN Card = possibly cheap, you'd need to look on eBay
Server = I'm assuming you already have one
Learning Curve = Steep

Regards,

Liam

daymobrew

finnpark wrote:

Is it possible to send data to a web server/internet page from a modem or the like without having a PC/Laptop/Mobile Phone etc.

I know you mentioned 'without a mobile' but would the following, using a mobile work?
You'd browse to a webpage (a simple cgi form) and enter the details and submit. The cgi would write to the database.