I need a single on/off data line transmitter / receiver with a range of around 1000 feet.
It can transmit a status (on/off) once every 2 or 3 seconds and must be operated by batteries and if possible around 418MHz. I do not have line of sight.
Perhaps the simple solution is the most expensive specially for the $15 RX chip.
Can anyone guide me to a cheaper solution?
It doesn't have to be as simple as above but my device will operate outside at temperatures between -30F to 90F.
Do you have a specific product or link?
Doing a quick search on Google I found only a TX for $29
My first solution described above comes to around the same price but for RX and TX.
1000' non-line-of-sight is impossible with any of the legal in the USA license-free low-power modules, period.
There are some higher power 433MHz TX modules being sold in other countries. You will have to check the legality of using those in Canada.
I've been Googleing a bunch but I only find FM transmitters or bulky units that operates on 12 volts.
I am not looking for something off the shelf, I want to build something and hopefully manufacture and sell it. I don't want to copy other people's devices but to see which chips they use would be a start. The Linx chips would make manufacturing cost extremely low and it would also give my product a very good quality but $30 on components is too high. I am not able to manufacture more than 100 units at a time and I was looking more fore something that would cost around $15 (components) for both the TX and RX.
1000' non-line-of-sight is impossible with any of the legal in the USA license-free low-power modules, period.
There are some higher power 433MHz TX modules being sold in other countries. You will have to check the legality of using those in Canada.
I plan to transmit my status once per 2 or 3 seconds and I can deal with reducing the range to 200 feet. I think I will start with designing something and then I will tackle FCC (US) and CRTC(Canada)
I am aware I will have to deal with permits, licenses and move mountains but I have to start somewhere so I will design the best system I can and then attenuate to comply with regulations. Hopefully there is a midpoint that will workout. The one thing I can not do is quit in case it gets too complicated.
I am surprised no one came up with an rfPIC12F675 as a suggestion... It is obviously more complicated but a lot cheaper even with the required components. I still need to do many hours of reading but so far it looks like a good solution.
I am surprised no one came up with an rfPIC12F675 as a suggestion... It is obviously more complicated but a lot cheaper even with the required components. I still need to do many hours of reading but so far it looks like a good solution.
I think I found the ideal chip, SI4421, it needs few components, it has lots of functions, it is programmable and it goes for about $3 CAD so I get a complete 2 way communication for around $10 including two MCUs.
Thanks for the link I will play with this.
On Silabs they also provide a range calculator which showed around 30 meters but maybe I entered a wrong variable.
I've ordered a few samples so I will do some tests an see how it goes. I also ordered the Linx modules and as a third choice I was looking at RFM12b from Sparkfun
Too bad Xbee is so expensive.