Cellular Data Logger

I have been collecting data from Raleigh’s trails and parks for the last couple years.  My primary platform has been a custom Arduino board I developed for low-cost (hey, these things may get damaged or stolen) and long battery life.  I wanted a connected sensor to provide current data and, after looking at various technologies, I have settled on cellular as the most convenient.Cellular Data Logger

This sensor uses an off-the shelf Adafruit FONA board for the cellular communications.  At $39 with an easy to use library and the issues of power consumption spikes solved, this is a great value.  I developed a carrier board to support my i2c connected sensors, support some field adjustments (with two potentiometers) and display status with three LEDS.  This board is designed to run off a LiPo single-cell battery and can accommodate optional Solar charging (see my other projects).

I have been operating this data logger with my Solar Power manager for some time now and wanted to share the results.  Below are a couple screen shots showing the Ubidots Dashboard for this data logger and a closer look at the battery charge level over a month’s time.  Notice that with a relatively small solar panel and battery, I have been able to report hourly each day without the battery charge level going below 87%.

The hardest part was in writing the software to manage all the issues that can arise when trying to send data over a 2G GPRS connection.  I ended up writing my own code to manage the excellent Adafruit library commands and documented it on the Ubidots site. With this code, I could re reliable connections and up to 10 days coverage from a 2000mAH LiPo battery.  The Solar power project keeps this system running with only 3 hours of sunlight a week.

One of the issues I have looked into is the cellular data plan.  As this is a 2G modem, you need to understand that the networks that support this device are being replaced by 3 and 4G versions.  In my area, Raleigh NC, there are only two – T-Mobile and AT&T who has committed to keep them going until 2017.  I started with T-Mobile pre-paid SIMs which give unlimited 2G data for $2/day and don’t charge when you are not using them.  This is great when you are doing intermittent development and test but expensive after that.  I then moved to a machine to machine (m2m) provider Embedded Works. who offered a Vodafone card that uses the AT&T network (see hardware list below).  This gave me much better network performance and costs only about $42 for 6-months of services as long as you stay under a 5Gb/month cap.  Now, Sparkfun and Adafruit have m2m plans as well which I will certainly consider at renewal time.

Schematic Cellular Data Logger

 

For more detail: Cellular Data Logger

 


About The Author

Ibrar Ayyub

I am an experienced technical writer holding a Master's degree in computer science from BZU Multan, Pakistan University. With a background spanning various industries, particularly in home automation and engineering, I have honed my skills in crafting clear and concise content. Proficient in leveraging infographics and diagrams, I strive to simplify complex concepts for readers. My strength lies in thorough research and presenting information in a structured and logical format.

Follow Us:
LinkedinTwitter

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top