hobby cellular (was: Re: The future of our hobby (was Re: ImageDisk project is canceled))

[M H Stein]

-------------Original message-------------
Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2005 21:30:02 +0000 (UTC)
From: Alexey Toptygin <alexeyt at freeshell.org>
Subject: hobby cellular (was: Re: The future of our hobby (was Re:
	ImageDisk project is canceled))

On Fri, 30 Dec 2005, Scott Stevens wrote:

<snippage>
>Speaking of homebrewed cellphones, the hardest part will be getting the 
>specs. Even with GSM, where the 3GPP has thankfully published everything 
>for free, reading and understanding all of that is a mamoth undertaking.
><cough>9.02</cough>

>Then again, you'll need at least a base station, MSC and protocol analyzer 
>just to test the damned thing... <sigh> the barrier to entry into voice 
>telecom is still astronomic, and not likely to lower much if the current 
>players have any say in the process.

> 			Alexey

----------------Reply---------------

Unless, like Tony, you want to build it out of discrete transistors, it looks
pretty trivial. The detailed description of how they converted a rotary desk 
phone into a cell phone (complete with the original ringer!) makes fascinating 
reading (nice pictures, too).

http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/categories.php

Too bad it's too late for Xmas; for only $399 you could have asked your SO
to put one under the tree.

BTW, they also have a $10 USB<>RS-232 converter which might interest 
someone.

mike