SqueakyMoPho Project

SqueakyMoPho was a project to develop a GumStix-based mobile phone platform that used Linux as its underlying operating system and Squeak or Spoon for application and "middleware" type tasks. The SqueakyMoPho software is on hiatus while I work on the TuxPhone software that will be used on the TuxPhone and Albion hardware. One part of the SqueakyMoPho project that isn't standing still is the development of the "Franken Phone" GSM Peripheral. In the early days of TuxPhone, we really didn't have "real" hardware. Instead, we had a collection of parts and a series of prototyping boards. I made several iterations of the Franken-Phone so I could get to the point where my hardware wouldn't fall apart whenever I moved it from one room to the next. For those who are interested, I'm adding a section on how to build your own FrankenPhone to the bottom of this page.

Build Your Own Franken-Phone
So this section originally appeared on the Telefono site under the title Build Your Own Mobile Phone, Part 1 : The Parts List and Build Your Own Mobile Phone, Part 2 : Interfacing with the GSM Module. Since we have a wiki now, I thought it might just be easier to wikify these two pages.

Before You Start
So before you start, you should know that this project involves a slight amount of soldering and will cost somewhere in the vicinity of $250 and shouldn't take too much more than a couple of hours. If you're uncomfortable with soldering, you can build some of the audio path circuitry on a prototyping board, but you'll have to solder lines onto the GSM project board, so it's hard to escape needing a soldering iron. Hmm... maybe someone should build a GSM USB Peripheral kit???

You should also note that the Franken-Phone uses USB to control the GSM module, it does not magically show up on your host PC as an audio source or networking device or modem (though that would be very, very cool if it did.)

Buying The Parts
The parts I'm going to use on this project include:

Getting the Docs and Drivers
If you're the type of person who likes to read a lot of techical specs before you start a project, you may want to spend some time downloading and reading the documentation set from Telit and SparkFun. First, here are the Telit Docs:


 * GM862 QUAD PY Product Datasheet
 * GM862 QUAD PY Product Overview
 * GM862 Hardware User's Guide
 * GM862 Software User's Guide
 * GM862 AT Command Set Guide

For the Franken-Phone, I used the GSM USB Eval Board from SparkFun. They also have an [RS232 eval board] for those of you with real 9-pin serial ports out the back of your machines. USB Eval board users will be interested in these docs and drivers:


 * Installing USB Drivers for the 210X
 * USB Powered Evaluation Board for the GM862 Cellular Module

As a Mac user, I was a little disappointed to discover that I couldn't find Mac drivers where the "Installing USB Drivers for the 210X" document indicated. But I was able to find some 210X drivers at the Chip-45 site.


 * Crumb 128 Downloads Main Page
 * CP210X MacOS-X Drivers Download
 * CP210X Product Overview