Prototype
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Is your greenhouse getting frosty? How about too hot today? Is your fridge still on? Fido is a temperature alarm that will send you text messages that you can build for around $100. Solder together the Arduino based model or snap together the Raspberry Pi based model.
Arduino
"Smart Farm" tools
automation
I built (or modified) this tool
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Fido on Arduino

Fido is a DIY electronic tool that can monitor greenhouse temperature, record greenhouse data, and alert the farmer to problems in the greenhouse via cell phone text message and email. This tool is much more affordable than commercially available greenhouse alarms. Fido has been tested by several farmers to ensure that it is accessible and appropriate for various operations.

There are two Fido models. 

  • Fido WiFi:
    • Works only where there is a power source and within 100 feet from Internet source. Expandable up to a mile using a Wifi Bridge.
    • $118 in parts.
    • Does not require soldering, pieces snap together.
    • Configured using a wizard on the device.
  • Fido Cellular:
    • Runs on a battery for weeks, sends text messages anywhere there is cellphone reception.
    • $127 in parts.
    • Requires soldering skills.
    • Configured by text messaging your Fido Cellular.

Build a Fido Cellular

To build a Fido Cellular, check out this guide.

Build a Fido WiFi

To build a Fido WiFi, find the documentation on Github here. It's a Raspberry Pi project!

Videos:

- Fido Wifi Step 1: Getting Started

- Fido Wifi Step 2: Configuring a Raspberry Pi to send temperature alerts via text message

Comments

Tool comment

Hi,

I had a look at your project because I have created a similar system, I just wanted to say that the power usage is excessive, even for Wifi. I have managed to create battery powered (4 AA Batteries x 1600 mAh) Arduino temperature sensors that communicate with a central node (Raspberry Pi) via NRF24L01 radio modules (that you can purchase for 2€ from China), this all amounts to a lower cost per sensor and a much better battery life (more than 6 months). I have documented some of my work here: https://github.com/liamjack/Arduino-NRF24L01-Thermometer 

The main node receives all of the temperature data which it can then store locally or send off to a server via Wifi (with a Wifi dongle), Ethernet, GPRS / 3G / 4G (with a GPRS / 3G / 4G dongle)... The server then handles sending alerts (emails, sms via Plivo), no need to hook up an old phone to anything, the SMS sending is done via the Plivo API (7 cents / sms)

I just find it crazy that buying a 400$ battery is even listed as a "solution" to the problem.

Tool comment

Back to the drawing board.  You need to start with a different chip that has sleep/wake capability.  There is no reason why something like this shouldn't be able to run for a year on 2 AA batteries.  I would suggest that on normal circumstnces it wakes up for long enough to measure the temperatue every ten minutes, connect once an hour with the last 6 readings unless there is an alarm condition.