Help Using Modem & CLI
10 messages in this thread
I'd like to be able to access my modem with the standard hayes command
set from the CLI. In IBM DOS the command would go: ECHO ATDT5550000
>COM1: This would dial the phone # 555-0000 by using the modem on
COM1. The reason I would like it might prove worth while to others. I
plan to get a simple burglar alarm with a motion detector and a lamp
module that automatically comes on when the motion detector senses
something. Rather than a lamp I plan to plug my Amiga power supply
into it. Then while I am away from home on vacation I can have the
computer automatically start if the house is broken into. My Amiga
will boot up and run the CLI dialing command which will call me where
I am vacationing. However, to get this all to work I need to be able
to access the serial port via CLI. I tried a similar command as in
the IBM example (substituting SER: for COM1: but it didn't work).
Why have it dial you were you Vaction at. I would think you would want it to
call the police dept. first.
–Paul–
Paul,
Many localities do not allow automatic dialers, tripped by alarms, to call
safety services.
I wander why? I guess it would be all the false alarms.
Yeah, the false alarms tend to be more than police dispatchers can
handle… most alarms are triggered by accident (ie: a resident or
family member opening a door and forgetting to turn off the alarm or
forgetting a reset code, a worker entering the residence unaware of
an alarm system, etc.). That's why most systems are monitored by
private companies who try to confirm what tripped the alarm BEFORE
calling the authorities.
I doubt the police would know what to do with a piercing modem tone. I figured
I'd call the neighbors (a friend) and they could check it out and/or call the
cops.
Frank: You wouldn't necessarily need to run the serial commands through
the CLI. You could instead boot into a terminal program that supports
running an Arexx script at startup. The computer would boot into the term
program, run the Arexx script, and give you a call.
//
\X/ John – (TechnoJunkie at heart)
I've come to somewhat the same conclusion about getting a terminal
program to automatically run. However, I know absolutely nothing
about Arexx. However, there is a neat little program that resides on
compuserve called scripit. This programs records your input into ANY
program, all mouse moves, clicks and inputs. Then you run the script
and it does exactly what was recorded (even takes the same length of
time you took). I then call this program from the user
startup-sequence. So now the computer will sit there, the motion
detector will detect any movement, start the computer, dial my number
and I will hear the modem tone as I pick up the phone. The computer
will disconnect due to the lack of modem connection and I'll call my
neighbors. A pretty inexpensive way to monitor your home.
Great Frank, glad you found a solution for monitoring your home. Sometimes
if a direct solution is not easily found, then it's better to improvise.
So it looks like your Terminal program and scripit will do the job nicely.
Have a nice vacation and hopefully your monitor will never have to be
used.
//
\X/ John – (TechnoJunkie at heart)
>>A pretty inexpensive way to monitor your home.<<
Yeah, and pretty haphazard as well.
It works only IF:
a) the power is on in your home
b) your neighbors are home (most break-ins occur during the DAY, not
at night)
c) you are at the phone # you told the computer to call (doesn't
sound like the kind of vacation I'd want to take!)
d) somebody responds to your request for help within 5 minutes
of the break-in… crime stats say that burglars rarely are in
a home for more than 3 – 5 minutes.
And, of course, if there is a thunderstorm while you're on vacation and
the power in your home just flickers, the computer will reboot and call
you with a flase alarm… only you won't know it's false.
Just some food for thought.