DIY cellphone (opens in new tab)

As the person who made the phone, I think this is an interesting question.

Do we say that Apple doesn't build computers themselves because they buy the CPU from Intel? Or because they use Qualcomm transceivers (and lots of other off-the-shelf components) in their phones? On the other hand, we probably wouldn't say someone made a phone if they just put it into a different enclosure.

I can say that I spent a lot of time selecting all the components, putting together the schematic, routing the board, and writing the UI software. (All of that took a lot longer than laser-cutting the case.) Of course, it probably took a lot more work than that to create the GSM module. But that's also true of the microcontroller I'm using, the LCD, even the battery. Just about everything is built on top of the work of others (see the Toaster Project for an example of how hard it is to do otherwise).

Interestingly, this critique hasn't really come up from the people I've worked with to build the phone. I explain the function of the GSM module (and the rest of the components) but after putting it all together, people don't seem to think of the phone as just a box for the module -- in part, I'd argue, because they realize how many other things are in there too.

Again, though, there's a fundamental question here that I'm trying to explore with my research: what does it mean to do it for yourself?

True, but PC assembly vs black box computers spawned an entire industry and and have kept component prices low even for end consumers. I had to replace a hard disk recently and am still bemused by my ability to purchase a new server-grade 2TB drive for $125.

Since it seems to be backed by MIT, I also kinda hoped to see an independent GSM stack and not just some COTS baseband attached to a COTS MCU.

"Wait, you said you programmed this yourself, but I noticed that you're using c and some c libraries. That's not DIY! And you're using a compiler. That's also cheating! You should really be flicking toggle switches and pushing a button to enter the hex values directly."

Who cares, phones are interesting to people because they enable communication with others. Phone projects like this are interesting because they enable people who wouldn't ordinarily be able to build a cell phone, to build a cell phone.

Sure, but it would be a cool project to build up a nice phone environment using this module.

If anything, this would be more akin to saying "I'm using hardware features on my microprocs to do this neat thing". Not amazing engineering.

On a related note, does anyone know if we can get these modules to do data? Or if there's a cheaper version of these modules?

You did in that case. It'd be ridiculous to try and build a cellphone, the not use the all-in-one chip solutions that are out there.

DIY

I bought a 40 watt laser cutter/engraver from China via ebay. It cost a little less than $1800. It cuts wood and some thin plastics (acrylic) like this quite well.

Unfortunately, its quality was so terrible, it was little more than a box of parts. I had to build a new stepper driver and run it from MACH3 to get any results out of it. I also had to replace some "greased rail" style bearings with linear ball bearings to get decent accuracy.

The one they've got at MIT probably says "Epilog" on the side and costs somewhere between your car and your house.

Edit: I generally cut "luan" plywood 1/8" or thinner. It seems like about the thickest I can handle. 1/16" veneer gives me the best results.

If you're really into DIY, you can make your own CNC laser cutter http://www.instructables.com/id/Laser-cutter-start-slicing-s...

Otherwise, you're talking $5k and up. However these guys are cheap and fast if you want to farm it out: http://www.pololu.com/catalog/product/749 (I don't work for them, and I'm not an affiliate, just a happy customer)

Take a look at FSLaser (http://fslaser.com). Minimum cost for an entry-level system is $2350+shipping.

Disclaimer: I'm an employee.

This is what I love about living in the future (and HN). I live just north of Seattle, I read a story last night about this project in a magazine from the UK (New Scientist). I posted it to a website in California and the project creator, from Massachusetts, responded and it turns out he has had an account here for over 4 years.

I know PG wrote an essay about how certain cities act as magnets for smart people looking to change the world, and how it is advantageous for companies to set up in those cities. That always struck me as a rather antiquated system (though I don't deny it is currently true) and I always wondered how long it will be before that changes. The idea that to properly collaborate we have to arrange such that all of our molecules inhabit a relatively small geographic area just seems silly. Things like this really make me appreciate the power of the internet to connect people and propagate interesting ideas (instead of just memes). Makes me think that before I die the idea of necessary co-location in order for people to collaborate effectively will be a bygone notion. I would welcome that change.

How's the reception and microphone quality? (i.e. how well does the sound of your voice on the phone compare to say an iPhone or Nokia-era candybar phone?)

Also, great work! I looked into building a cell phone before, and it's an awesome amount of work.

In the UK they sell a range of mobile phones with big buttons, particularly for the elderly. Basic features on it only of course, but that's probably all they will use anyway.

http://easiphone.co.uk/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1

There's a company called MatobMobile who sell a variety of "accessible" handsets from a variety of makers. Doro is one well known brand.

(http://www.matobmobile.co.uk/) EDIT: This website is bafflingly awful considering they're aiming at customers with accessibility needs.

But putting one together is a great idea, especially with 3d printing.

Or Silicon Valley Homebrew Mobile Phone Club in 2006. Or TuxPhone or OpenCell (my contribution).

[Edit: Or SparkFun's original claim to fame, the Port-O-Rotary: https://www.sparkfun.com/categories/96]

Personally I like the look of cardboard: http://bit.ly/10K7Qi0 (my first DIY cell phone)

Actually, there is still a small but healthy community working on a few distributions and new hardware [1].

[1] http://projects.goldelico.com/p/openphoenux/

Actually what these guys don't mention is that the Raspberry Pi is plugged into a relatively huge USRP, because that kind of blows their whole "Look how tiny it is" PR out of the water.

On GSM phones, ESNs don't apply. IMEIs are the equivalent, however. In that case one of the value-adds of an integrated module is that it comes with an IMEI. If you're going into large scale production you can pay CTIA for your own block of IMEIs and reprogram your modules, but typically that's not worth it. However if memory serves (it's been about 5 years) they force you into doing this if you get above a certain production volume, otherwise it becomes difficult tor track which chunk of the traffic is yours, and whether or not you're shipping a ton of devices which haven't passed carrier certification, etc.

I'd imagine it works similarly with ESNs, but I have no experience there.

Combine this with the Raspberry Pi base station, and there's HackerNet :) http://www.newelectronics.co.uk/electronics-news/basestation...