# \[arduino\] RF Signal interpreted by Software **URL:** \ **Category:** Arduino\ **Created:** [February 27, 2015, 12:25am UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/arduino-rf-signal-interpreted-by-software/30440 "2015-02-27T00:25:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![radialhat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b3f665/32.png) [@radialhat](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/radialhat)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2015, 12:25am UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/arduino-rf-signal-interpreted-by-software/30440/1 "2015-02-27T00:25:13Z")
Hello sparkfun community, I got a question that I also just posted up on Reddit Imagine this scenario, a restaurant, 5 tables, each table with some sort of 555 timer based device coupled with an RF transmitter and 2 physical buttons, one that calls the waiter and the other that asks for the bill, and an arduino with a receiver module that will receive communication and know which table had pressed which button and transform this into a beep on a computer alongside a label on the screen with the table number… Is this acomplishable? What do I need to have in mind? ---
**Author:** ![stevech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba8739/32.png) [@stevech](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/stevech)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 7:03am UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/arduino-rf-signal-interpreted-by-software/30440/2 "2015-02-28T07:03:43Z")
first: power source. what’s the 555 purpose? I’d do this with XBee S1 in a proper package. No microprocessor needed. XBee’s MAC address reveals table # (MAC implies table # as we know where we put the XBees) Two DIO bits on XBee for push buttons (with some debounce) Receiving end is another XBee S1 with USB/Serial link to RPi or PC or whatever displays the button pushes. Quite simple. Send me a zillion dollars and I’ll do it! ---
**Author:** ![Mee\_n\_Mac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@Mee\_n\_Mac](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/Mee_n_Mac)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 7:54am UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/arduino-rf-signal-interpreted-by-software/30440/3 "2015-02-28T07:54:43Z")
Too late … [http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB100014240 … 3174389816](http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303552104577436233174389816) Great thing about the Ziosk at Applebee’s … there’s a refill my drink button !! ---
**Author:** ![Ross\_Robotics](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@Ross\_Robotics](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/Ross_Robotics)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 3:08pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/arduino-rf-signal-interpreted-by-software/30440/4 "2015-02-28T15:08:55Z")
Yep, a lot of restaurants have these now… Well, all the high end restaurants. You can make something more simple and cost effective for “family owned” restaurants… I agree with Steve. Make as simple as possible, which would make it inexpensive… ---
**Author:** ![lyndon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@lyndon](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/lyndon)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 3:09pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/arduino-rf-signal-interpreted-by-software/30440/5 "2015-02-28T15:09:49Z")
It’s certainly possible, but I would just use cheap Android tablets at each table (chained to the table!) and a PC running a webserver at the host station. PC could even be a Raspberry Pi! I’m positive that the lifetime cost of my solution would be lower. I could deliver that solution in a weekend. Wanna pull the trigger on it? 🙂 [edit] And I posted that before I read 'Mac’s link. ---
**Author:** ![Ross\_Robotics](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@Ross\_Robotics](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/Ross_Robotics)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 3:16pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/arduino-rf-signal-interpreted-by-software/30440/6 "2015-02-28T15:16:14Z")
Cheap tablets? I haven’t seen any under $100… That’s not cheap. This concept is what places like Applebee’s use. But they’re in large, bulky enclosures. As for the long term, how many tablets will break in a week? A month? People are destructive animals… Especially a 2 yr old! ---
**Author:** ![lyndon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@lyndon](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/lyndon)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 4:41pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/arduino-rf-signal-interpreted-by-software/30440/7 "2015-02-28T16:41:49Z")
Lots of tablets [[under $60](http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Category/guidedSearch.asp?CatId=6838&sel=Detail%3B309_725_55529_55529). All it needs is wifi and a browser. Can likely get even better pricing if you buy in quantity direct from China via Alibaba. > codlink: > Cheap tablets? I haven’t seen any under $100… That’s not cheap. This concept is what places like Applebee’s use. But they’re in large, bulky enclosures. > > As for the long term, how many tablets will break in a week? A month? People are destructive animals… Especially a 2 yr old! ]([TigerDirect Sunset](http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Category/guidedSearch.asp?CatId=6838&sel=Detail%3B309_725_55529_55529)) ---
**Author:** ![Ross\_Robotics](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@Ross\_Robotics](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/Ross_Robotics)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 5:14pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/arduino-rf-signal-interpreted-by-software/30440/8 "2015-02-28T17:14:27Z")
I stand corrected. $60 @ 10 tables is $600… And I hope a restaurant has more than 10 tables… ---
**Author:** ![lyndon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@lyndon](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/lyndon)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 6:59pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/arduino-rf-signal-interpreted-by-software/30440/9 "2015-02-28T18:59:14Z")
Can the receiver access the transmitter’s MAC address? I should know this: I have a couple of those things still in the package… > stevech: > first: power source. > > what’s the 555 purpose? > > I’d do this with XBee S1 in a proper package. No microprocessor needed. > > XBee’s MAC address reveals table # (MAC implies table # as we know where we put the XBees) > > Two DIO bits on XBee for push buttons (with some debounce) > > Receiving end is another XBee S1 with USB/Serial link to RPi or PC or whatever displays the button pushes. > > Quite simple. > > Send me a zillion dollars and I’ll do it! ---
**Author:** ![Mee\_n\_Mac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@Mee\_n\_Mac](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/Mee_n_Mac)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 9:49pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/arduino-rf-signal-interpreted-by-software/30440/10 "2015-02-28T21:49:49Z")
> lyndon: > Can the receiver access the transmitter’s MAC address? > > I should know this: I have a couple of those things still in the package… > > > stevech: > > first: power source. > > > > what’s the 555 purpose? > > > > I’d do this with XBee S1 in a proper package. No microprocessor needed. > > > > XBee’s MAC address reveals table # (MAC implies table # as we know where we put the XBees) > > > > Two DIO bits on XBee for push buttons (with some debounce) > > > > Receiving end is another XBee S1 with USB/Serial link to RPi or PC or whatever displays the button pushes. > > > > Quite simple. > > > > Send me a zillion dollars and I’ll do it! And if not aren't there 6 more DIO pins that could be wired to ID up to 64 tables ? Even better might be to use the PT2262/2272 encoder/decoder set and a cheapo AM Tx/Rx like Adafruit does in their key fobs. ---
**Author:** ![lyndon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@lyndon](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/lyndon)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2015, 4:30pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/arduino-rf-signal-interpreted-by-software/30440/11 "2015-03-01T16:30:22Z")
Reason for the question was I wondered if the transmitter could be done without a microcontroller. I do like that keyfob idea. Anyway, after taking a quick look on Alibaba and finding WiFi Android tablets for $35 each (qty 10), I’d still consider the tablet approach first. With stuff like this, scope creep tends to happen really quickly. ---
**Author:** ![radialhat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b3f665/32.png) [@radialhat](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/radialhat)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2015, 12:54am UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/arduino-rf-signal-interpreted-by-software/30440/12 "2015-03-02T00:54:08Z")
Hello everyone, Thank you for the answers, while the tablet approach seems nice its costly and a bit out of what I have in mind. Loved Mac’s and stevech’s suggestions… had few time to come back here due to being working on the restaurant (building stage) but I’ll have to take a moment to study stevech’s idea and mac’s which seem to be more complex Regards Radialhat ---
**Author:** ![Mee\_n\_Mac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@Mee\_n\_Mac](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/Mee_n_Mac)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2015, 2:11am UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/arduino-rf-signal-interpreted-by-software/30440/13 "2015-03-02T02:11:22Z")
Here’s the Adafruit 4 way fob. The important point is that it uses the aforementioned encoder/decoder sets to ID and “marry” fobs and receivers. Using cheap and “long” range Tx/Rx sets to carry the info. [http://www.adafruit.com/products/1095](http://www.adafruit.com/products/1095) ---
**Author:** ![stevech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba8739/32.png) [@stevech](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/stevech)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2015, 7:20am UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/arduino-rf-signal-interpreted-by-software/30440/14 "2015-03-02T07:20:18Z")
> lyndon: > Reason for the question was I wondered if the transmitter could be done **without a microcontroller.** see 2nd post On using Tablets at restaurant table… Bring on the toddlers! ---
**Author:** ![lyndon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@lyndon](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/lyndon)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2015, 12:26pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/arduino-rf-signal-interpreted-by-software/30440/15 "2015-03-02T12:26:28Z")
I know that the xbees can transmit to each other without needing a microcontroller. What I don’t know is if the PC at the receiving end can get access to the MAC address of the transmitter. > stevech: > > > lyndon: > > Reason for the question was I wondered if the transmitter could be done **without a microcontroller.** > > see 2nd post > > On using Tablets at restaurant table… > > Bring on the toddlers! ---
**Author:** ![stevech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba8739/32.png) [@stevech](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/stevech)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 4:42am UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/arduino-rf-signal-interpreted-by-software/30440/16 "2015-03-03T04:42:15Z")
yes. The Xbee Binary API passes the sender’s MAC address and received RSSI. There are libraries for the binary API for C/C++ and Python, the latter being easy to use if you know Python.