Selecting a tariff for a GSM socket, GSM thermometer and GSM alarm

Wireless GSM alarms have gained enormous popularity in just a couple of years among owners of country houses, small industrial premises, apartments, shops and garages. For the correct functioning of such security systems, you need a SIM card from a reliable mobile service provider. It is precisely the correct choice of SIM card for GSM alarms that determines the speed of operation of the system and the guarantee of sending alarm signals when security sensors are triggered.

SIM card selection criteria

Each GSM system is equipped with an integrated modem into which a SIM card is inserted. It often happens that the SIM card installed in the smartphone functions correctly, but when transferred to the modem, its operation becomes unpredictable. In order to avoid such a problem, you need to correctly approach the selection of SIM, guided by several rules.

It is necessary to check the modem built into the security system to ensure it supports the protocols and standards of the communication provider whose services you plan to use. For example, if the modem module is designed to operate in the GSM 1900 or 900 standards, then it will not be able to interact with SIM cards from Rostelecom, which exclusively supports 3G modems.

Format

At the moment, there are three main form factors of SIM cards:

1. Mini.
2. Micro.
3. Nano.

Full-size SIMs are no longer actually used in cellular communications. Modern GSM alarms are usually equipped with mini card readers. The newest models can also function in smaller form factors. Most of the new tariff packages make it possible to break out a card of the required format using notches.

It is strongly not recommended to use any adapters for SIM-Card. The quality of contact between the contacts depends on the tightness of the installation and the absence of backlash in the card reader. Any displacement of the SIM card can lead to damage to the card and failure of the entire modem device.

Rate

The main load when operating a SIM card is sending SMS notifications. This may be a message about a potential danger, but mainly these are service notices of an informational nature:

• user balance status;
• activation or deactivation of the alarm;
• sudden loss of supply voltage;
• charge level of the integrated battery;
• scheduled report in electronic form on the performance of all security sensors.

For this reason, when choosing a SIM card for GSM security systems, it is necessary to give preference to those that provide the ability to send a considerable number of SMS notifications at an affordable cost.

Where to buy a security alarm

You can purchase a security alarm either in a specialized store or online in an online store. In the second case, the budget option for purchasing products on the Aliexpress website deserves special attention. For some alarms there is an option for shipment from a warehouse in the Russian Federation; they can be received as quickly as possible; to do this, when ordering, select “Delivery from the Russian Federation”

Description of the "Mayak" tariff from MTS

The tariff plan called “Mayak” from the mobile operator MTS is a specialized offer for mobile gadgets. It differs from others in that it is not intended for calls, neither voice nor video. Access to these services is closed. Calls can only be made to emergency numbers. The main functions of Mayak are fax transmission, messaging and Internet access.

Each GSM security system simply must have a connection with its owner. Interaction is realized using SMS and fax notifications with specific commands. It is precisely for such purposes that a tariff plan with the interesting name “Mayak” was created. It is not too expensive and offers users a large SMS and data package.

For greater financial benefits, it is proposed to additionally connect auxiliary SMS sets - 100, 300 or 500 to choose from.

• Internet access is charged per megabyte, because the provided data channels consume a tiny amount of traffic. If the owner still does not have enough megabytes provided, he will be able to order the “MiniBit”, “Bit” or “SuperBit” options.
• There is no mandatory subscription fee for using the tariff plan. Naturally, you will have to pay for packages of additional messages and megabytes every month.
• As already noted, Mayak does not provide unpaid minutes, messages or megabytes. To extend auxiliary Internet access packages, it is recommended to use the “Turbo button”. This is the only way to return high-speed Internet traffic.

Main manufacturers

There are three leading manufacturers in the GSM alarm market. These are StarLine, Pandora and Prizrak.

StarLine

The manufacturer StarLine entered the domestic market in 2013 and in a short time took a leading position. Today the company produces several series of devices:

• “E” series – alarms without a built-in GSM module, but with the possibility of self-installation;
• series “A” – the ability to control from a mobile phone and a more modern key fob;
• “B” series – has a GPS monitoring function and is characterized by increased immunity from interference;
• series “D” - similar to category “B”, but designed specifically for SUVs.

Communication with the module is carried out through the Telematika 2.0 mobile application.

Ghost

In the Ghost line of car alarms, devices with a GSM module can be identified by the first digit “8” in the model name (for example, 810, 820, 830 and 840). In addition to standard functions (microphones, remote control), Prizrak GSM devices are equipped with:

• CAN controllers responsible for reliable integration with automotive systems;
• PIN to drive function, which provides additional protection using a special code;
• sensors of external influences (shock, displacement, tilt, etc.).

Pandora

Pandora alarms have been produced since 2004 and meet all modern standards. Interestingly, it was this manufacturer that first introduced the possibility of authorization in the anti-theft system using a smart watch. The manufacturer provides motorists with a choice of devices with a wide price range.

An example of a car alarm configuration with a GSM module

If a car owner does not want to save money on protecting his car from theft, GSM alarms will be the right choice. The possibility of remote monitoring and control will allow you to prevent illegal use of the car in a matter of seconds. If the car was nevertheless stolen, the GSM module will allow you to determine its position with maximum accuracy. To ensure reliable operation of the device, you should purchase alarms only at dealerships or specialized stores.

Cost and tariff conditions

In the overall picture, the conditions and prices on the tariff plan look like this (for Moscow and the region):

1. Voice calls to MTS within the home area – 1.5 rubles per minute.
2. Calls to other telecom operators in your home area - 3 rubles per minute of communication.
3. Calls to MTS phones to other regions of the country - 5 rubles per minute.
4. Calls to other operators outside your area - 14 rubles for every minute of conversation.
5. Internet access - each megabyte spent will cost 4.5 rubles.
6. Sending SMS notifications in your home area – 1.5 rubles per piece.
7. Sending SMS to other regions – 1.8 rubles for each notification.
8. Sending text notifications outside the country – 5.25 per SMS.

An interesting fact is that under such conditions of use, the subscription fee for the tariff is 0. Naturally, many users will refuse conditions where they have to pay for access to the network and sending SMS. On other tariffs they are provided for a fixed monthly fee. But “Mayak” was not created for ordinary phones. For high-tech systems such as “Smart Home” and “GM Alarm”, it will be an ideal option.

Features of using trackers

The accuracy of the received data on GPS coordinates of trackers depends on the system they are served by, or rather, on the number of satellites involved in positioning. Data with an accuracy of 1 m is provided by platforms that use at least 9 satellites to determine location. MTS uses a two-position system that simultaneously uses satellites of the GLONASS and GPS systems.

The tracker was not originally designed for private use. These services became popular with the advent of personal devices. Most often, these devices are installed in a car for satellite monitoring of transport using cellular communications.

The advantage of the MTS mobile navigation method in Russia:

• obtaining accurate two-position data even at points of uncertain reception;
• the ability to install any receiving module with GPRS support;
• control is implemented using a supported SIM card, and commands are transmitted via SMS.

Please pay attention to changes in the cost of services in Russia, as well as the conditions for receiving and sending SMS in the package you are using. Using the MTS tariff for the Mayak navigator, traffic jams are determined and transmitted to the navigation device, which allows the driver to find out the location of a problematic traffic intersection long before approaching them

Even when using this option, the amount of Internet required for navigation does not exceed 10 MB/month.

How to connect and disconnect the Mayak tariff

It will not be possible to activate the presented tariff plan using traditional methods, such as sending a USSD request or dialing a service command. It can only be connected through a personal visit to an MTS communication salon, and then only by purchasing a new SIM card with a preset tariff.

Deactivating a tariff plan is also not available using conventional methods. This operation can only be performed using your personal account on the official website of the cellular company MTS.

We assemble a GSM alarm system with our own hands without an old mobile phone

There may be a situation when you don’t have an old mobile phone at hand, but you want to save money on a GSM alarm system. In this case, an Arduino board with a built-in microcontroller will help us. A distinctive feature of this board is its low price and functionality. In our example, we will use an Arduino Uno board, which costs approximately $4 (depending on modifications). For the basis of this example, we will take the article “GSM Home Alarm V1.0”, authored by Hugo Gomez. You can find this article on the official website www.arduino.cc of the Arduino project. To assemble our alarm system with our own hands, we will need the following components:

• the board itself with the Arduino Uno microcontroller;
• GPRS Shield V2.0 - GSM module;
• power supply at [email protected] ;
• ultrasonic distance sensor HC-SR04;
• connecting wires;
• bread board;
• SIM card.

The cost of all components of such an autonomous alarm system will be $35, which is still much cheaper than ready-made solutions. The operating principle of this alarm is based on the HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor, which detects the difference in distance and sends a signal to the mobile phone. For example, if a person gets into the sensor’s measurement area, the sensor will record a distance less than the intended one and the Arduino Uno will send a signal to the mobile phone. The measuring length of this sensor is 4 meters and the viewing angle is 30 degrees. Thanks to these characteristics, the sensor can be used at home, in the garage and in the country.

To assemble this alarm, the first thing you need to do is install a SIM card in the GSM module.

You should also disable the PIN code on the SIM card in advance. Now let's connect all the components with wires according to the diagram shown below.

The assembled GSM alarm will look like this.

In order for our GSM module GPRS Shield V2.0 to work in conjunction with Arduino Uno, we will need to download the SIM900 library. You can download this library at this address https://www.gsmlib.org/download/GSM_GPRS_GPS_IDE100_v307_1.zip. After downloading, install this library. In a further step, we will need to open and edit the GSM.cpp file, which is located in a file in the SIM900 library folder. The fact is that the GSM module GPRS Shield V2.0 in conjunction with Arduino Uno uses pins 7 and 8. Therefore, open the GSM.cpp file and correct the values ​​of lines 27 and 28 to:

Now we need to open the GSM.h file, which is also located in the library folder. In this file we need to comment out lines 20 and 45, and correct 8 to 9 in line 44.

We've sorted out the module, now we can go directly to our alarm code. The code itself can be downloaded from this link https://create.arduino.cc/code_files/47730/download. In line 11 of the code, you must replace “XXXXXXX” with the phone number to which the signal will be sent. By uploading the code to the Arduino Uno, you can test a standalone GSM alarm system. To do this, connect power to it and open the port monitor. The GSM module itself can take a long time to register in the network, where you will see the message “Waiting for Network Registration”. If registration in the network is successful, the alarm can be tested. To do this, move your hand over the operating area of ​​the HC-SR04 sensor, after which you will see a message in the port monitor about the data taken from the sensor. In addition to messages in the port monitor, a call should be received to the phone specified in the code.

From the example it is clear that a person who has already worked with Arduino Uno can easily assemble a similar GSM alarm system with his own hands. In addition, such a warning system can be modified. For example, install several HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensors on it. You can also add an infrared sensor to this alarm system, the price of which in Chinese online stores starts from 50 cents. You can also add temperature sensors to this warning system, which will notify the owner of a house, garage or cottage in the event of a fire.

Tariffs from other operators

Rivals of the Mayak tariff from MTS are:

1. O'Hard tariff plan from Megafon - in addition to packages of SMS notifications and Internet traffic, the operator offers packages of MMS messages. Such conditions will be optimal for GSM alarms, which are equipped with built-in surveillance cameras and send suspicious photos to their owner.
2. The “Communication Monster +” tariff from Beeline is, as a rule, intended for young and active people, because it offers impressive SMS and gigabyte packages. But this is exactly what is needed for modern GSM security systems.

The range of subscribers who use Mayak has expanded significantly over the past year. And this is not surprising, because for owners of smart security systems it will be an ideal solution.

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Should I choose Signal?

Before choosing an unusual tariff plan, we recommend that you carefully weigh the pros and cons. So, “Signal” will be the ideal solution if:

• in your home there are many devices (heating boilers, alarm and video surveillance systems, robotic vacuum cleaners, etc.) with a wireless Wi-Fi connection or the ability to control using a mobile network;
• you need a minimum of minutes, SMS and mms messages;
• you are satisfied with the daily subscription fee and the cost for individual services;
• Having an Internet speed of 128 Kb/sec suits you.

However, the tariff plan also has its drawbacks. Perhaps they will encourage you to choose this tariff only as an auxiliary one:

• small volume of services (no more than 50 minutes and SMS) included in the package;
• paid calls even within the network;
• high prices for roaming abroad;
• not valid in all regions (you can view the full list of available regions on the Beeline website);
• Internet at low speed.

How smart home devices work

The very first smart devices transmitted data via text messages. The devices were controlled by the same SMS. Sending messages was expensive, slow and limited in volume. This reduced the functionality of the equipment. Modern devices need access to the Internet. With its help you can transmit much more information.

Such devices include:

1. Security system in the form of an alarm system . They come in both automobile and home types, and notify owners of movement in the house, opening of doors and other violations of the security facility. There are also functions for listening to objects.
2. Climate control systems, heating boilers provide optimal temperature, and other parameters in the room, are controlled via the Internet by the owner located anywhere in the world.
3. GPS receiver . They need access to mobile Internet and a small package of minutes. The watch monitors where the child is and transmits the necessary information to the parents’ mobile devices.
4. A smart watch is a mobile device equipped with several functions, similar to a smartphone with a small display. Such smart watches require Internet, minutes of calls and a package of SMS.
5. Car navigators . A large series of smart devices that require access to GPS satellites, Glonass , and mobile traffic. The Internet is necessary to obtain data on traffic jams and update maps.

The MTS Smart Device tariff is optimally combined with the devices discussed above. This is confirmed by numerous user reviews.

Connection

Note 3.

MegaFon subscribers can change their current package to “Warm Welcome” for free if the last transition from one product to another took place more than 30 days ago. Otherwise you will have to pay 100 rubles.

Important! If you are a subscriber of another operator, you can save your number when selecting MF.

To connect “TP” online

, need to:

• log in to your personal account on the website megafon.ru
  (you can simply select your city without going into your profile if the purpose of visiting the resource is only to familiarize yourself with the offers);
• select the “Tariffs and Services” category on the main page;
• select the “Tariffs” block and then – the “Mobile communications” subcategory;
• click the product name or click the “More details” link;
• Click on the “Select” button on the new page;
• select one of the options – “Buy a SIM card”, “Go to MegaFon” or “Change tariff”;
• enter the required data and confirm the action (the “Make an order”, “Start number porting” or “Get code” buttons, respectively).

In the event of a product change, everything will happen automatically if the opportunity itself is still available. Purchasing a new SIM card requires visiting a MegaFon store - it will be reserved from the moment you submit your application. The goods can also be delivered home by courier service (at the client’s request).

Important! When visiting the salon you will need to present your passport.

A similar procedure is implied when working with a mobile application.

There is only one nuance: by using MegaFon software, you are already a client of this operator. Therefore, changing the package is carried out remotely (if there is no need for a second SIM card).