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2.4GHz Wi-Fi Detector Ring Project
mohrt writes "The Wi-Fi detection ring was developed to give mobile computer users the ability to detect 802.11b/g signals, while providing a unique, fashionable and ultra-portable product package.
The prototype circuit collects and rectifies an RF signal in the 2.4GHz range, whereafter an Atmel Tiny microprocessor, detecting the presence of a DC voltage, thusly engages a flashing LED.
For those of you who have no excuse to wear a ring, well here it is."
The last time a ring was this cool was with a decoder and a whistle and came in a cereal box.
i see you, too, have the schwartz
A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
The maximum detection range appeared to be roughly 40 feet (line of sight), which is not exactly great, but this can likely be blamed on the antenna...
He doesn't mind
However, who would want to detect a Wi-Fi if he's not going to use it? If you're already a mobile user, it might be easier to just use your device's auto-detection software.
I agree that there are times when I wish I could have detected the signal before I take out my laptop, but I usually solve that problem by starting up my PDA first.
Rock that crushes, Paper & Scissors that don't matter.
In brightest day, in darkest night
No Wi-Fi shall escape my sight
Let those who worship broadband's might
Beware my power, my ring's LED light!
It also can tell you if your microwave oven is working! (and how much leakage you're absorbing by standing in front of it)
--
"Open source is good." - Steve Jobs
"Open source is evil." - Microsoft
The perfect nerd wedding ring!!! Now all I gotta do is find a girl that'll be ok with that.
...but I'm sure she'll prefer one of these!
Wouldn't cordless phones set this thing off constantly?
if it can light up an LED with the juice it's pouring into the air, what else might it be doing that we're not aware of yet?
Did you even bother to look at the prototype? It's mostly battery. I mean come on, you click the link, and there is ONE, count them ONE image on that page.
Let's not make fear inciting "radiation is bad" posts without AT LEAST reading the story first? Just a suggestion...
I am disrespectful to dirt! Can you see that I am serious?!
Ear-, nose- and belly button- rings will be available soon!
From the article: "Due to the simplicity of the circuit design, the prototype unit does not discriminate between other sources of 2.4GHz RF, eg. "leaky" microwave ovens, cordless phones, etc. Future production units would feature surface-mounted components to decrease the detector profile and microcontrollers that discriminate between other RF sources, as well as indicate whether the Wi-Fi nodes are open/closed/encrypted, etc."
Yes, but they're going to fix that.
Due to the simplicity of the circuit design, the prototype unit does not discriminate between other sources of 2.4GHz RF, eg. "leaky" microwave ovens, cordless phones, etc.
Technology, the cause of and solution to all of life's problems.
Propose to her. Get down on one knee and ask, "will you...tell me when we near a 2.4GHz signal?"
Perfect for the geek who wants to be married to technology rather than another person.
Nothing says commitment to your true love technology like one of these rings.
it looks great too!
Rather than signalling to women around you that you've already got someone willing to spend the rest of her life with you, this ring indicates (and guarantees) that pretty much that no woman will ever want to be with you.
Bill Clinton: Pimp we can believe in. - The Shirt!!!
The designers should consider making this a watch instead of a ring. That way they can also design a UI for the watch's display, and you would have more room for bulk on your wrist than on your finger.
This can be the reverse-wedding ring. As a wedding ring indicates that you're taken, this ring can indicate that you are most definitely single. After all, no sane girlfriend/fiance/wife would allow you to step out the door with your "WiFi detecting ring" no matter how cool you thought your witty references to the Lord of the Ring were.
Atmel's AVR Tiny is a microcontroller, not (just) a microprocessor. Small but important difference!
Finally, a resolution to all those wedding ring & diamond related discussions on slashdot.
There are no trails. There are no trees out here.
...is that the Eye will find you and send out the ringwraiths when you wear it. Bummer.
That'll look real nice right next to my Java ring. :-)
[Insert pithy quote here]
-b.
...it's better than this secret decoder ring I've been using since I was 8.
Mod me down with all of your hatred and your journey towards the dark side will be complete!
Let me guess what frequency it blew, Cap'n...
And if she doesn't dump you, THEN propose for real! It can't fail.
I'm married. I need a reason NOT to wear a ring!
I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
ubergeek is when you go around calling it "my precious".
there's no place like ~
One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them (Wi-Fi networks)
One Ring to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them. ( Download porn! )
No, the RF section of this device takes in RF energy and puts out DC. There's no information content in DC. Just an indication of the RF input level that's proportional to the DC level. Once the signal is converted to DC, there's no way to extract any information about the modulated data signal. The current design is a blinky-light, and is a completely wasteful use of a microprocessor.
... meh.
Any future device that intends to interpret the information modulated onto the carrier will need a form of downconverter. I don't care what kind is implemented, but it's going to need to be a honest-to-ghod receiver. That's much more complicated than a simple peak detector. I'll be impressed when they put the receiver in there. Until then
To be able to add the future ability to differentiate between a hotspot and a microwave?
I'll never make that mistake again, reading the experts' opinions. - Feynman
Finally another form of birth control for males.
A watch that detects wifi is curious, maybe even useful to some dorks, but it's not cool. A keychain that detects wifi is curious but not cool. A PDA that detects wireless isn't even curious.
This ring is cool because it's a ring. Ever hear of a secret decoder ring? Why do you think it keeps coming up here? Were you never a kid? Are you not even a nerd?
Amy
Actually, you might discover (through experimentation, or whatever) that inserting a processor in-line with an 'LED flasher' circuit can actually save significant power over just blinking the LED itself.
This is due to some esoteric details of how an LED is most efficiently driven. I learned when I was developing firmware for some small hand-held medical devices that used a Microcontroller (an NEC 4-bit controller) that you can actually get greater efficiency (more light output per power consumed) by driving LEDs with a VERY high current for a very short duty. Drive them to 100 mA or so at a 1% duty cycle, for starters, and experiment with high drive current and duty cycle. There is a dramatic current savings over driving an LED with a DC level to get equivalent brightness.
The power saving achived by this means will likely be more than enough to power the processor, if it's one of the tiny micro-power processors. Use one of the little 8 pin PIC parts or what-not.
There- interesting (hopefully) topic drift.
"What's the frequency Kenneth?"