rockblock

You will need to add a few libraries for this code.

• For IridiumSBD, go to Sketch -> Include Library -> Manage Libraries, and search for Iridium.
• For TinyGPS++, go here and follow the instructions

README

This is a record of thus far work done for the BLDG 61 space camp program.

Get space credits for ROCKBLOCK device to talk to satellites

1. Go to rock7.com/register and create an account (or log in to your existing account).
2. Add a ROCKBLOCK using the registration code.
3. Add credits for communication and set up a line for your device.

Get ROCKBLOCK hardware communications up (testing ROCKBLOCK in isolation):

1. Download FTDI driver for your local dev environment

2. Download Arduino IDE

3. Plug the FTDI cable into the ROCKBLOCK

4. Plug in the usb end of the FTDI cable into your computer, and select the serial port under Tools -> Port

5. Open the Serial Monitor under Tools

6. Change baud rate to 19200 baud, and line ending to Carriage return

7. GO OUTSIDE! You are about to try and talk to a satellite! Out in the open, and maybe face the antenna toward the sky.

8. Send following series of messages to the device (this is a sample ASCII version, use binary for deployed / prod use especially with longer messages):

   AT
   AT&K0 // Turn off Flow Control
   AT+SBDWT=Hello Elowyn // Insert ASCII message into MO (mobile origination... coming FROM the device) buffer
   AT+SBDIX // Initiate an Extended SBD Session (exchange messages)

   remember, you will need \r (Carriage return) at the end of each of these lines in a code file!

9. You should get a message back in this format: +SBDIX: <MO status>, <MOMSN>, <MT status>, <MTMSN>, <MT length>, <MT queued>\r

   Interpret this response as follows (source):

   The SBDIX command denotes the status of your sent, received and queued messages:

   <MO status> - Any returned number with a value of 0 to 2 indicates your message has been successfully transmitted. Any number above 2 indicates that the message has not been successfully transmitted.

   <MOMSN> - This number denotes the MO message number and cycles between 0 and 65535.

   <MT status>:

   • 0 - No messages waiting to be received.
   • 1 - New message successfully received.
   • 2 - Error during mailbox check / message reception.

   <MTMSN> - This number denotes the MT message number and cycles between 0 and 65535.

   <MT length> - The size (in bytes) of the MT message.

   <MT queued> - The number of MT messages in the queue waiting to be downloaded.