Lowcost Wireless Equipment?

simpleSilly asks: "We are currently using iPaq's with 802.11b in a wireless scenario. We have about 30 of them in use at once. We need to expand to about 100 but we are looking for a lower cost solution for a special application. We really have a very very simple application. We only need to record keypresses from the user and send them to a server. The user only needs 6 buttons. They do not even need a screen (although it's a plus) no sound is needed. We do need them wireless and battery powered. The wireless range needs to be about 200 ft. We need to have 100 of them working at once. We need them durable too. Any ideas slashdot readers?"

Mobile Phones

[Anonymous Coward]

I guess you could implement something like this in WAP or whatever will replace it.

Why not say "Audience Response System"?

[ka9dgx]

You're asking for an Audience Response System, why not use the term, and make it easier for all of us?

--Mike--

Re:Why not say "Audience Response System"?

[larien]

iPAQs are an expensive way of implementing something like that... Mind you, any app that involves 6 buttons is expensive on iPAQs...

Try inventory control hardware

[iforgotmyfirstlogon]

There are probably plenty of devices out there that could do what you ask fairly cheaply.

A few jobs ago, I designed a wireless timeclock network that went on a very inexpensive 900mhz wireless RS232 interface. We had the timeclocks individually addressed, and wrote a simple C program to poll them as serial devices. We had dozens of them all running on the same frequency in an enclosed area, and we did it all with off-the-shelf parts (aside from the cables). Response time wasn't amazing, (each clock was polled about 2x/second) but it suited our purposes just fine.

Just about everything that we used could be found in any catalog that sells bar code readers. I'm sure that someone out there makes little 10-key units that can plug straight into a radio so you can collect the input.

- Freed

Go here...

[cr0sh]

Parallax, Inc [parallaxinc.com] sells solutions [parallaxinc.com] for what you have in mind.

Now, you may be asking: "But they only come in a few frequencies!!!" - well, do you think that 802.11 comes in more? So, you will probably have to hack up your own networking/collision detection type system. These devices sound perfect for what you are trying to do...