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https://github.com/boatartist/diy_raspi_phone

A project to turn a raspberry pi into a portable phone
https://github.com/boatartist/diy_raspi_phone

diy phones raspberrypi

Last synced: 4 days ago
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A project to turn a raspberry pi into a portable phone

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README 

        
# DIY_raspi_phone

This is a project I've been working on for a while, inspired by other projects online, like OURS phone and the tutorial on Core Electronics

Made using some parts I had (Raspberry Pi and screen), and the most compatible parts I could find online (4G hat and mini keyboard). 

This is my first time properly uploading a project to a github repo so I hope I'm doing this right. 

The main code file is flask_sms.py, which I access on my raspberry pi from a command, so it's basically an app. On my raspberry pi all the files are found in the Desktop, with sms_flask being a sub-folder on the desktop. If you want to change this, just change the file paths in flask_sms.py.

I'll attach .stls for the case, which isn't amazing but it does have a hinge that I'm very proud of.

There's some setup involved with linking the 4G hat's serial connection, and i'm not 100% sure that it's the same for everyone, i've done a LOT of googling, but I'll put my process in at some point.



## Link to products:



[4G Hat from Core Electronics](https://core-electronics.com.au/waveshare-4g-hat-for-raspberry-pi-lte-cat-4-4g-3g-2g-gnss.html)



[Raspberry Pi 3B+](https://core-electronics.com.au/raspberry-pi-3-model-b-plus.html) You could probably use a different pi but this is what I had



[5-inch LCD Display](https://www.jaycar.com.au/5-inch-touchscreen-with-hdmi-and-usb/p/XC9024?pos=19&queryId=1e9a4a1daaf2ba708a8a63e453d139f2&sort=relevance&searchText=5%20inch) Also available elsewhere. I've had this for ages and it still hasn't turned into a touchscreen, there are probably better options



[Mini wireless keyboard](https://www.amazon.com.au/Rii-Wireless-Full-Featured-Multimedia-Shortcuts/dp/B07D3JWVQV) Found this on amazon, it's not amazing for typing but it's got a touchpad which is really useful



[Battery pack that I found at a park](https://www.jbhifi.com.au/products/cygnett-boost-v2-5000mah-power-bank-black)



[Generic hdmi cable](https://www.bigw.com.au/product/tonic-hdmi-cable-1-5m-black/p/101650) that I cut in half and resoldered to shorten but it's not short enough, stay tuned for better solutions



Just bought 2 of [these HDMI plugs](https://www.jaycar.com.au/gold-plated-pcb-mount-hdmi-plug/p/PP0941) from Jaycar and i'm gonna try soldering them to make a new, shorter HDMI cable, not expecting this to work but we'll see



Optional: [Raspberry Pi Camera](https://raspberry.piaustralia.com.au/collections/cameras), there's a port for it in the case, and you can make a camera app pretty easily with raspistill commands



## Using the mobile network

The 4G hat is connected by a serial connection to the raspberry pi through a USB cable.

To control the HAT through the serial connection, you use AT commands, which are commonly used in modems.

I definitely recommend using the [Waveshare Documentation](https://www.waveshare.com/wiki/SIM7600E-H_4G_HAT) for research, or if you want to change the code. I haven't been able to get an internet connection yet, but there's a guide on there you can try.



I used [this Core Electronics tutorial](https://core-electronics.com.au/guides/raspberry-pi-4g-gps-hat/) to setup the serial connection. You'll need to enable serial with sudo raspi-config, then you'll install minicom and so on.



## Running the code

You can set flask_sms.py to execute like an app, and it will open a terminal window and then a web browser. I wasn't sure how else to make a text-based interface, so the flask website will open and you'll choose a contact from the drop-down or all unread messages, there's also a page for all messages stored on the sim, but i have all messages being saved in the text file and deleted from the sim, so this will normally be empty.



## Things I'm going to do

Replace the sketchily shortened HDMI cable with a better option, maybe buy ports and solder them together

I'm going to buy [this ribbon cable](https://littlebirdelectronics.com.au/products/diy-hdmi-cable-parts-10-cm-hdmi-ribbon-cable?_pos=2&_sid=8684cfa62&_ss=r) with [this](https://littlebirdelectronics.com.au/products/diy-hdmi-cable-parts-right-angle-r-bend-hdmi-plug-adapter?pr_prod_strat=e5_desc&pr_rec_id=291504d27&pr_rec_pid=8811102011681&pr_ref_pid=8811092508961&pr_seq=uniform) and [this](https://littlebirdelectronics.com.au/products/diy-hdmi-cable-parts-right-angle-l-bend-hdmi-plug-adapter?pr_prod_strat=e5_desc&pr_rec_id=de5ccbaa6&pr_rec_pid=8811097522465&pr_ref_pid=8811102011681&pr_seq=uniform)

or two of [these](https://littlebirdelectronics.com.au/products/diy-hdmi-cable-parts-straight-hdmi-plug-adapter?pr_prod_strat=e5_desc&pr_rec_id=d0cdc2d81&pr_rec_pid=8811092508961&pr_ref_pid=8811097522465&pr_seq=uniform)



Get Internet working



## This is what the phone looks like



![phone1](https://github.com/boatartist/DIY_raspi_phone/blob/main/phone1.jpg)

![phone2](https://github.com/boatartist/DIY_raspi_phone/blob/main/phone2.jpg)