RFID Cat Flap computer connection

[Bastiaan]

Reading the data sheet:
ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/DeviceDo ... 41291D.pdf

The PIC has autodetect baudrate settings but also wake-up on start bit and a special pin to wake up the system.
Could be that it needs a trigger to get out of the low power state and initialize the device?

[Darwusch]

I thought the wake up pin is not for UART communication. Also the PIC is continuously awake for scanning.
Maybe I have to send some start bit but I don't know the HEX or ASCII code for that. I'm searching the web for more information.

The datasheet also mentions:

12.1.1 EUSART ASYNCHRONOUS
TRANSMITTER
The EUSART transmitter block diagram is shown in
Figure 12-1. The heart of the transmitter is the serial
Transmit Shift Register (TSR), which is not directly
accessible by software. The TSR obtains its data from
the transmit buffer, which is the TXREG register.
12.1.1.1 Enabling the Transmitter
The EUSART transmitter is enabled for asynchronous
operations by configuring the following three control
bits:
• TXEN = 1
• SYNC = 0
• SPEN = 1
All other EUSART control bits are assumed to be in
their default state.

Now I have to find out how to put this in a datastring to send in HEX or ASCII.
B.t.w. isn't there a danger that I reprogram the PIC this way?

[Bastiaan]

I have placed a request for help on a (Dutch) electronics forum. Hopefully someone with knowledge about these chips will be able to help.
elektor.nl/forum/forum/algemene-forums/ ... 9837.lynkx

Bastiaan

[Bastiaan]

Just another thought:

Would it be possible to read the chip info with a 'standard' RFID tag reader? The antenna seems pretty large but it must be possible to pick up the signal. I am just not sure there are diff kind of chips/frequencies etc.

Anybody a RFID reader I can test?

Bastiaan

[Bastiaan]

The general consensus on the electronics forum was:

Probably the chip will work but is protected in 99% of the cases.
It is possible to check, or even reprogram/replace it but it will take time (and knowledge).

Since my one is in 'active use' I can't pull it out and let someone do some research for a few weeks. Buying another one for this purpose seem silly too (@150 euro)

I still think we should put op some pressure to the company. They have not been reacting on my requests and it would make live so much easier.....

Bastiaan

[peteralm]

If the long awaited computer connection can be bought as an extra, it presumably will just plug into JP3 or JP5 - I wouldn't imagine that it would need to re-program the processor...

Some other posters thought that the unit would need to be "told" to enable the serial port as it didn't seem to work at the moment.

In reading the manual - there is an extended mode in the menu, some of them switch features on and off like beep after entry - there is also options 7-9 which the manual says are reserved for future use.

Could it be that one of these will switch on the serial port?

[Darwusch]

Could be. I don't dare to try though...
Last month I asked Petsafe (new owner) about the progress but they still don't know.

[Bastiaan]

Do you mean PetSafe really answered an email to you?
They never answered my questions....

[Darwusch]

Yes, here's their answer:

Thank you for your email, unfortunately we do not have a date yet as to when this will be available, please keep checking our website http://www.staywell.co.uk as it will be announced on there.

Kind regards,

Julie Fazakerley | Customer Care Specialist

UK FREEPHONE 0800 046 1414

EU | 00 800 18 18 20 20 / +44 (0) 118 963 9924

[labium]

i als bougt a petporte cat flap which looks exact the same as in the shown pictures on the uotside and inside.in holland in a normal vet store , and i als wondered how to integrate that in my domotica homeseer syteem. i also sw the two waiting connectors to be connected.


i bought one because we have a lot of neigbour cats who eat al our cat food , and our cats dont do anything to defend their food. it costed me 159 euro made in the usa.

labium

[osmi]

Hi everybody, I've already contacted PetSafe regarding this, though no reply yet, here's what I wrote to them:

Hello,
I'm writing to you hoping that you would be so kind to help on my home project regarding some personalised improvement of the PetPorte Smart Flap, which have been in use in my home for our cats for the past 2 years and we are extremely pleased with them!! ..so are the cats
Here's what my project is about: I want to connect the smart flap to either LAN network or internet, preferably both.
I read something about that on your site and also, some time ago, we spoke by mail about it, that you are developing a modul, which will be installed to the flap and then connected through usb or serial cable to PC.
Usually, at least my case is like that, the flap is installed on a door quite far from a PC, therefore long cable may lead to a communication problem, I've decided to connect the flap to LAN network. I got the idea on the this site http://www.nermal.org/projects/catalog.
I made some research and found lots of available hardware that could enable the implementation of connecting the existant equipement with the serial port on LAN network (embeded ethernet).
I chose Modtronix Ethernet SBC68EC board.
What I want to do is to access through web server (built-in Ethernet SBC68EC board) to the settings of my PetPorte Smart Flap, be able to change settings when needed, keep track of entries/exits of our cats..
And this is where I got stuck - how can I connect the board to the PetPorte?
For that I need to know which connector on the circuit board is intended for serial communication with PC and which protocol it supports?
In order to enable me improve my PetPorte, I kindly ask you to send me the technical datasheets for my PetPorte Smart Flap.
Best regards!
Damjan

[Bastiaan]

It's good that more people ask for the data but I am afraid we will all get the standard answer.
Let's hope they get active and work on it.

[roheve]

I've been looking into these catdoors also, and found 2 so far, the PetPorte, which is around 145 euros, and the SureFlap, which is around 90 euros. Both work with the chip which every cat should have by now.

Same here. I did not get a cat-door yet, because I do not (yet) want to wreck the door (make a big hole in it to place the cat-door there). My cats have to ask to get outside or inside for now and that seems to work, on occasion locking one or both out for a few hours when there is noone to let them in again.

But i still want a cat-door, since I have no plans to move anymore, but until now (actually somewhere last year). The only cat-doors I could find are units and without computer connection options (no USB port for monitoring and programming and maybe charging) and using batteries that need to be replaced at least once a year.

I do want to monitor what happens (just out of curiousity), so an optional way to connect a computer would be nice. Is that avaiable in the mean time? Or what type of cat-door is build in such a way that it is doable to replace the circuitboard, with something homebuild. Would be nice to register wich cat is using teh door when and if cats are detected that are rejected and when.

[Bastiaan]

Well I bought this PetPorte one for 139 euro's and it worked well for the last year. Besides the antenna falling out once, it hasn't failed on me. It runs on AC with a battery backup which is important since cats like to sit in front of it and keep switching it on and off all the time. Batteries only would be a disaster in that case
I have had neighbor cats coming in twice by simply chasing my cat at short distance so it isn't a 100% guarantee but in most cases it keeps them out.
For now I have a wireless IP camera in front of it that records a few seconds of the cat coming in or out and sends it a picture by email. We always can check who is in or out with the timestamp.
Of course a real interface would be much better but at least now I can see who brought in the mouse.....

[KidE]

To update this topic a bit i contacted petporte via phone and asked them the same question you all have.
Fortunately the person on the phone was a good acquaintance of the original designer and he told me the reason why no info is given out regarding the external connection.
When the PetPorte concept was sold to its new owner the designer had to sign an NDA "non disclosure agreement" that for 3 years no info could be shared regarding the inner workings. I tried my best to get a head start but like the NDA says i did not get any info.

only 3/4 year we have to wait until the NDA expires and after that we should be able to get all the info we need.