Now that song is stuck in my head and will be going around and around for the next three days... (and apologies if it's now stuck in yours too! :) The obvious answer is to use an SDR (Software Defined Radio), and from previous projects I have a USRP which fits the bill. However, as I travel a lot, I prefer something a little more portable, so I'm always on the lookout for smaller alternatives. As it happens, a friend gave me a nice Christmas gift (thanks CJ!) of a FunCube dongle: This very cool device can receive on any frequency from 64MHz to 1.7GHz and fits in my laptop bag so is absolutely ideal. It also presents itself to the PC as a pseudo sound card, so is very easy to interface to. This was a fantastic bonus for me as I'm already comfortable with the idea of converting audio into data and have used the soundcard in my laptop for that purpose on many previous projects (e.g. magstripes). Another way is to use a spectrum analyser. This is essentially another type of RF receiver, that listens on a very wide band and shows you any spikes or other discrepancies, one of which will be the signal you're looking for.

This can be in the form of software using the FunCube itself, such as HDSDR (Windows) or QUISK (Linux), or a standalone hardware device like the RF Explorer. I actually use both. The RF Explorer to quickly find the signal, and then QUISK or HDSDR to fine tune. Like most such devices, it helpfully tells you what frequency it's using on its R&TTE approval label. In this case, 433.92 MHz. Putting that into HDSDR and hitting the button produces a nice 'hot' line right on the centre (the white and orange blob in the top window), so it looks like we're in the money... We can also hear what is obviously data. Although we've decided against using the USRP, it's companion software, GNU Radio, is the obvious choice. It has a great helper tool called GNU Radio Companion which makes this kind of task an absolute doddle. There is a plugin for the FunCube which is now bundled with the main GNU Radio distribution, so no extra work is required to get it up and running. and now this is where the fun begins.

We can edit that file with any audio editor. I used Audacity but pretty much anything will do. As I mentioned, the original device we were looking at was also using WiFi and Zigbee, so we were using an Ubertooth 2.4GHz dongle to poke around with that. garage door repair henrietta nyI knew there were chips in the same device range that did sub-GHz frequencies, so I asked Mike Ossman, the Ubertooth's designer, if he knew of any projects utilising these. garage doors ipswich areaI was in luck: he did. exterior door threshold insertNot only had he got some fun and interesting research of his own, but he pointed me at RFCat, a new project (at the time) designed to do exactly this kind of thing. cabinet door hinges ireland

Not only would I be able to receive the signals from the bell-push, but I should be able to emulate them as well. Development kits 433, 868 and 915 MHz bands are available off the shelf, and come in two forms: either as a standalone USB dongle (868/915 only):garage door opener repair keller tx or these nifty wristwatches:patio door locks lowes Discussions on the gnuradio mailing list back in 2006 show that the obvious one of a car key was being looked at. old windows for sale greenville sc Of course, opening car doors is a nice party trick, but because modern vehicles are secured by rolling codes, that's all it is - a party trick. You'll be able to do this once and once only with each 'hacked' sequence...

What's of more concern to me are devices like the 'Owl Plug': As usual, the code is available on the Aperture Labs tools page, but please bear in mind that while playing with your own RF devices is perfectly OK in any reasonable society, playing with other people's (without their permission) is most definitely not (and probably illegal)! The page you were looking for doesn't exist. You may have mistyped the address or the page may have moved. If you are the application owner check the logs for more information. Please bookmark us Ctrl+D and come back soon for updates! All files are available in both Wav and MP3 formats.Smart boy: Schoolboy Lawrence Rook, 13, invented Smart Bell, which calls your mobile when it is rung A schoolboy is on course for a £250,000 windfall after inventing a doorbell that fools burglars into believing somebody is home at an empty property. Smart Bell, designed by 13-year-old Laurence Rook, dials the homeowner's mobile phone when pressed, allowing them to talk to whoever is outside their front door.

The device even produces a small amount of white noise to give any unexpected guest the impression they are speaking to someone inside the house on an intercom system. The invention, which uses an inbuilt SIM card and existing mobile-phone technology, would also allow homeowners to give instructions to drivers making deliveries at their already sold 20,000 units to telecoms giant Commtel Innovate and is finalising a deal with an unnamed second company for a further 25,000When the deal is signed, he will be £250,000 richer. teenager, from Whyteleafe, Surrey, said: 'At first I designed the idea because my mum was fed up going to the Post Office to collect deliveries made when we were not at home. 'When I started to develop the Smart Bell, I realised it could also be a great burglar-deterrent. 'Most opportunist burglars ring the doorbell first to see if anyone is at home, but Smart Bell has the perfect way to counteract this. 'If you are out and a burglar comes up to your door and rings the doorbell, after ten seconds Smart Bell will ring through to your mobile phone and you will be able to answer.

'There is a small amount of white noise so it will sound like an intercom and the burglar will never know that you're not actually inside the house.' Inspiration: Lawrence initially came up with the idea for a Dragon's Den style contest at his school - but wasn't allowed to enter without a prototype Laurence had the idea for the Smart Bell after his school challenged pupils to come up with an invention for a Dragons' Den-style competition. Laurence, who won a scholarship to attend private Trinity School in Croydon, South London, was initially unable to enter the contest because he didn't have a working prototype. But his parents, James and Margaret Rook, then showed his plans to family friend Paula Ward, who was crowned the world's top female inventor in 2004 for designing a web chatroom safety system. Laurence said: 'Paula thought it was brilliant and sent off the designs to China for it to be made into the actual product. 'I was gobsmacked that she thought it was so good.' Less than 12 months after the prototype was developed, Commtel Innovate is preparing for the wholesale release of the product and High Street giants B&Q, PC World, Currys and Comet are now set to stock the Smart Bell, which will cost £40.