DIY SMS Driven Notice Display Board

We all have notice boards in places like schools, colleges, coaching etc. These notice boards tells us about exams, competitions, holidays updates. But, one problem with them is that one person is needed to stick the updates on the board.

One day I was thinking if there is any system which can update the notice board without being physically present there, then it can be vey helpful.

For example, if there is holiday tomorrow in the college then just by sending an SMS, Notice board will get update very easily and there will be no need to print that notice on paper and then stick that paper on board.

I'll share other uses/enhancements of this project at the end, till then let's begin the project.

You'll need following things-

Hardware requirements:

• Microcontroller ATmega 16
• GSM Modem SIMCOM 300
• 16X2 Display
• Power Supply
• MAX 232 (for interfacing)
• any companies simcard
• LED'S
• Switches
• Capacitors
• Resistors
• PCB

Software requirements:

• Express PCB and Express SCH
• AVR Studio 6

Pre-requisite:

• PCB Designing
• Embedded C programming
• Microcontrollers

I knew the working of ATmega 8 but ATmega 16 was new to me.

So, first thing I did was to study the data sheets of both Atmega16 and GSM Modem. It helps to understand the components used and their working. Here, I am uploading the data sheets of both. Hope it will help you all.

We need to connect the Modem and Micro-controller together and then Micro-controller to 16X2 display.

Pin Diagram is shown in picture.

Next thing we need to do is to make schematic for PCB. For this purpose, I used Express PCB and Express SCH software. The circuit schematic I used is also shown in picture.

After that copy the schematic to PCB.

Assembled circuit will look alike as the picture shown.

Now we have to do programming.

For programming, first we have to initialize GSM Modem SIMCOM 300. After that start to program in AVR Studio.

The tasks we need to perform are:

• Make our Modem to verify the mobile no. from which it is receiving the message
• Save the message
• Forward it to micro-controller
• Micro-controller will store the message and
• Display it on 16X2 display board.
• If mobile no. is not verified then it will not display the message.

Sample Program is attached here along with the header files in zip format.

Here are the results.

Now future uses of this project can be in

• Advertisements
• Managing Traffic
• At Bus / Railway stations in case of emergency