Newbie advice

[f0x2]

Hi, I'm completely new to this and still trying to find my feet. I am looking to purchase a new doorbell and when pressed as well as ringing I would like a notification to my phone. I'm pretty sure this is possible from reading many forum posts, but my initial question is much more simple: do you need the pi or can the other board run standalone plugged in to a windows machine via USB?

[darkside0506]

I'm also new to this so this may not be the best way to do this.

I control the rflink from domoticz which always runs in the background on my PC. Domoticz is able to send push notifications (via a 3rd party service) to my phone. This functionality and instructions are in the settings menu.

Hope this helps

[manjh]

Hi, I'm completely new to this and still trying to find my feet. I am looking to purchase a new doorbell and when pressed as well as ringing I would like a notification to my phone. I'm pretty sure this is possible from reading many forum posts, but my initial question is much more simple: do you need the pi or can the other board run standalone plugged in to a windows machine via USB?

You can do it with Domoticz, running on either a R-Pi or a Windows machine. I've used Win10, but moved to a Pi at some point.
As for RF: I have used RFLink locally connected to USB, works great, except that the location was not ideal. I now run RFLink via a LAN interface. This way I can leave the Pi in my hobby-room, and locate the RFLink in a place that is best for RF range.
As long as the doorbell sends out an RF signal, you can pick it up in Domoticz and take action. Push-notification is possible, or you could even send mail.
I am using an old KAKU doorbell this way.

[Stuntteam]

Other options: you can also use a linux machine with Domoticz (or similar), a qnap nas or a Vera box...

[f0x2]

Thanks for the advice guys

Looks like I'll be buying an Arduino mega and RFlink and connecting it to my windows server 2012 box

[manjh]

Thanks for the advice guys

Looks like I'll be buying an Arduino mega and RFlink and connecting it to my windows server 2012 box

If memory serves me ok, I think you can use an RFLink without the Mega. It connects to the server with a USB cable.
The Mega is needed when you want to run the RFLink via LAN interface.
Check out the webshop.

[Stuntteam]

The RFLink firmware runs on the Mega.. so you will need a Mega2560 + the RF modules you want to use.

[manjh]

The RFLink firmware runs on the Mega.. so you will need a Mega2560 + the RF modules you want to use.

Ah, yes. Of course.
I blame it on the ease-of-ue of the RFLink: once you have it running, you forget...