MortiWebLock

From MortiWiki

An attempt to make a controlled safe without requiring connection to a PC to use it (will need a computer during setup, and need home wireless broadband). This requires some software to be developed, which will be freely available from here.

  • Type 1 - hardware for generating an 8 digit combination for securing a digital safe, and redisplaying the combination some time later (as can be done with current time control software).
  • Type 2 - hardware for physically locking safe, hosting a website inside safe.

Everything here is listed in UK sources & prices, but parts probably can be got elsewhere.

Anything in *stars* needs to be filled in later.

Type 1

Parts required:

Component Role Source Price
Digital safe Safe using long sequence of digits to lock it Most hardware shops Around £25
NAS device Box with LAN and USB connections and runs website etc using embedded linux. Need a device which has a manufacturer code something like "wlxkj652" or "WLX-652" (not 651) although often ebay adverts don't give the manufacturer code! Probably other devices are suitable but I've not tried them. OR the NS-K330 device is compatible Ebay - search for "USB NAS Network Server Print Server & Bit Torrent" or check seller "discountedtoyou" or search for "NS-K330" £31 (WLX-652) or £24 (NS-K330)
Wireless router A wireless router to fit inside the safe to allow the NAS to talk to your home wifi. You might need 2 of these Lots of cheap devices on ebay, I have a Belkin F5D7633 Under £10
USB memory stick Stores the program and data required for the control - 1Gb is plenty Ebay and most shops Around £5
Other odd bits Need a network cable, some insulation tape, may need to cut and reconnect some cables. You can connect them by twisting wires together or a 'connector block' with screws to hold wires together. You may need tools to strip the insulation off the wire - a knife will do Everything's on ebay, though the cable may come with one of the other devices (I got 2 network cables free, one with each of the other devices) Not much

The specific requirements for the safe are:

  • Should be big enough to take the NAS and router inside it
  • Should have holes in the back (usually for screwing to a wall) to take small cables
  • On the inside of the door there should be screws which remove a panel for access to the electronics (only required for Type 2)

Build instructions:

  1. Plug the memory stick into your PC
  2. Download some software from *here*
  3. Connect up the NAS device:
    1. Plug the memory stick into one of the USB ports
    2. Connect it to your home network with a network cable
    3. Plug in the power
  4. On your PC, launch your web browser and connect to the NAS device, using one of these (needs experimentation):
    1. http://NAS
    2. http://192.168.1.65 - most household broadband systems use DHCP so new devices will be allocated an address like this (check with another wireless device to find what range your broadband system uses)
    3. Try http://192.168.1.66 and then ending 67 and 68 and so on
  5. When you get the address right, you'll see a NAS configuration page
  6. You can consider making changes to the NAS configuration such as:
    1. Give it a fixed address if you know a suitable one
    2. Turn off services you're not using
    3. *need to put more details in here*
  7. Change the address so it has ":8080" added, such as http://NAS:8080 or http://192.168.1.65:8080
  8. You should see the MortiWebLock configuration page
  9. Unplug the NAS
  10. Try to feed the power cables for the NAS and the wireless router through the holes in the back of the safe
  11. If either are too big, then:
    1. Ensure the unit is unplugged at the mains end
    2. Cut the wire
    3. Remove the insulation from both ends
    4. You should find two different coloured wires on each end, make sure you have 2cm of bare metal showing in each case
    5. Put the wire through the hole in the safe, so the mains end is outside
    6. Connect the wires back together (colour to same colour) by twisting wires or using connector block
    7. Cover the result in insulation tape to prevent shorting out
  12. When putting the power cables in place, you may want to consider something like putting a knot or tying the cable around something to prevent the possibility that tugging the cable from outside will cause it to be unplugged
  13. Put the NAS and the wireless router inside the safe
  14. Plug power into each one
  15. Use a network cable to connect the router to the NAS
  16. Either: *this bit needs more details*
    1. Configure the network router to talk to your wireless broadband *not sure how*
    2. Get a 2nd identical network router plugged into your broadband and configure 'wireless router bridging' *need details* which will let the two routers talk to each other
  17. Now you can use the safe:
    1. Go to the MortiWebLock configuation webpage
    2. Get it to generate a combination number
    3. Use it to set the safe combination and lock the safe
    4. Use the website to set a time
    5. The combination won't be redisplayed until the time is up
    6. All the bits involved in managing the combination are safely locked inside the safe

If you're feeling ambitious, you could configure your broadband router to allow other people to connect to your safe website and set the time duration etc.

Type 2

Parts required - everything for Type 1 plus:

Component Role
USB controlled relay A means for the NAS device to connect/disconnect power to the safe. There are various places you can get such devices, but one is available from various sources either boxed or unboxed. The ones linked to here can also be bought on ebay and other sites. The important bit is that they refer to "RS232 serial" or "Virtual COM port"
Type Source Price
Unboxed http://www.ecrater.co.uk/p/11853067/usb-relay-controller-one-channel £16/US$25
Boxed http://www.ecrater.co.uk/p/4757843/usb-relay-controller-one-channel £22/US$35


Build instructions:

  1. Build type 1, but use the software from *here*
  2. Connect the USB relay into the NAS
  3. Unscrew the back of the safe door
  4. Cut any one of the cables connecting the battery pack to the electronics
  5. Bare some metal on the two ends of the cut wire and put them into the relay
  6. Set the safe combination to '1'. When the safe is 'locked' by the electronics, there will be no power to the keypad so it can't be opened. When the electronics are 'unlocked' you still need to use the safe combination of '1' to open it
  7. Test with *some software option*
  8. Use the MortiWebLock website to lock and unlock the safe

Potential problems

Always keep a backup, as nothing's perfect. Potential problems include:

  1. Need to ensure all cables are secured and don't fall out
  2. Need to use liberal insulation tape on any exposed wires to prevent shorting on the safe wall
  3. System should be safe against power failure etc but a power spike could break something
  4. Type 1 relies on being able to connect from a PC to unlock (to get the combination) although Type 2 will unlock itself automatically when the time passes
  5. The safe runs on batteries (though should have a 'low battery' light)
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