Author Topic: Wireless? Bluetooth? HELP!  (Read 4805 times)

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Offline OzbotdudeTopic starter

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Wireless? Bluetooth? HELP!
« on: April 10, 2007, 08:52:59 AM »
Hey There!
Starting a new project and have a Q or two or three? Can anybody advise?

I am using a SSC-32 servo controller with a rs232 port to communicate with the PC. Normally the easiest way to connect is with the serial cable.

I want to go wireless......so first of all.....
Q1. Can anyone advise the best way?

I was thinking of going Bluetooth but not sure if I have it figured, which brings me to my next Question.....
Q2. Will this work by using a rs232 Bluetooth adapter(Robot) and Bluetooth Dongle(PC)?

My concern is that the Bluetooth rs232 adapters are sealed and the specs show 5v Power supply....
Q3. Does anyone know if the contoller board will supply the power to the adapter?

The Adapters and dongles do not come in sets......
Q4. Is any Adapter compatible with any Dongle? (I do know a little about the Classes 1, 2, 3 etc but still?)

Offline JonHylands

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Re: Wireless? Bluetooth? HELP!
« Reply #1 on: April 10, 2007, 08:56:46 AM »
I would check this out:

http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/categories.php?cPath=16_115

Some of their RS-232 serial dongles get power through a USB connection. Personally, if you're going to go that route, you might as well get a USB bluetooth dongle...

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Offline Jeff

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Re: Wireless? Bluetooth? HELP!
« Reply #2 on: April 10, 2007, 09:21:25 AM »
Q1.  no but I've looked into bluetooth before for a project so I'll share my thoughts

Q2.  Yes a normal PC-bluetooth adapter will make a com port on the PC when it finds the rs232-serial adapter then you can comunicate like normal over that port.(I haven't actually done this so someone please tell me if I'm wrong,but I'm almost positive)

Q3.  I'm not sure what board your using but you if the bluetooth module needs 5V your 'robot' will need to supply a regulated 5V to the module.

Q4.  To the best of my knowledge a pc bluetooth adapter should be universal.

I would also suggest checking out ZigBee, it's a stripped down version of bluetooth that is working on coming out cheaper and easier to code. Even mouser and digikey have pretty cheap zigbee boards

sorry I'm no expert but I hope that helps

peace
  Jeff

Offline Hal9000

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Re: Wireless? Bluetooth? HELP!
« Reply #3 on: April 10, 2007, 09:38:18 AM »
Yeah the ZigBee modules from Maxstream seem like a good hobbyist tool.

Give them a look.
"The truth is, you can't hide from the truth, cos the truth is all there is" - Handsome Boy Modeling School

Offline hgordon

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Re: Wireless? Bluetooth? HELP!
« Reply #4 on: April 10, 2007, 10:31:08 AM »
We use Zigbee in our robots, and are very happy with the results.  See

    http://www.maxstream.net/blog/2007/02/
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Offline Hal9000

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Re: Wireless? Bluetooth? HELP!
« Reply #5 on: April 10, 2007, 11:21:59 AM »
We use Zigbee in our robots, and are very happy with the results.  See

    http://www.maxstream.net/blog/2007/02/

YOU make the surveyor robots? I see your name now. Wow, that's actually really cool!
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Offline Brandon121233

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Re: Wireless? Bluetooth? HELP!
« Reply #6 on: April 10, 2007, 06:09:27 PM »
I'm not sure if this meets your requirements for the MCU board, but the Arduino Bluetooth Board http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=8255 includes pretty much everything for you at a reasonable price.
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Offline OzbotdudeTopic starter

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Re: Wireless? Bluetooth? HELP!
« Reply #7 on: April 12, 2007, 08:33:08 AM »
Thanks for the replies :)
Ok so, the setup I have is the SSC-32 Servo Controller from Lynxmotion
http://www.lynxmotion.com/Product.aspx?productID=395&CategoryID=52

The sequencer software
http://www.lynxmotion.com/Product.aspx?productID=443&CategoryID=15

This will be my first project so I'm keeping it simple by building an Arm, just to get everything up and running using the serial cable. Well, at least it sounds simple..... I'm ok with the mechanical construction, the board connects to PC via serial cable and the script is automatically generated thanks to the software(Still getting into that) I do want to achieve a wireless connection just to push the boundaries  :) I have this thing about wires and it will be more of an achievement if the project is a stand alone device. Especially for my next goal......a humanoid. I appreciate the help from anyone that can advise in regards to a Wireless connection.

First of all I found the direction to the Zigbee modules very interesting, thanks again. This is gonna open a new book of Q's

Still on the Bluetooth:
Does bluetooth operate on a radio frequency like the Zigbee modules?
The USB Bluetooth Dongle into PC I understand. Pretty straight forward plug n play USB device into PC and works with Windows.
The RS232 Bluetooth adapter on the other hand I'm not sure of....I found
http://www.brainboxes.com/product/bluetooth/BL-819.aspx
Just not sure about the 'option to power from pin 9' . Will the board power this device?
Will this setup above work?

Zigbee Module:
Do you need 2 of these modules to communicate? Or could one communicate With a wireless LAN card on the PC?

Thanks in advance for any advice ;)

Offline hgordon

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Re: Wireless? Bluetooth? HELP!
« Reply #8 on: April 12, 2007, 11:37:49 AM »
With Zigbee, you need 2 radios.  Several vendors build usb dongles for the zigbee radio on host computer ( http://www.selmaware.com resells ours).
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