Anyone see this before?

DrewPalmer04 · Post by **DrewPalmer04** » Sun Mar 03, 2013 11:50 am

This seems interesting...it's just making the usb cable wireless? Seems cool/simple?

Yes xbees are expensive, but?

http://www.ladyada.net/make/xbee/arduino.html

DrewPalmer04 · Post by **DrewPalmer04** » Sun Mar 03, 2013 4:07 pm

Can't believe no one finds this interesting? Allows us to not have to move our RAs or extend the cables.

binder · Post by **binder** » Sun Mar 03, 2013 4:42 pm

That is pretty sweet. Looks like it would cost you about $20 (plus tax & shipping) to be able to do this. Not sure how well it would integrate into the RA though. Somebody with the electronics know-how would have to comment on it.

DrewPalmer04 · Post by **DrewPalmer04** » Sun Mar 03, 2013 5:02 pm

The component level stuff is VERY simple. I don't think this is difficult for the RA. Some modification may be needed but if I didn't just spend $100+ on arduino stuff I'd get the xbees

Piper · Post by **Piper** » Sun Mar 03, 2013 6:09 pm

This looks very cool. I'd definitely do this if someone can make it work and post a how-to

Lots of pics please.

rimai · Post by **rimai** » Sun Mar 03, 2013 10:18 pm

Cool

DrewPalmer04 · Post by **DrewPalmer04** » Mon Mar 04, 2013 5:55 am

Someone please volunteer to make this happen lol. I've spent enough money already

Amos Poh · Post by **Amos Poh** » Mon Mar 04, 2013 6:32 am

Iam Definitely interested in this! imagine not having to plug the cables in and out everytime you code!

however it will be great to be able to find a way not to plug out the wifi to code too.

lnevo · Post by **lnevo** » Mon Mar 04, 2013 6:58 am

Amos Poh wrote:Iam Definitely interested in this! imagine not having to plug the cables in and out everytime you code! however it will be great to be able to find a way not to plug out the wifi to code too.

If this could help code remotely, it would be amazing. From the article it sounded like just serial monitor.

DrewPalmer04 · Post by **DrewPalmer04** » Mon Mar 04, 2013 7:05 am

The article states, "One XBee will act as the 'reset transmitter', it will be attached to the computer via an FTDI cable and wireless send programming commands to the receiver. Lets set this one up first."

the "send programming commands" seems like this just functions as a wireless bridge. Instead of a cable going 100ft...the xbees can just do it wirelessly.

Then the article says, " Now you can reprogram it and also watch the serial monitor from more than 100 feet away."

lnevo · Post by **lnevo** » Mon Mar 04, 2013 7:49 am

Wow...somehow i glanced over that. So now how could we use that and wireless? If we can solve that problem

Edit: looks like the mega has two addition serial ports. Not sure if they are in use today or not...

DrewPalmer04 · Post by **DrewPalmer04** » Mon Mar 04, 2013 8:03 am

Amos Poh wrote:Iam Definitely interested in this! imagine not having to plug the cables in and out everytime you code! however it will be great to be able to find a way not to plug out the wifi to code too.

I think we can fix that...
http://www.billporter.info/2011/06/26/h ... nnections/

I found this article to be very interesting...read through the entire thing and it completely is logical.

read though this guys and see if it's something we want to try to do.

lnevo wrote:Wow...somehow i glanced over that. So now how could we use that and wireless? If we can solve that problem

Edit: looks like the mega has two addition serial ports. Not sure if they are in use today or not...

This article is somewhat based on how the mega does this exact thing we want to do!!!

Piper · Post by **Piper** » Mon Mar 04, 2013 8:09 am

So what all exactly is needed? Someone mentioned it's roughly $20 in parts plus tax & freight?

DrewPalmer04 · Post by **DrewPalmer04** » Mon Mar 04, 2013 8:30 am

Piper wrote:So what all exactly is needed? Someone mentioned it's roughly $20 in parts plus tax & freight?

Well it's more than that...I think?

Let's see:

(2) Adaptor Kit = $20

(2) Xbee with wire =$38

(1) FTDI cable (we have these with RA already) = FREE! haha

(1) 0.1uF ceramic capacitor = $ few cents
(1) 10Kohm resistor = $ few cents
(1) NPN transistor Your choice here = $0.34-ish/each

So total: $59-$60 + Shipping, etc....roughly!

DrewPalmer04 · Post by **DrewPalmer04** » Mon Mar 04, 2013 8:33 am

I'd say ...
FIRST: we need someone to "take one for the team" and try it out...

THEN: If it works, BULK BUY!!

I think if this is something the community would want we could all benefit from a bulk buy and get this cost down considerably.

Piper · Post by **Piper** » Mon Mar 04, 2013 8:47 am

What about using this and the wifi at the same time? That sounds a little more involved than this, yes?

DrewPalmer04 · Post by **DrewPalmer04** » Mon Mar 04, 2013 8:54 am

Piper wrote:What about using this and the wifi at the same time? That sounds a little more involved than this, yes?

Well that all depends on the layout of the RA....with an arduino UNO it seems to be pretty straight forward by adding two 10k resistors in-line...but I'll need to look at the schematic of the RA to see if this is possible...also Roberto will sure know...he designed the RA after all...so consider the wifi part as a "work in progress."

rimai · Post by **rimai** » Mon Mar 04, 2013 9:37 am

Yes, Just add the resistors. The FTDI header is directly connected to the MCU.

rimai · Post by **rimai** » Mon Mar 04, 2013 9:58 am

I'll order these tonight or tomorrow.

lnevo · Post by **lnevo** » Mon Mar 04, 2013 10:12 am

Piper · Post by **Piper** » Mon Mar 04, 2013 10:56 am

Very cool!

DrewPalmer04 · Post by **DrewPalmer04** » Mon Mar 04, 2013 12:51 pm

rimai wrote:Yes, Just add the resistors. The FTDI header is directly connected to the MCU.

Horray! A little research goes really far!

DrewPalmer04 · Post by **DrewPalmer04** » Wed Mar 06, 2013 2:47 pm

Update ?

rimai · Post by **rimai** » Wed Mar 06, 2013 3:00 pm

Huh??
I just ordered them... lol
How can we have update already??
I'll probably mess with them next week.

DrewPalmer04 · Post by **DrewPalmer04** » Wed Mar 06, 2013 3:04 pm

Haha update on if they got ordered!

That eagle I sent you... Does it look correct? Or where is the best place to add the two resistors?

lnevo · Post by **lnevo** » Wed Mar 06, 2013 3:29 pm

Is this for sale yet??? C'mon roberto, we want this RA speed!!!

DrewPalmer04 · Post by **DrewPalmer04** » Wed Mar 06, 2013 4:10 pm

Ideally I'd like to see the things I've found in a new board revision

it would be so awesome to have an xbee on board (maybe in the relay box) then that opens the serial port for wifi module etc. xbee on primary line of RX TX and wifi on secondary line. Xbee to upload remotely. Then xbee is done... Wifi picks up as secondary. Sounds wonderful.

rimai · Post by **rimai** » Wed Mar 06, 2013 6:11 pm

Yeah, looks good.
I'll make sure to add your findings

Thanks for the contribution!!!

DrewPalmer04 · Post by **DrewPalmer04** » Wed Mar 06, 2013 6:24 pm

Awesome. Just trying to help everyone with new/improved product! Never hurts to improve on anything.

Amos Poh · Post by **Amos Poh** » Sun Mar 10, 2013 7:14 am

DrewPalmer04 wrote:
Amos Poh wrote:Iam Definitely interested in this! imagine not having to plug the cables in and out everytime you code! however it will be great to be able to find a way not to plug out the wifi to code too.
I think we can fix that...
http://www.billporter.info/2011/06/26/h ... nnections/

I found this article to be very interesting...read through the entire thing and it completely is logical.

read though this guys and see if it's something we want to try to do.

lnevo wrote:Wow...somehow i glanced over that. So now how could we use that and wireless? If we can solve that problem

Edit: looks like the mega has two addition serial ports. Not sure if they are in use today or not...
This article is somewhat based on how the mega does this exact thing we want to do!!!

Very Cool!!!

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