Reef Angel Forum

Hi Guys,

I have a few boards that you can purchase in advance before they become available in the webstore. This module is used for wireless code upload and you won't need to keep connecting usb cable and disconnecting the wifi attachment from the head unit.
It is connected directly to the head unit and the wifi attachment is daisy chained to it.
Data traffic is routed to wifi or Bluetooth on-demad as needed.
They are going for $89.
PM me if you are interested in grabbing one of them.

This is installation instruction until I put together the manual.

Note: You will need your own Bluetooth adapter properly installed in your computer.

Connecting the Bluetooth attachment

1. The Bluetooth attachment comes with the communication cable. Please connect the 8-pin connector to your Reef Angel head unit and the 6-pin connector to your Bluetooth attachment. Pin 1 is the black wire.
2. If you also have the wifi attachment, you can connect the 8-pin connector from the wifi attachment to your Bluetooth attachment. Pin 1 is the black wire.
3. Please confirm that you can access your Reef Angel system through wifi.

Adding the Bluetooth attachment to your computer

1. Please follow the instruction on how to add a Bluetooth device to your computer:
Windows 8 - http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/wind ... s-printers
Windows 7 - http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/wind ... r-computer
Windows Vista - http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/wind ... led-device
MacOSX Mountain Lion - http://support.apple.com/kb/PH10545
MacOSX Lion - http://support.apple.com/kb/PH3651

2. If you are asked for a pairing code, please enter 1234

3. Your computer will have 2 new serial ports. One for incoming connections and another for outgoing connections.
We are only interested on the serial port for outgoing connections.
Windows 7 - http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/wind ... led-device
Windows Vista - http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/wind ... led-device

Setting up your Arduino IDE - Windows only

1. The current release of Arduino IDE for Windows has a flaw in the rxtxSerial.dll file, which causes the Arduino IDE to slow down when Bluetooth devices are connected to your computer.
More info: http://forum.arduino.cc/index.php/topic,46977.0.html

2. We need to replace the rxtxSerial.dll file located at "\Program Files (x86)\Reef Angel Controller" with the one attached.

Uploading your code wireless

1. Open Arduino IDE

2. Select the outgoing serial port you identified above on menu Tools->Serial Port

3. Click Upload

4. You will see that when your computer establishes a connection, the green LED on the Bluetooth attachment will stop blinking, the controller will reboot and the red status LED on the head unit will start blinking, indicating you are uploading your code wireless.

I forgot to mention that it does not come with the Bluetooth adapter for your computer.
Several laptops come with it built-in lately.
If you don't have one, you can get any Bluetooth dongle adapter in your electronics store. Even one of those super mini ones like this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Asus-Mini-Bluetoo ... B0041UJVI2

What all can be done over Bluetooth? Thanks

The Bluetooth attachment will let you program your controller without having to connect the USB-TTL cable.
You can do it wirelessly through Bluetooth serial connection.

Silly question perhaps... but would this new BT connection not get in the way of the WiFi add-on connection? Or are we talking some form of y-splitter?
As long as it does not cause some conflict, I am interested (since I can't pm yet)

The module is actually daisy chained.
So, you attach the Bluetooth module to RA head unit and the wifi module into the Bluetooth module.
This way, you can program wirelessly without having to disconnect anything.
The module is smart enough to route the data traffic between Bluetooth and wifi on the fly as needed.

Roberto,
Will the Bluetooth module allow me to run serial monitor from Aurdiuno while the Wifi adapter is running?

mudcat1 wrote:Roberto,
Will the Bluetooth module allow me to run serial monitor from Aurdiuno while the Wifi adapter is running?

No, it is either/or.
Data traffic can only be sent to one of the modules at a time.
If you have a connection established with the Bluetooth, data traffic from the head unit will never reach the wifi attachment. Once the connection with the Bluetooth is disconnected, data will start flowing to wifi again.

Very nice. I will take one of your hands. If you don't mind a newbie having one.

What are the dimensions, Roberto? Looking for a project box as a temporary home.

Thanks,

--Colin

It's actually going to fit in the same enclosure as the WiFi module

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

This is bad a$$!!

I will just keep posting until I can pm you to tell you that I want to order one..

There, successfully pm'd. Now I feel like I am a part of a true community.

Ok, so until I put together the manual for the module, please refer to the original post.

Got it set up and working.
A coupe of small things.

1 time said that the port was already in use.
I shut down the Arduino software and restarted it and it was fine.
The 2 was that in the middle of uploading the Arduino software just closed.
Opened it again and it worked fine.

Great work Roberto.
Thanks

So after a horrible day fighting with it and my computer (mostly my computer) I got it going. I went and found the replacement for the rxtxSerial file and it seems to have solved my problems.

Roberto, what does the on/off jumper do?

--Colin

Awesome!!!
The on/off jumper is meant for turning the programming mode on/off. Mainly for me to program any settings it needs to be pre-programmed before shipment.

I found and replaced the rxtxSerial file too and it seems to be working a lot better
The tools menu opened up right away and not problems uploading this time.
I tried to upload after my last post and I got the message that Com port 4 was being used 2 times before it uploaded.

When I tried uploading after replacing the rxtxSerial file it went smooth.

rimai wrote:Awesome!!!
The on/off jumper is meant for turning the programming mode on/off. Mainly for me to program any settings it needs to be pre-programmed before shipment.

Default should be off? When I have it set to off my head unit screen goes black and the status light comes on.

Make any sense?

--Colin

Yes, should be off.
Weird behavior.
Does it work if you leave on?

interested once it becomes mainstream.

I've used it a couple of time since I got it Tuesday and it is really nice not to have to unplug the laptop, carry it over there, unplug the WiFI adapter, plug in the TTL to USB cable and then reverse everything when you are done.

Once I replaced the rxtxSerial.dl file it's been running smoothly.

I had a couple of issues with RF noise due to my environment, but other than that and the rxtx file issue (an arduino issue not specific to RA) its a dream. It's great being able to change things on the fly without all the setup.

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

Colin;

Aren't you the same guy that said this...

cosmith71 wrote: I use a USB extension cable and sit on the couch. Nice and comfy.

--Colin

Yes, but now I don't even have to get up to switch the cable. Life is good.

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

cosmith71 wrote:Yes, but now I don't even have to get up to switch the cable. Life is good.

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

That's what I was saying.
Roberto is a god.

cosmith71 wrote:Yes, but now I don't even have to get up to switch the cable. Life is good.

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

+1

If anyone gets it to working on Linux or can test the range on it My computer is downstairs and my wife's computer is a few rooms away.... would be great to use them though, but I know bluetooh range is like 20-30 feet and I doubt it would work through walls.

Mine works through two walls with no problems.

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

Mine is currently about 14-15 feet away and it has to go thru 1 wall, kind of.
There is a wall separating the 2 rooms, but there is also a door the end of the wall, so I''m not sure if it is going thru the wall or the door.

If Bluetooth goes in a straight line then it is going thru the wall, if not it could be going thru the door and kind of making 2 right turns.

Radio waves don't make turns