problem understanding ping sensor

justin weber

It seems that the ping sensor likes to return 5 alot. Here is my code:
CON

_clkmode = xtal1 + pll16x
_xinfreq = 5_000_000

VAR
long range
OBJ

tv : "tv_text"
ping : "Ping"

PUB main
tv.start(12)
repeat
range := ping.Inches(0)
tv.dec(range)
waitcnt(clkfreq / 10 + cnt)
tv.out($0d)

hardware-wise I have the vcc to 5V on the propeller starter board and gnd to the vss. SIG is connected to p0 with a 1k resistor. This program should be returning a reading in inches, but it displays 5 ALOT and other values randomly, but always returns to displaying 5's. I don't know if the demo from the exchange works, because I don't have a LED debug display, so i'm sending it to tv term instead.

Paul Baker

Hi justin, did you ever figure out what what happening with your setup, or get help with this?

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Paul Baker
Propeller Applications Engineer

Parallax, Inc.

souplogic

From my experience with the ping as a prop newbie, I would say make sure you are supplying the board with enough voltage and make check other low level, physical conditions.

I had problems for the longest time because I was supplying the the protoboard with 5V (thinking that this was sufficient as the prob runs on 5V), but the actual power requirement for the board is 6-9V. Not realizing this took me down the confusing path of debugging code that wasn't buggy.