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WiFi Stuff

steprogsteprog Posts: 227
edited 2010-03-07 12:32 in Propeller 1
Hello,
I was wondering.· Has there been a discussion on using the prop with wifi out there?.· I was thinking it would be cool to use the apple tablet or iphone or something to control prop projects out there.

Comments

  • Mike HuseltonMike Huselton Posts: 746
    edited 2010-02-07 05:15
    said...
    I was wondering. Has there been a discussion on using the prop with wifi out there?. I was thinking it would be cool to use the apple tablet or iphone or something to control prop projects out there.

    There have been many discussions of WiFi and the Propeller.
    I am currenty working on a device called "WiFly" and the propeller.

    Do yourself a favor an purchase the NEW Propellor book.
    It contains multiple chapters on the Propeller and WiFi programming.

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    JMH
  • steprogsteprog Posts: 227
    edited 2010-02-07 06:42
    Hi Mike,
    I got the new book. I thought the xbee wasn't wifi. I haven't read those chapters yet though.
  • wjsteelewjsteele Posts: 697
    edited 2010-02-07 11:13
    I have a project where I am building a Prop powered WiFi Wireless HUB/Router. I'm using the WizNet Wiz610wi modules to power them. (http://wiznet.co.kr/en/pro02.php?&ss=2&page=1&num=180)

    The plan is to build the units specifically for integration with the iPod Touch/iPhone/Zune devices. Should be intersesting.

    I don't have my WizNet units yet, but they're almost here. (Tracking says Tuesday.)

    Bill
  • RaymanRayman Posts: 14,877
    edited 2010-02-07 12:51
    I spent a lot of time researching options and decided the Wifly GSX is the·best option...·

    Only trouble is that it is a surface mount package, making difficult to use...

    Sparkfun sells a breakout board for it, but it's a bit expensive that way...

    You can get the bare "commercial grade" device for $49.

    Here's some photos of a possible solution for hooking it up with just a soldering iron.· It's part of a "backpack" accessory board for my PSB...

    I made holes in the board for all the pads.· Superglued one edge down and then soldered in the holes, making sure to touch the pads.

    Haven't tested it yet, but I'm optomistic...


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    My Prop Info&Apps: ·http://www.rayslogic.com/propeller/propeller.htm

    Post Edited (Rayman) : 2/7/2010 12:56:54 PM GMT
    access_Wifly3.JPG
    1496 x 1122 - 759K
    access_Wifly2.JPG
    1496 x 1122 - 922K
    access_Wifly1.JPG
    1496 x 1122 - 1M
  • wjsteelewjsteele Posts: 697
    edited 2010-02-07 19:16
    Again, Rayman, you're one step ahead of me. I'll test one of these for you if you need me too!

    Bill
  • steprogsteprog Posts: 227
    edited 2010-02-07 19:20
    Thanks for the info guys, but now Im wondering why you chose the device you chose.
  • wjsteelewjsteele Posts: 697
    edited 2010-02-07 19:42
    I chose the Wiz610wi because it was a plug and play solution that implemented everything out of the box with a simple interface. It's also inexpensive at $49.

    Bill
  • steprogsteprog Posts: 227
    edited 2010-02-07 20:01
    Thanks Bill
  • RaymanRayman Posts: 14,877
    edited 2010-02-07 20:21
    I don' remember looking at the Wiz610wi... It does look a lot easier to wire up!
    Only problem for me is that it doesn't have a built in antenna...

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    My Prop Info&Apps: ·http://www.rayslogic.com/propeller/propeller.htm
  • steprogsteprog Posts: 227
    edited 2010-02-07 20:32
    Thanks Ray, Bill how are you handling the antenna. Is that something you can layout in the circuit board?
  • wjsteelewjsteele Posts: 697
    edited 2010-02-07 20:52
    The antenna actually comes with it. Here it is on their order page: http://www.ewiznet.com/goods_detail.php?goodsIdx=135

    Bill
  • steprogsteprog Posts: 227
    edited 2010-02-07 21:04
    I was wondering why these things cost $49
  • localrogerlocalroger Posts: 3,452
    edited 2010-02-07 21:16
    You can use any Prop ethernet solution with a low end access point to convert ethernet to wifi. You will need to configure the wifi device as an "access point client" instead of an "access point," most have a way to do this. This will get your prop on wifi for under $50.
  • steprogsteprog Posts: 227
    edited 2010-02-07 21:27
    What do you mean by low end access point. I really ignorant about this things Im afraid.
  • JamesxJamesx Posts: 132
    edited 2010-02-07 21:59
    An access point is your basic 'wireless router'. You've probably seen the basic Linksys units. I suspect LocalRoger is suggesting going by wired ethernet from the propeller board to a router, and then out wifi from that.

    As for the WiFly GSX unit, I also have been using that to get to wifi. I got the SparkFun board as it was an easy way to get started, and I figure I'll graduate to the surface-mount version after I get the basics figured out. It's pretty straightforward to get control of the unit and get connected by wifi. However, for my application, where I am trying to get data into a laptop, the tricky part is the software on the PC side.

    What it has boiled down to is a custom C application on a Mac-OS laptop, running inside of Terminal. It's all hanging together pretty well, but I had to learn way more than I expected. But now I can pick up anything I want with the propeller, UART it to the WiFly, then over to the Terminal program where I can see it stream by, and/or save to a file on the hard drive. Next step is to send commands from the laptop to the propeller, which shouldn't be too hard.

    There are lots of ways to do this stuff, I'm sure. The biggest barrier I found was my own ignorance. I use wifi, internet and ethernet all the time, but I had no idea what was going on under the hood.

    Jim
  • steprogsteprog Posts: 227
    edited 2010-02-07 22:16
    I agree this stuff under the hood is killing me. My goal is to build a wireless control panel using an iphone or some other cool device and control the prop chip which controls some process. To have that in my toolbox would be cool. I was thinking of using Robotbasic for the pc side. This program seems to have commands that send out and receive net messages but I still need to study through that.
  • localrogerlocalroger Posts: 3,452
    edited 2010-02-07 22:40
    Yes, I'm talking about consumer access points. Capable of being routers but you wouldn't want them to be routers in this application. Such as:

    http://www.amazon.com/TRENDnet-54Mbps-Wireless-Access-TEW-430APB/dp/B000799LPE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1265582442&sr=8-1

    This is consumer stuff with enormous economies of scale. You won't find industrial or hobby stuff with remotely the same capability for even quadruple the price.
  • RaymanRayman Posts: 14,877
    edited 2010-02-11 01:10
    Got my Wifly communicating... But,...

    What I really want to do is download web pages. But, I'm surprised to find that all the code examples I can find are geared for something else (like web page hosting or point-point comms)...

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    My Prop Info&Apps: ·http://www.rayslogic.com/propeller/propeller.htm
  • Mike HuseltonMike Huselton Posts: 746
    edited 2010-02-11 01:47
    Localroger:

    Why am I even looking at this?
    www.amazon.com/TRENDnet-54Mbps-Wireless-Access-TEW-430APB/dp/B000799LPE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1265582442&sr=8-1

    smile.gif

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    JMH

    Post Edited (Mike Huselton) : 2/11/2010 2:02:18 AM GMT
  • tonyp12tonyp12 Posts: 1,951
    edited 2010-02-12 22:58
    Some Options:

    802.11 3.3V SPI WI-FI Module With On-Board PCB Antenna

    http://www.futureelectronics.com/en/technologies/semiconductors/wireless-rf/rf-modules-solutions/proprietary/Pages/7317415-ZG2100MC.aspx
    Price: $29.95 each (when buying one, with breakout board $59)



    The Wifly from Roving is based on this module:

    http://www.g2microsystems.com/products/modules.html
    $13 each in 10K unit volumes
  • localrogerlocalroger Posts: 3,452
    edited 2010-02-12 23:31
    Mike... I'm not, um, quite sure how you mean that. The WiFly is obviously smaller and less power hungry than the consumer router. It also costs more than twice as much (on a breakout board at least) and there are no objects in the obex (yet at least) to drive it. If you've got the power (my last project is mounted to a forklift) the consumer router has a better antenna, stronger signal, costs less, and once you've developed your application with any of the existing wired solutions you can take it wireless in about half an hour.
  • RaymanRayman Posts: 14,877
    edited 2010-02-13 00:58
    I think localroger is correct. As long as you can deal with the larger size, that would probably be an easy way to go...

    On the other hand, the Wifly is only $49 and appears to be a complete solution... I'm pretty close to figuring out how to make it work with the Prop...

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    My Prop Info&Apps: ·http://www.rayslogic.com/propeller/propeller.htm
  • hinvhinv Posts: 1,255
    edited 2010-02-18 04:27
    The Zipit Z2 has WiFi built in. It could be hacked to be a serial to WIFI converter. It is quite a bit bigger because it also has it's own battery keyboard, screen, processor and miniSD slot.
    At $42per unit shipped (lower 48 uS), it would fit the bill no?

    Doug
  • Cluso99Cluso99 Posts: 18,069
    edited 2010-02-18 19:44
    Nice work Ray smile.gif

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  • LuckyLucky Posts: 98
    edited 2010-03-07 06:38
    Rayman:

    Have you figured out yet how to use the Wifly with the prop? Is there a place where I could view your code for it?

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    "You do not really understand something unless you can explain it to your grandmother."


    -Lucky[size=-1][/size]
  • RaymanRayman Posts: 14,877
    edited 2010-03-07 12:29
    Yep, I got it to download weather from a government web server and show it on my PSB screen...

    I know I posted the code and a screenshot, but I can't find it right now...

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    My Prop Info&Apps: ·http://www.rayslogic.com/propeller/propeller.htm

    My Prop Products:· http://www.rayslogic.com/Propeller/Products/Products.htm
  • RaymanRayman Posts: 14,877
    edited 2010-03-07 12:32
    Found it!

    http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=881983

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    My Prop Info&Apps: ·http://www.rayslogic.com/propeller/propeller.htm

    My Prop Products:· http://www.rayslogic.com/Propeller/Products/Products.htm
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