Shop OBEX P1 Docs P2 Docs Learn Events
Bluetooth Propeller Downloads and Communications — Parallax Forums

Bluetooth Propeller Downloads and Communications

jazzedjazzed Posts: 11,803
edited 2011-09-04 15:41 in Propeller 1
Long ago I asked if this was possible. The answer then was emphatically no! Fast-forward ...

I've been downloading Propeller via a bluetooth device/connection since last night.

Why is this important?
  • I would like to have a wireless connection to my Propellers.
  • Many andriod tablets and phones only have bluetooth.
  • There has been some interest in android based tablets and phones.
  • An android propeller app could make my tablet more useful.
  • Other low power Personal Area Network applications.
The Visio tablet I bought a few weeks ago does not have a serial port so I had to make it work.
The bluetooth device I'm using with Propeller has the Roving Networks RN-41 built-in.
I plan to try the RN-42 on a Propeller module in the near future. The PCB mount RN-42 is about $15.

Comments

  • Zap-oZap-o Posts: 452
    edited 2011-09-03 13:41
    I use this blue tooth module LMX9830SM - it works great.

    http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=LMX9830SM-ND
  • Cluso99Cluso99 Posts: 18,069
    edited 2011-09-03 13:59
    jazzed: Nice work. I found that a lot of the cheap tablets only have wifi and not bluetooth. Perhaps a wifi solution would be nice too. As so often found, once someone says the prop cannot do it, someone soon proves them wrong :)

    zap-o: This is only available in BGA :(
  • Duane DegnDuane Degn Posts: 10,588
    edited 2011-09-03 16:16
    Cluso99 wrote: »
    zap-o: This is only available in BGA :(

    Apparently even BGA components are hand solderable.

    Duane
  • Don MDon M Posts: 1,653
    edited 2011-09-03 17:07
    I have a project I made using the Propeller with a bluetooth radio from here: http://kcwirefree.com/data.html I used model KC-21. It was configered as a serial pass through. I have an Android app that communicates with the Propeller through this bluetooth radio. It was really easy to set up.

    Unfortunately I can't share all the details as the device and idea behind it are going through the patent process now.
  • BeanBean Posts: 8,129
    edited 2011-09-03 19:15
    The problem with WiFi is that android devices cannot do "AdHoc" WiFi. So you always need a wireless router.
    My android tablet doesn't have bluetooth (plus I don't have any bluetooth modules), so I haven't been able to play around with bluetooth yet.

    Bean
  • jazzedjazzed Posts: 11,803
    edited 2011-09-03 19:30
    Bean wrote: »
    The problem with WiFi is that android devices cannot do "AdHoc" WiFi. So you always need a wireless router.
    My android tablet doesn't have bluetooth (plus I don't have any bluetooth modules), so I haven't been able to play around with bluetooth yet.

    Bean
    Hmm. So much for bluetooth on android tablets. I guess I got lucky. Do you have a serial port?

    A Spinneret should be able to do updates via TCP/IP ... write file to SDCard first then program EEPROM after an integrity check.

    Anyway, being able to download/control a Propeller from an android tablet or phone is an interesting idea. Actually writing spin programs on the platform should be possible, but would probably be tedious.

    Using the platform to control robotics elements would be nice though. I can imagine an emotive face on my Android's Android tablet :)
  • Cluso99Cluso99 Posts: 18,069
    edited 2011-09-03 22:15
    jazzed wrote: »
    Anyway, being able to download/control a Propeller from an android tablet or phone is an interesting idea. Actually writing spin programs on the platform should be possible, but would probably be tedious.

    But modifying a program would be fine. Or when you are away without that heavy laptop or the battery is flat :) or using an external keyboard and maybe monitor.

    Unfortunately one of my new pcbs was not drilled. It had a USB interface on it for pins P0 & P1 for exactly the purpose... attach a ~$1 USB Bluetooth module. At $15 for a module, a miniature prop pcb with USB is ideal, even it is only able to do Bluetooth/USB and emulate a Propplug at the other end. I have other pcbs in the mill expected back this week and others to follow shortly.
  • jazzedjazzed Posts: 11,803
    edited 2011-09-04 12:20
    Cluso99 wrote: »
    But modifying a program would be fine. Or when you are away without that heavy laptop or the battery is flat :) or using an external keyboard and maybe monitor.
    True. I've installed some language stuff on my tablet but using the on-screen keypads are just a little onerous.

    The voice recognition code is pretty good for normal sentences and words (not using language symbols like parenthesis, etc...). Maybe a programming language should be written in a normal human language just for such situations.
    Cluso99 wrote: »
    Unfortunately one of my new pcbs was not drilled. It had a USB interface on it for pins P0 & P1 for exactly the purpose... attach a ~$1 USB Bluetooth module.
    That's a nice idea, but I'm not sure micha's code will be practical enough. I'm inclined to use a more reliable solution. There are propeller loader things that demand tight timing to succeed. Any hiccup will make the propeller P30/31 download abort.

    Just using P0/1 to update the EEPROM with proper packet error handling would be best.
  • Martin_HMartin_H Posts: 4,051
    edited 2011-09-04 13:02
    I have a bluetooth module I picked up off ebay. I have only been using it for serial terminal communication, and because it doesn't have a DTR pin (at least visible). I figured program downloads were out of the question.

    Does the module you are using have a DTR pin?

    The propeller backpack has the ability to be reset and downloading a program over a single pin. So it seems like it might be possible without DTR, but not for stock hardware or downloader.

    I have heard of Arduino users pressing reset on their board while pushing upload on the IDE, but that is a bit of a kludge.
  • jazzedjazzed Posts: 11,803
    edited 2011-09-04 13:13
    Martin_H wrote: »
    Does the module you are using have a DTR pin?
    Yes it does. The device is very flexible.

    I had to connect it to the RES* pin via an inverter (2n2222 common emitter would work). The other requirement was with a one time mode setting for the chip (can be reset to factory defaults). The RN41 and RN42 both have an external antenna, GPIO pins, and a command line interface interpreter for initial settings.
  • Zap-oZap-o Posts: 452
    edited 2011-09-04 15:41
    Duane Degn wrote: »
    Apparently even BGA components are hand solderable.

    Duane

    I solder them in a toaster oven using some solder paste. Don't let the package stop you from using it - that's my motto
Sign In or Register to comment.