whats a good wireless option?
hey all,
I am looking for a good wireless option for a remote control for a boe-bot. I've been looking at the Xbee's but not sure how friendly it will be. Another options is the transreceiver? any opions are welcomed
thanks
I am looking for a good wireless option for a remote control for a boe-bot. I've been looking at the Xbee's but not sure how friendly it will be. Another options is the transreceiver? any opions are welcomed
thanks
Comments
https://store.diydrones.com/3DR_RadioTelemetry_Kit_433Mhz_p/kt-telemetry-3dr433.htm
There are lots of other obtions that cost less. I've used the Nordic nRF24L01+ transceivers which can be very cheap through ebay but they are harder to use (and require more I/O pins).
@SRLM, If you try those transceivers out, I hope you let us know how they work.
Parallax offers the XBee Wireless Pack, which contains two S1 XBees, carriers (including one for USB), and headers:
http://www.parallax.com/StoreSearchResults/tabid/768/txtSearch/xbee/List/0/SortField/4/ProductID/785/Default.aspx
Hookup is easy for just about any microcontroller. Start here: http://learn.parallax.com/kickstart/32440
-- Gordon
You didn't mention which microcontroller you're using with your BOE-Bot. I figure it's likely a Basic Stamp 2 but if you're using the PropBOE or other Propeller board with your BOE-Bot you have a couple of additional wireless options.
One would be just normal RC gear. The Propeller can read the pulse lengths from a RC receiver and use them to control the bot. I've done this with a couple of robots including a PropBOE-Bot. A PropBOE makes using a XBee easy since it has a socket for a XBee (I assume it would also work fine with the Roving Networks RN-174-XV Mike mentioned).
Another wireless option I like to use with the Propeller is the Wixel. Martin_H figured out how to use the Wixel to not only communicate with a Propeller chip but he showed us how to use the Wixel to wirelessly program Propeller. This is a really nice ability with a robot. I haven't used a Wixel for microcontroller to microcontroller communication yet but I think they should work just fine for this purpose too.
Duane, You would be correct in assuming i am using the BS2 for the bot and remote.
I actually have pictures of both in another thread.
The thread is labled "educational group project for all of us that are new to electronic", for anyone interested in seeing what it will go to
again thank you all for your opinions.
Note - the actual baud rate I am using for the Propeller to communicate to them is 111,111 baud as that is their actual baud rate when set with "ATBD7" for 115200.
P.S. XBees are available with sockets for an external antenna; SparkFun carries them.
Both are very nice and easy to use, but each one is better suited in different situations, so it really depends on your setup.
In my opinion, if you want to control a robot from a PC or a smartphone get a wifly, if you have data streaming between two microcontroller units get the Xbee.
Remember also the Xbee has a 2mm footprint, so not breadboard/perfboard/veroboard friendly. Remember to purchase also the adapters, unless you make your own boards (and you need the right 2mm headers).
Massimo
P.S. if anyone is interested in you can see more at educational group project for all of us that are new to electronics I have been posting pictures and code.