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Radio data link. — Parallax Forums

Radio data link.

ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
edited 2003-03-27 17:08 in General Discussion
Hello everyone,

I was looking for some information, advice and or suggestions...

I am using a basic stamp in a mobile robotics platform and wanted to
send information back from the Stamp to my host PC, but without wires!

My brother has just installed a wireless nextwork at his house and it
got me thinking. Could I get an RS-232 to ethernet(TCP/IP) converter?

This way I could plug the Stamp into my converter, that into a
wireless network point ---- radio data link
Wireless network
access point to a PC. And software converts the signal back to RS232
and allows me to access, as far as my PC thinks a real COM port.
Fairly straight forward so far...

I have found a converter and software that will allow me a "COM port"
on my PC that I can then use HyperTerminal to monitor and/or send
commands to the stamp remotely. Its 99GBP or about $156. Its not
cheap but it might just work....

My question is, am I looking at a nut and trying to crack it with a
sledgehammer?? Is there an easier way to do this because I cant help
thinking that I am overlooking a much easier (and cheaper!!)
option....

Has anyone done something similar but a different way?
Can anyone think of any problems I would have with my idea?

Any help would be greatfully appreachiated...

TIA,

Andy.

Comments

  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-02-28 12:03
    At 11:59 AM 2/28/03 +0000, thor69uk <andrew.thornber@c...> wrote:
    >Hello everyone,
    >
    >I was looking for some information, advice and or suggestions...
    >
    >I am using a basic stamp in a mobile robotics platform and wanted to
    >send information back from the Stamp to my host PC, but without wires!
    >
    >My brother has just installed a wireless nextwork at his house and it
    >got me thinking. Could I get an RS-232 to ethernet(TCP/IP) converter?
    >
    >This way I could plug the Stamp into my converter, that into a
    >wireless network point ---- radio data link
    Wireless network
    >access point to a PC. And software converts the signal back to RS232
    >and allows me to access, as far as my PC thinks a real COM port.
    >Fairly straight forward so far...
    >
    >I have found a converter and software that will allow me a "COM port"
    >on my PC that I can then use HyperTerminal to monitor and/or send
    >commands to the stamp remotely. Its 99GBP or about $156. Its not
    >cheap but it might just work....
    >
    >My question is, am I looking at a nut and trying to crack it with a
    >sledgehammer?? Is there an easier way to do this because I cant help
    >thinking that I am overlooking a much easier (and cheaper!!)
    >option....
    >
    >Has anyone done something similar but a different way?
    >Can anyone think of any problems I would have with my idea?
    >
    >Any help would be greatfully appreachiated...
    >
    >TIA,
    >
    >Andy.

    Hi Andy -

    You might want to look into the possibility of using IrDA as a medium.
    Here is an excellent link on using the Maxim MAX3100 for IrDA communications
    with a Stamp: http://www.emesystems.com/BS2IrDA.htm .

    Regards,

    Bruce Bates




    >To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
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    >Body of the message will be ignored.
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  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-02-28 14:14
    Bruce,

    Thanks for getting back to me.

    I had thought about IrDA but had dismissed it with little real
    knowledge about it, maybe to my downfall.

    What is the suseptibility to different ambient light levels?
    What happens if you don't have line of sight?
    My TV remote is very twitchy if there is something in the way?
    (Like the better half!!)
    What kind of range could be expected?
    Could you piggy back the transmitters and double the transmit
    power or does it not work that way?

    Thanks again for your help.

    Andy.



    --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, Bruce Bates <bvbates@u...> wrote:
    > At 11:59 AM 2/28/03 +0000, thor69uk <andrew.thornber@c...> wrote:
    > >Hello everyone,
    > >
    > >I was looking for some information, advice and or suggestions...
    > >
    > >I am using a basic stamp in a mobile robotics platform and wanted
    to
    > >send information back from the Stamp to my host PC, but without
    wires!
    > >
    > >My brother has just installed a wireless nextwork at his house and
    it
    > >got me thinking. Could I get an RS-232 to ethernet(TCP/IP)
    converter?
    > >
    > >This way I could plug the Stamp into my converter, that into a
    > >wireless network point ---- radio data link
    Wireless network
    > >access point to a PC. And software converts the signal back to
    RS232
    > >and allows me to access, as far as my PC thinks a real COM port.
    > >Fairly straight forward so far...
    > >
    > >I have found a converter and software that will allow me a "COM
    port"
    > >on my PC that I can then use HyperTerminal to monitor and/or send
    > >commands to the stamp remotely. Its 99GBP or about $156. Its not
    > >cheap but it might just work....
    > >
    > >My question is, am I looking at a nut and trying to crack it with a
    > >sledgehammer?? Is there an easier way to do this because I cant
    help
    > >thinking that I am overlooking a much easier (and cheaper!!)
    > >option....
    > >
    > >Has anyone done something similar but a different way?
    > >Can anyone think of any problems I would have with my idea?
    > >
    > >Any help would be greatfully appreachiated...
    > >
    > >TIA,
    > >
    > >Andy.
    >
    > Hi Andy -
    >
    > You might want to look into the possibility of using IrDA as a
    medium.
    > Here is an excellent link on using the Maxim MAX3100 for IrDA
    communications
    > with a Stamp: http://www.emesystems.com/BS2IrDA.htm .
    >
    > Regards,
    >
    > Bruce Bates
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > >To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > >from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the
    Subject and
    > >Body of the message will be ignored.
    > >
    > >
    > >Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-02-28 15:16
    Hi Andy,

    I use a pair of parallax transceivers and 2 BS2's. Works very good.
    Stock#: 27997 433.92 MHz Transceiver

    Jerry
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-02-28 17:04
    Hi Andy,

    IrDA is short range, because the carrier is not modulated. (Those
    advertisements showing people syncing their Palms through the windows
    of moving trains are a joke!)

    A better option is the IRbuddy from Parallax or the IR products from
    Rentron. They are long range infrared telemetry using a high
    frequency carrier. No, the IR does not perform well outdoors or in
    sunlight, although it does perform well under normal room lighting.
    (photodiodes have a tremendous dynamic range, but sunlight swamps it.)

    The 433 mhz radio modules are a good option too, with good range of a
    couple hundred feet. These other modules connect from your PC
    directly through the serial port.

    I'm not sure what you would gain from your TCP/IP connection, but it
    may be overkill unless you really do want the internet connectivity.

    Be forwarned, the signals from the "cheap" systems are noisy, and
    your software on both ends will have to take care of noise
    suppression and error correction. Those are issues. If you use a
    scheme like your bluetooth or whatever, the error correction would be
    taken care of at a low protocol level, and your PC and your stamp
    would see only clean data. Another option directly from the serial
    port (not involving ethernet, TCP/IP etc) is a radio modem, such as
    those offered by http://www.maxstream.net. Those have tremendous
    range (much greater than bluetooth), and also they take care of all
    the transmission packets internally, so, again, all your stamp or
    your PC sees is clean data.

    -- Tracy





    >Bruce,
    >
    >Thanks for getting back to me.
    >
    >I had thought about IrDA but had dismissed it with little real
    >knowledge about it, maybe to my downfall.
    >
    >What is the suseptibility to different ambient light levels?
    >What happens if you don't have line of sight?
    > My TV remote is very twitchy if there is something in the way?
    > (Like the better half!!)
    >What kind of range could be expected?
    > Could you piggy back the transmitters and double the transmit
    > power or does it not work that way?
    >
    >Thanks again for your help.
    >
    >Andy.
    >
    >
    >
    >--- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, Bruce Bates <bvbates@u...> wrote:
    > > At 11:59 AM 2/28/03 +0000, thor69uk <andrew.thornber@c...> wrote:
    > > >Hello everyone,
    > > >
    > > >I was looking for some information, advice and or suggestions...
    > > >
    > > >I am using a basic stamp in a mobile robotics platform and wanted
    >to
    > > >send information back from the Stamp to my host PC, but without
    >wires!
    > > >
    > > >My brother has just installed a wireless nextwork at his house and
    >it
    > > >got me thinking. Could I get an RS-232 to ethernet(TCP/IP)
    >converter?
    > > >
    > > >This way I could plug the Stamp into my converter, that into a
    > > >wireless network point ---- radio data link
    Wireless network
    > > >access point to a PC. And software converts the signal back to
    >RS232
    > > >and allows me to access, as far as my PC thinks a real COM port.
    > > >Fairly straight forward so far...
    > > >
    > > >I have found a converter and software that will allow me a "COM
    >port"
    > > >on my PC that I can then use HyperTerminal to monitor and/or send
    > > >commands to the stamp remotely. Its 99GBP or about $156. Its not
    > > >cheap but it might just work....
    > > >
    > > >My question is, am I looking at a nut and trying to crack it with a
    > > >sledgehammer?? Is there an easier way to do this because I cant
    >help
    > > >thinking that I am overlooking a much easier (and cheaper!!)
    > > >option....
    > > >
    > > >Has anyone done something similar but a different way?
    > > >Can anyone think of any problems I would have with my idea?
    > > >
    > > >Any help would be greatfully appreachiated...
    > > >
    > > >TIA,
    > > >
    > > >Andy.
    > >
    > > Hi Andy -
    > >
    > > You might want to look into the possibility of using IrDA as a
    >medium.
    > > Here is an excellent link on using the Maxim MAX3100 for IrDA
    >communications
    > > with a Stamp: http://www.emesystems.com/BS2IrDA.htm .
    > >
    > > Regards,
    > >
    > > Bruce Bates
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > > >To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > > > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > > >from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the
    >Subject and
    > > >Body of the message will be ignored.
    > > >
    > > >
    > > >Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
    >http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    >
    >
    >To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    >from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the
    >Subject and Body of the message will be ignored.
    >
    >
    >Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-03-27 17:08
    Jerry,
    I have been experimenting with transferring data via RF (#27996 Tx to
    #27995 Rx) and having mixed results. I built a circuit that is
    commanded by a PC for the transmitted data. The receiver is plugged
    into the stamp and am using Pulsin to collect PWM data. Could you
    describe what type of data you are sending/receiving and also what
    interface you may have between the tranceivers and the stamps. I
    have had a terrible time and am interested in anything that works.
    Thanks,
    Al
    --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, CGIJERRY@A... wrote:
    > Hi Andy,
    >
    > I use a pair of parallax transceivers and 2 BS2's. Works very good.
    > Stock#: 27997 433.92 MHz Transceiver
    >
    > Jerry
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