BlueRadios and Mac OSX

Wireless & IoT
1

I just recieved one of the Blue SmiRF radios, and I’m just trying to see if I can get it to connect on a G5. I run through the default set up, and it connects, but gives errors about the device having no functionality. I also cannot assign the device a passkey, but I’m not sure if that amounts to anything.

In any case, I’m working in MAX/MSP and the machine reognizes the device as either: /dev/cu.Bluetooth-Modem or /dev/cu.Bluetooth-PDA-Sync

If I choose modem as the option, it just won’t open, and I think PDA mode is useless to me. Any suggestions for test and set up of the device?

Maybe I should just work through terminal?

2

Hey,

no don’t worry about the terminal.

when you do setup in Bluetooth make sure you select

“Any Device” not mobile phone or whatever

also select Passkey Options and then “use a specific”

you have to enter “default” i think as passkey.

then it should be ok.

Then go into Bluetooth setup in Sys.Pref. and select teh “devices” tab

there you should ses “BlueRadios” select it and the click Edit Serial Port

there you need to add a Serial Port if the list is empty or if there is one

This Will be your name for the Serial port, not the PDA or the other one.

Make sure to also select “RS232” and not Modem.

Then you should be able to use that port in Max/MSP with the name from

the list. Best is to double check with ZTerm if it detects it as a modem port. then you can be sure it works.

Hastas,

Elm

3

dasmeer:
you have to enter “default” i think as passkey.

There's one of my problems, passkeys on the Mac are numerical. Is there a numerical equivalent passkey for the device? Will I have to go in, find a windows machine, and reset the passkey as numerical to work on a Mac?

For now I am left with this device setting:

Device Name: BlueRadios

Device Address: 00-a0-96-11-1e-56

Device Type: Miscellaneous

Device Services: COM0

Paired: No

Favorite: No

Connected: Yes

Also, it keeps dropping the device, which is maddening. Any suggestions on what may cause that?

Thanks again.

4

I recently started working with the BRSC30a- the dip packaged module- and I too am having problems sending data into Max. I’ve also tried sending it to ZTerm and Processing, but no love there either.

In Sys.Preferences, I have configured the module, and even entered the correct passkey (which was “default” in this case). I’ve set up the new serial port as RS-232. In my Preferences, I see this:

Device Name: BlueRadios

Device Address: 00-a0-96-10-09-af

Device Type: Miscellaneous

Device Services: COM0

Paired: Yes

Configured: Yes

Favorite: Yes

Connected: Yes

Serial Port: Yes

I am trying to send the letter A (65) from a Pic to Max through the module. When I print a list of available serial ports, Max sees it as its proper name (BlueRadios-COM0-1) and lets me point a serial object to that port…but there is nothing coming through.

Do I need to get into the AT commands at this point? I have it set to 9600 bps/8/N/1. Should that be a higher data rate?

Any help is much appreciated. And Happy New Year to you all.

Daniel

5

Okay, so I am happily watching the numbers roll into Max right now. The BRSC30a requires you send true(non-inverted) logic from the PIC. I’m using an 18LF252 and testing with two potentiometers.

The Max Serial object is set to 9600-8-N-1.

All seems well.

Happy New Year.

6

Thanks for all your help. I just had to update the bluetooth firmware and with Elm’s advice and Daniel’s sucess, I’ve got MAX sending AT commmands to the bluetooth and getting back replies. It’s amazing how happy the output ‘OK’ can make you when you actually see it the first time. Now onto the next step interfacing my Chip with an ADS1110 A/D.

7

Um…what’s Max/MSP? I tend to do something along the lines of screen /dev/tty.whatver (or cu.whatever)

This hasn’t been working with my LCD tho…hrm!

Your comments would help loads!

8

btw, passkeys on Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger) are no longer restricted to be numerical.

I’ve used BlueSMiRF (aka BlueRadios) several times with with Mac OS X. Here’s a little HOWTO I put together about it a while back:

http://todbot.com/blog/2006/02/23/howto … rial-port/