Bluesmirf Local Configuration - No green light

Wireless & IoT
1

Hi all,

I have a bluesmirf (BS) gold. I was originally configuring the module via bluetooth. For a variety of reasons I now want to configure the module locally via a serial cable. I see a number of people in these forums have successfully done this, but I must be a little dimmer than most. :idea:

I bought a MAX232, wired it and connected a serial cable from my PC COM port to the IC. I shorted RX and TX and sure enough in hyperterminal what I typed is what i saw. I then powered the BS with 5V and grounded it. I also shorted RTS and DTR. I then took the RX and TX pins and connected them to my MAX232 (and yes I’ve tried switching them).

I open the COM port and the red light keeps flashing - no green solid light. I try sending “$$$” and no reply. :cry:

  1. Am I on the right track with this configuration?

  2. Should the flashing red light turn green when I open the PC COM port like it does via bluetooth?

  3. Could anyone please share in detail their experience with local configuration?

  4. Failing all this, has anyone got a simple method of performing a factory reset of the module?

thank you kindly.

SOLUTION******

Okay folks, if anyone is interested here was the problem. I had programmed the bluesmirf remotely to use a baud rate of 920k. Once I issued the ST,0 command I was doomed because the MAX232 cannot communicate at this baud rate. I therefore did a hard reset. The procedure is found here:

http://www.societyofrobots.com/robotfor … pic=4118.0

Basically find PIO4, power it to 3.3V, power the bluesmirf, then toggle power to that pin 3 times. PIO4 is found as the third pin away from the blue antenna on the side with the most pcb traces.

I then was able to use my MAX232 setup to communicate locally with the unit, but still no green light. i am thinking maybe this has to do with shorting the rts and dtr??

cheers.

2

on the bluesmirf gold that i used, the green light is to indicate whether the bluetooth connection is active or not. it stays lit when a bluetooth device is paired with it.

when using local configuration through the serial port, the red light flashes. but once in command mode (after entering $$$) the red light should flash at a faster rate to indicate its in CMD mode. (you should also see it return “CMD” over the terminal)

as far as i can see the LED’s only have one colour. one is red and the other is green.