Hi,
I came across this post (http://www.glacialwanderer.com/hobbyrobotics/?p=291) and i wanted to use the same set up without the Arduino on the transmitter side. So i thought of using this (http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/produc … cts_id=437) and this (http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/produc … ts_id=8945) to build a USB RF Transmitter Dongle and communicate to the receiver using it via a serial port (COM3) on the PC (Java RxTx). Is it that simple or there’s something else that i need to do in order to put it to work that i’m not aware of? Would i have to write, or download if it already exists, a driver so the PC recognizes the dongle? Would i have to use some other component(s)? Please, help on this.
Thanks in advance.
I like it. You’ll need one more piece to complete the puzzle:
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/produc … cts_id=650
The USB protocol is too high-level (and too fast) to send directly over that transmitter. What the FT232RL chip does is encapsulate all the USB stuff and simplify it down to a minimal UART interface that the RFLink can easily talk to. It shows up on your PC as a new COM port.
Good luck!
Holy crap, how do i connect this bridge? Is there any tutorial?
So far, the best way I’ve found is to buy the pre-assembled breakout board: http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/produc … cts_id=718. You’ll need to configure it for +5V by unsoldering the +3.3V jumper.
Here’s an example on a breadboard (attached).
That’s exactly what i was looking for. Isn’t there any other information where you found this picture? So, once i set this up the pc will recognize it as a COM port? This easy?
[EDIT]
For those who are interested in the answers of my questions, here they are.
If you are going to use this breakout board 60amp_relay commented (http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/produc … cts_id=718) you’re going to have to install the driver (http://www.ftdichip.com/FTDrivers.htm) on your PC. Once this is done plug your USB cable and it shows up as a COM port (as said before by 60amp_relay).
Now comes my newest doubt. What should i do to use a USB Male Type A connector (http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/produc … cts_id=437) instead of the mini USB that comes with the breakout board? Just unsolder the old one and solder the male connector into the corresponding pins will do the job?
It came to me that instead of creating an one way RF USB Dongle, a can create a two ways (transmitter and receiver) and use it in several other projects that use radio frequency communication.
BTW, i still need an aswer to my previous question. Anyone? 60amp_relay, you there?
Thanks.
That’s a picture of my own breadboard - I’ve been using the ft232rl and rflink parts a lot lately, so I just snapped a photo and uploaded it. The mini-USB connector on the ft232rl breakout board is a surface-mount part. I’m not sure how easy it would be to unsolder it, and you couldn’t really put a full-size, through-hole USB port there anyway (no space, and no holes). They do make USB → miniUSB adapters. Two-way comms should work fine if you have a 315MHz pair for transmitting and a 434MHz pair for receiving, or vice versa.
There are also USB ↔ bluetooth transceivers that do something similar to what you’re trying to achieve here.
60amp_relay, thanks for the reply.
As you said size can be a problem to change the connectors. So, as an alternative i’m probably going to use an adaptor like this http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:halu … iniUSB.jpg to get the job done.
Another thing, i didn’t realize until you said that in order to build a two way plug i’m going to have to use different frequencies for the transmitter and the receiver. It sounds obvious now but i didn’t see that before.
I’ll keep this post alive with my progress until i get the dongle fully functional, someone may want to build a similar one. But, first things first, i’ll have to order the components.
60amp_relay, thanks again.
Just ordered the components.
Parts have arrived. Posting progress soon.
