Programming with Radio

[Phasmatis568]

I was wondering today, is it possible to hook the radio up to the program port and program without being physically linked to your pc? The only conflicts I can think of would be setting up the channel. But if I could find a pinout of the radios, I think it would be possible to control that.

Has anyone thought to actually try this? Could it work? Does anyone know where to find the pinout?

[WakeZero]

I know in past years, Innovation FIRST has sold a radio programming tool. I don't think you can hook up the regular radio however

[Sachiel7]

I saw a team at reigonals programming their bot using the radio before any matches started... I'm not sure who it was though.

[Nate Smith]

The radio connection for the robot radios which are included in the kit is a RS-422 connection, which is NOT compatible with the RS-232 connection that your computer, and thus the Programming port on the RC, use. IFI does however, as others have mentioned, have available a RS-232 radio which is specifically designed for use as a remote programming radio or debugger.

For some reason, I can't find the info page itself on their site any more, but here's a link to the manual for the "Stamper" radios...if you give them a call, they might be able to help you out with how/where to get them...

http://www.innovationfirst.com/first...er_userman.pdf

[Sachiel7]

Yeah, I think that's what the other team was using.

[KenWittlief]

once you have written your code, why would you need to download it to the RC more than once?!

[just kidding!]

[Dave Flowerday]

Originally posted by Nate Smith
The radio connection for the robot radios which are included in the kit is a RS-422 connection, which is NOT compatible with the RS-232 connection that your computer, and thus the Programming port on the RC, use.

Additionally, even though it is possible to convert from RS-422 to RS-232, the radio modems used for robot control will only transmit data to the opposite modem in 26 byte chunks. That means if your computer sends a 5 byte request to the RC to begin programming it and waits for a response, it will never get that response because the modem hooked to your computer hasn't actually sent that data to the other modem yet, so the RC never sees it!

[Kevin Watson]

Here is the manufacturer's website:

http://www.electrowave.com/

The technical manual is here:

http://www.electrowave.com/downloads...em_techman.pdf

-Kevin

[Doug G]

We have the "Stamper" modems from two years ago when we did a lot a wireless programming of our robot (2003) and it worked great. I didn't get a chance to get them working last year, but I am trying to get them to work with the new MicroChip/IFI Loader system. Has anyone had any success using these "Stamper" modems with the new control system?

Innovation First does not provide tech support with them - only E-Wave and they continue to say that they are a "drop-in" replacement for a serial cable. I'm thinking that the IFI Loader communicates at a higher baud rate than the Stampers allow (9600). Hmmm??

[Dave Flowerday]

Originally Posted by Doug G

I'm thinking that the IFI Loader communicates at a higher baud rate than the Stampers allow (9600).

That's correct. The IFI Loader communicates at (I believe) 115200 bps, so I think you're out of luck with the Stampers (though you could use them for debug printfs if you reconfigure the serial port in your RC code to run at 9600).

[Tristan Lall]

Originally Posted by Doug G

I'm thinking that the IFI Loader communicates at a higher baud rate than the Stampers allow (9600). Hmmm??

The current IFI loader uses up to 115200 baud, if the status bar is to be believed; this is usually around the limit of an RS-232 serial port (that, or 128000). I'm not sure why it wouldn't allow you to operate it at a lower speed, though. Have you tried limiting your serial port to 9600 baud (or less) in the COM# device properties?

[Doug G]

Originally Posted by Tristan Lall

Have you tried limiting your serial port to 9600 baud (or less) in the COM# device properties?

Funny you say that, I was thinking the same thing after reading Dave's last post - I'll try that later today. I'd hate to call the "Stamper" useless only using them for just one season.

[CyberWolf_22]

Hey, I saw this when I did a google search wouldn't programming your robot of 802.11b be cool.

http://www.elcard.fi/wls100_rs232.htm

[Joe Ross]

Anyone know if the ifi loader for linux supports slower baud rates (or if it would be easily addable)?

[Doug G]

Originally Posted by Doug G

Funny you say that, I was thinking the same thing after reading Dave's last post - I'll try that later today. I'd hate to call the "Stamper" useless only using them for just one season.

I slowed the port down on WinXP and it had no effect. It seems like IFI Loader software needs to be slowed down to 9600 - but there is no option for that. Any programmers willing to write their Loader with a slower baud rate?