Adding Bluetooth to Vex

[foobert]

Originally Posted by Vex13

I'm pretty new to all this and wanted to just confirm a couple points, if someone would be so kind... Thanks in advance for your time and help!

1) With the programming dongle, any rs232 bluetooth device should work fine since it has a level shifter built in. Is that a correct statement?

there's also a microcontroller on the programming dongle. don't know that anyone has actually watched the traffic between ifiloader and the programmer or if anyone has tried looking at the debug info from the controller using hyperterminal. in short, dunno. but probably.

2) Is there power provided on pin 9. I.e. for the devices mentioned (the aircable card http://www.aircables.net/serial.html, and the smart bluetooth module http://zbausa.com/bluetooth_serial_port_adapter.asp)? If not, what would be the easiest way to provide power to these devices? Preferably it would come from the vex module, but an easy external source would be fine too.

5v and ground are available at any of the io and interrupt ports. don't try to get power off the motor ports. that's 7.6v.

[Joe Johnson]

Originally Posted by foobert

there's also a microcontroller on the programming dongle. don't know that anyone has actually watched the traffic between ifiloader and the programmer or if anyone has tried looking at the debug info from the controller using hyperterminal. in short, dunno. but probably.



5v and ground are available at any of the io and interrupt ports. don't try to get power off the motor ports. that's 7.6v.

The AirCables and the Smart Modular radios are pretty well voltage tolerant.
I have not looked up the Smart Modular, but I know for sure that the AirCables can take 7.6V with no trouble at all. They will accept 5V too so you have choices.

You can provide power via the DB-9 connector or by using a barrel connector (Radio Shack sells the right size), it makes no difference.

I don't have a VEX in front of me, but if you are planning on using TTL pins on the VEX as a serial port, the most straight forward way to interface would be to use a level shifter to change the voltages to & from TTL/RS-232 (many are available -- sparkfun.com sells a cheap one that I've used before with success). Another, braver method that you can try on the AirCables radio is to crack open the case and to find the pins that are TTL compatible. I have not done this, but I have it on good authority that it the pins are accessible and that this is easily done.

Good Luck.

Joe J.