Thanks kurt for the info…From the little research I did I think you guys bought it from elexp.com/cmp_1604.htm.. Problem is for int. shipping they need a minimum order of US$100. I’m stumped about spending that much just on this site 
Yep, that was the one…
It looks like Digikey has more options than before… For example:
search.digikey.com/us/en/product … -ND/255614
These are more expensive than the one you mentioned. They also have a cheaper one with predefined keys…
Kurt
Thanks. I used MyUS.com in the end to consolidate few orders. So it turned out to be cheaper than Digi.
Hi Kurt,
About 3? months has passed but today finally my mega arrived! The mail man was on his bike… No idea where he started though 
Anyhow, I’ve got some questions and I was hoping you will give me a quick start by answering them.
- Do I need to power up both the mega and your extension board? Or does your board supply power to the mega?
- I can’t figure out the pin layout by looking at your code. Can you give me a hand by filling/checking the list?
Right-Stick-X 0
Right-Stick-Y 1
Right-Stick-Z 6
Left-Stick-X 2
Left-Stick-Y 3
Left-Stick-Z 7
Slider-Left 4
Slider-Mid 5
Slider-Right 8
Keyboard-Row0 22
Keyboard-Row1 23
Keyboard-Row2 24
Keyboard-Row3 25
Keyboard-Col0 26
Keyboard-Col1 27
Keyboard-Col2 28
Keyboard-Col3 29
CmdKeys-Col4
Left-Stick-Btn
Right-Stick-Btn
Battery 15
Speaker 46
Display
XBEE-Dout
XBEE-Din
XBEE-RTS
Thanks!
Xan
Hi Xan,
Will have to take a look when I get back inside, to get pin numbers. The shield will power the main board.
Kurt
Hi again,
Yep it has been a long time since I hooked this up. Also my Arduino DIY Arduino Remote setup has been completely torn up and I replaced it with one of my Arduino 644 boards, which is still now only partially tested. Keep meaning to get back to it.
Trying to update your list…
Right-Stick-X A0
Right-Stick-Y A1
Right-Stick-Z A6
Left-Stick-X A2
Left-Stick-Y A3
Left-Stick-Z A7
Slider-Left A4
Slider-Mid A5
Slider-Right A8
Keyboard-Row0 22
Keyboard-Row1 23
Keyboard-Row2 24
Keyboard-Row3 25
Keyboard-Col0 26
Keyboard-Col1 27
Keyboard-Col2 28
Keyboard-Col3 29
CmdKeys-Col4 - Did not do this with Arduino Version, instead individual digital inputs…
Command buttons on pins: 10 11 12 A13
I allowed up to 8 other digital buttons to go through… These are on digital pins 2-9 (don’t remember if Left was on 2 or 3…)
Left-Stick-Btn
Right-Stick-Btn
Battery A15
Speaker 46
Display
I am using an 4D systems OLED which is connected to Serial1 (sparkfun.com/products/8537)
XBee is connected to Serial2, Don’t need RTS as all serial input and output are using USARTS…
XBEE-Dout
XBEE-Din
XBEE-RTS
Hope that helps
Kurt
Thanks kurt,
This definatly helps 
Is there a special reason for placing the command keys directly on the I/O? Or is it just because it is easier?
Thanks!
Xan
Yep 
On Arduino, very easy, you can enable built-in Pull-up resistor , so hardware is simply switch connected to IO pin and ground and software is a simple digital read. And with the Mega have lots of IO pins to use…
Kurt
Ok, that sounds easier indeed. I think I will rewire those then.
Did you also drop the pull-up resistors on the keyboard matrix?
Kurte,
I thought you had ported you XBEE configuration code to the Arduino. I havent been able to find it. I’m i wrong? finally have some free time to play.
I am not sure if anyone else will be interested, but I keep alternating between wanting to build the full blown version of the DIY remote control, which is very fun to play with and/or a much simpler one that is closer to being an XBee based PS2 controller. Some of this inspiration comes from playing with the Arbotix Commander 2, which is actually fun to play with, but it limiting as it only has 8 buttons and no user feedback.
So This weekend I started playing around with a design… Still needs work, but here is a current output from Diptrace…
I am using the same thumb joysticks sold by Sparkfun.
I am thinking of using a Arduino Leonardo as my starting point, as the USB is separate from the the USART so I can leave the XBee on the USART(D0/D1) and still program the thing and have debug output…
This differs from the Commander 2 which uses a Seeduino 168 based board running in 3.3v mode, so I also needed to add some voltage conversion stuff. Not sure yet if I will leave this as the discrete stuff I have here now, or use a chip to do it. Also I added LEDS to show XBee activity, which I miss with the Commander.
This board has 16 buttons on it sort-of arranged like a PS2. The ones on the top or right angle, so have L1/L2 and R1/R2 buttons. I have also connected up the buttons on the thumbs so this gives me L3/R3… As 16 buttons would quickly run me out of IO ports, I have two MC74HC589A chips which I cascade with each other, which I believe will only take 3 IO pins to read in these 16 switches. I also added 2 Resistor networks for PU resistors. Not sure yet if better to setup as PU or PD. Also wish there was some form of shift register that maybe had some form of PU/PD as part of it so did not need these external resistors. Also thinking of moving these components to back of board as then you won’t have to see them when plugged into CPU… Likewise for some of the other supporting components.
I also have a speaker on the board as again nice to get some feedback… For example robot may want to sent you info like Battery level critical…
The next step is I want some form of cheap LCD display as part of this. I am thinking of adding a simple 2 line 16 (20 if it fits), character display, probably using 4/8 bit parallel interface. Hoping to have enough IOs available to run directly off of processor. Or I may use something like a 595 chip(s) to do the output… May not have enough space on board, so may bump up the top middle part for the LCD to make room, where it should simply plug in, plus maybe a couple of spacers to attach it to the board…
Still want to look into maybe adding tilt sensor…
Then lastly need to design some simple plastic handles like the Commander uses to give you something to grab onto and hold the pieces…
What do you think?
Kurt
Hey everyone. I’m in the proces of building the arduino based transmitter.
I’ve got most of the parts except for the oled display. The one hat i have is a 1.8 tft SPI ebay.com/itm/1-8-TFT-LCD-module-TF-Card-socket-break-out-for-arduino-/270866804157
I thought that i could rewrite the code to work with my display but so far I’m not getting any results. I hope you could point me in the right direction.
Ps. Sorry if my english is not so good.
I thought I would do a minor reset on my Arduino based remote control and I swapped out my Atmega644 board back to a Seeeduino Mega board with my Shield for it. That way I think I will have a configuration that is close to what Xan is using. However mine still has the 128x128 OLED display in it along with the Joysticks that have 3 analog outputs as well as a button on top. In addition I have three sliders and the keypad. (Hopefully someday soon will get back to my touch screen version but).
So right now it is more or less back to the state in the posting: viewtopic.php?f=21&t=7422&start=124
I think I have most of it working again, so will be testing it out on my Raspberry Pi T-Hex.
Kurt
This might be relevant.
I’ve found a telemetry remote for robotics. It uses Xbee, so I thought I’d mention it here.
store.diydrones.com/ArduStation_p/de-0001-01.htm
This radio is said to be a replacement for the Xbee:
store.diydrones.com/3DR_RadioTelemetry_Kit_915_Mhz_p/kt-telemetry-3dr915.htm
915 or 433 MHz.
I like the ham band (432-440), but I guess 915 would be OK as well.
Works with my APM2.0 stuff (Ardupilot).
Thoughts? Comments??
Alan KM6VV
Morning Kurt,
I’m wanting to build a new remote, but I’m a bit confused on the latest software for the Arduino. I’ll be using a Seeduino Mega
3 sliders, key pad, oled mainly as you posted here. lynxmotion.net/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=7422&start=124 or as always open to any recommendation’s.
Thank you
Warning, I have not looked at this remote or the remote code in many months. I like these remote controls, but end up spending more of my time using the Arbotix Commander sold by Trossen Robotics. Not that I like this better, I don’t, but since this is what every PhantomX Hex, Quad… ships with, more people are able to use the code developed for it.
If you have some specific questions, I will be happy to try to help, but I am a bit rusty with it.
I just wanted to try and use the boards I had laying around. but I wasn’t able to find the most current arduino code
Oops, I thought I had posted a reply here, but when I looked this morning it was not here. So, will try again.
Again I have not played with this in awhile (looking at time stamps 9 months). I think my most current sources for my one with the small oled display and the like is attached. It currently is using a Seeeduino Mega board with my own shield on it.
If I were to build it now, not sure which processor I would use. Might go with something like a Teensy 3.1 board(sparkfun.com/products/11117). I have two of these, that I was experimenting with to control Dynamixel (AX-12) servos and extend the USB2AX product by Xevel (more details up on Trossen forum). Or I might play with something completely different like an XMega just to see how well it works).
Again I have not played with this for awhile and sorry for the delay in response.
DIY_Remote_Mega_oled-131229a.zip (27.6 KB)
Thank you. I’ll be using a Seeeduino Mega v1.23, it has a ATMEGA1280. would I need to use a shield? if yes can you point me in the direction of one.
You don’t necessarily need a shield, you can wire stuff directly up. As for suggesting a shield, I made my own, which is like the Botboarduino, in that it has LEDS, Speaker, … plus 3 pin connectors for lots of IO pins and the like. Worked OK, but it is lots of work. Could post the diptrace files again if your interested, but maybe not the easiest way to proceed. If I were to go this route again and build custom Remote control, may be more likely to try complete custom board that try to mount most of the stuff on the board, like sliders, buttons, keypad, … But not currently going down that path.
Earlier was working with the idea that Robot Dude was going to make a kit and/or product out of it and then we would hopefully have enough people using it, that could make it more interesting. But that did not happen. That is why I mostly use the Arbotix Controller for XBee stuff. Not nearly as nice, but quite a few people have them.