Duemilanove + 2 Popolu Controllers + Xbee + SoftSerial Library?

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As part of a RobotTank Project, I am using Pololu Micro Serial Servo Controller and a Pololu Low-Voltage Dual Serial Motor Controller with a Arduino Diecimilla board. I wish to add an Xbee Shield to the Arduino Duemilanove. At present I have the two controllers connected to TX (pin 1) on the Arduino Board. Once the Xbee shield is plugged in this is not available. Is it practical to put the Pololu Micro Serial Servo Controller on pins 4 & 5 and put the Pololu Low-Voltage Dual Serial Motor Controller on pins 6 & 7 and use the newsoftserial library thus leaving Xbee on pins 0 & 1? Or is this not the best solution. Please advise.

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Welcome to the RobotShop Community forum kgordon

You can have both Pololu devices on the same serial line without problems. Thanks to the communication protocol they can be addressed separately.

Also, it would indeed be a good idea to use the newsoftserial library and create an additional serial line in order to separate the XBee communication form the Pololu communication. Another alternative would be to use a similar communication protocol to the Pololu protocol when communicating trough the XBee link.

Keep us posted with your progress!