Would this equipment allow my computer to connect through a wireless connection to my robot or do I need to know any “special” info on how to get it to connect to my comp? Also (so I don’t have to make another thread later) I want to connect a gps system to a PICAXE-28X1 how would be the best way to do this.
PS. I have not yet decided on a gps system so I am also looking for suggestions. Thanks.
Thanks I really like that GPS. Now I have a new question the On Shine 433MHz Low Cost Transmitter/Receiver Pair do these 4 things also I am looking for other suggestions for a wireless receiver and transmitter or transceiver as well.
The ability to communicate with a PC and with another wireless transceiver without other parts.
At least a 100yds range but 150 to 200yds is more preferred.
Can be interfaced with to the PICAXE 28X1.
Must be fairly inexpensive since this is just a prototype.
Thanks.
PS. Is it possible to use these data telemetry devices to send video to my comp from the SFE CMOS Camera - 1300x1040 pixels. Thanks again 
Thanks I really like that GPS. Now I have a new question the more I look at that On Shine 433MHz Low Cost Transmitter/Receiver Pair the more I am starting to think that it is not going to deliver what I need. So I am looking for suggestions for a wireless receiver and transmitter or transceiver. It has to have
The ability to communicate with a PC and with another wireless transceiver without other parts.
At least a 100yds range but 150 to 200yds is more preferred.
Can be interfaced with to the PICAXE 28X1.
Must be fairly inexpensive since this is just a prototype.
Thanks.
PS. Is it possible to use these data telemetry devices to send video to my comp from the SFE CMOS Camera - 1300x1040 pixels. Thanks again
Yes but I dont want to go that far yet and the sheild uses a PICAXE 18 I think and I would like to use the PICAXE 28.
I would like to redo my question. See when I posted this I was extremely tired so I was not very clear I just want to know if the On Shine 433MHz Low Cost Transmitter/Receiver Pair would be able to connect to my comps wireless network when I connect it to the PICAXE 18X1 board. I am also looking for suggestions on other wireless equipment for communicating with my drones.
Thanks again
I tried to make a loopback tester on the PC with the onshine 433mhz transmitter/receiver pair without much luck. I connected the interface using the Max232 rs232-ttl convertor but all I got back was jibberish in Hyperterminal. So I decided to dig deeper, get the scope out and check the transmit/receiver logic levels. It appears what goes out the transmitter does not come back on the receiver. I noticed the receiver only gives a short fixed pulse on lead edge transmissions of the Transmitter signals, ie. it doesn’t hold its logic level for the duration of the transmit signal which make it ineffective for a uart driven system. Yes, I could write a bit bashing routine, time synchronized to this pulse width, but I don’t want my microcontrollers wasting processing time doing this function. I purchased 3 of these devices, so its not a failed component problem. My application is to have 2 robots communicate witch each other on a beacon search mission while having all their communications monitored by a PC System, it looks like I may have to switch over to the active robots easy 900mhz system (more cost) unless somebody out there has managed to get these devices to transmit/receive data.
Tom
Hi Jonathan,
Yes I have tried different baud rates and the suggested antenna length without success but I do think RF interference is a problem as I can still see receiver pulses without transmission. This may be due that the fact that I have the High Sensitivity version and the autogain circuit may be amplifying spurious frequencies in our electronics shop here at the university, however when we do transmit I seem to get a steady logic stream as the autogain circuit stabalizes but the bits patterns do not match on input and receive.
I will take your suggestion and order a couple of sets of the other transmitter/receivers. From the documentation, they seem to be exactly what we want. This project is part of a High School/University mentorship program so I’m trying to keep the students project costs within budget.
When I get the students to cad out their circuit boards, we will make provision for handling both types of transmitters/receivers to see which works best. We will also make sure they have good ground planes in the layout and power supply decoupling. Who knows with both sets we may be able to have full duplex communication with two frequencies.
I’ll post later in the fall to let you know how they work.
Thanks for your comments,
Tom
The OnShine modules work at TTL level so it is probably a good idea to use an RS-232 to TTL converter between the computer and module.
We could suggest the EM-406a, which outputs serial data to the PICAXE. Simply parse the NMEA data and you can get alot of information such as location, heading, altitude, time, etc.
You could use the inexpensive OnShine modules exclusively if you develop a “communication protocol” to include an ID for the target and other things such as a checksum. With the ID you can communicate with one drone in specific, or even all drones simultaneously. The drones check the data for integrity, verify if it is destined to them, and if so take action.
Hi Tom, many have used these OnShine modules successfully.
Something is wrong, we suggest troubleshooting.
1- Are you using the suggested wire antenna?
2- Try a lower baud rate, some have had better results by lowering the baud rate.
3- RF interference in the environment? Is your computer case open for example? Wireless routers and other electronic devices may be the cause. Mind you they don’t operate at the same frequency.
Implementing basic checksum is suggested to correct errors in transmission (this is usually not a problem with microcontrollers). Although you should be able to simply serial out via the TX and serial in on the RX.
Worse case, Spark Fun has some slightly more expensive modules that may prove to be easier to use, ex:
TX:
robotshop.us/sfe-rf-link-transmitter-315mhz-1.html
RX:
robotshop.us/sfe-rf-link-2400bps-315mhz.html
Get back to us with your results, we may exchange them for you for another product type if you are not satisfied.
Have you considered Xbee?
PICAXE seems to have an xbee shield for this.
For the PC side theres a USB Xbee Module
Then get some Xbee modules.
Xbee does point-to-point and multipoint.
Not sure about that CMOS camera.
