Additionally, I am able to move the arm fairly frequently and it is very responsive over Bluetooth. It only freezes when I try to play back sequences of moves.
ok cool. thanks.
Hello Swink,
you should try to update to RIOS V1.05,
then, on the “Play” form, there’s two buttons to deactivate the input scan and the output update, there’s a “settings” buttons too where you can adjust the interpolation interval, increasing this interval and deactivating input scan and output update should solve the problem.
I just updated the software to 1.05 and it started working right off the bat. Thanks!
btw, what is the interpolation interval?
Hehe,
did you take a look at the new RIOS V1.05 manual page 17 ?
ummmm ? 
This seems like an obvious question, but thought i’d check… 
Could anyone tell me whether i’ll need a plug-in bluetooth USB dongle to communicate with the BlueSMiRF or should i (logically) just be able to use the built-in bluetooth on my laptop?
I didn’t notice until I got the modem that I needed a Break Away Header - Right Angle. I think that’s what you have on the backside of the modem.
I have two Sparkfun Bluetooth modems working on two separate ssc32’s. I couldn’t have done it without the step by step tutorial and the pictures.
These were the first boards I’ve ever soldered.
Modem One Mistake:
I soldered the Break Away Header to the top of the board instead of the bottom. Live and learn. I vowed not to repeat that mistake on the second modem.
Modem Two Mistake:
I soldered the Break Away Header to the bottom properly but soldered the long pins not the angled short ones (I did that on both modems by the way).
The fix was to pull all the wires out of the female connectors, heat shrink them, and then slide them on so they would hold on the short pins. 
Getting really good reception with this combination. I can go on all three floors of my house and in the garage and still get a signal. I’ll have to try outside next!
Bluetooth® Modem - BlueSMiRF RP-SMA
sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=158
2.4GHz Duck Antenna RP-SMA
sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=145
The built-in bluetooth on my new Dell mini-9 netbook works perfectly with my BlueSMiRF gold. Should work, but every manufacturer has diff driver/software so your milage may vary. 
I’m using a Kensington external bluetooth dongle. The modems work like any bluetooth device and will work with any bluetooth receiver (internal or external). I have two modems installed on the same computer and each has it’s own comport assigned and each shows up as a separate modem. One named FireFly-9AB1 SPP and the other FireFly-E88F SPP.
I found this information useful for setting up the modem.
COMMON PROBLEMS and QUESTIONS:
My Bluetooth client can see the RN-24 and its serial service, but I can’t connect:
This is most likely caused by a security setting on your client. If a pincode is required, the
default is “1234â€
In the example you pull power from the sensor power (which works good). Except now that I’m hooking up more sensors I need this connection. Can you give an example of how I can power the BlueSMiRF from a 9 volt battery or from some other power source on the board?
Hi all,
I am using Bluetooth Modem BlueSMiRF with built-in white antenna having 9600 as default baud rate set. I have followed the tutorial by lynxmotion for communicating with SSC-32. Everything worked fine till the step 11 of the following tutorial
lynxmotion.com/images/html/build117.htm
In the step 11, issuing “ver” command returns me the correct firmware version but the command “+++” does not return any result. Means I am unable to go into the configuration mode of Bluesmirf module.
All i intend to do is to change the baud rate to 115.2k but “+++” command returns me no result.same as the case with the “AT” command. Is there an alternate way to change the baud rate?
Where could possibly be the problem residing?
Thanks a lot.
You know, that’s strange. I was running my Loki biped (search messages) with BlueSmirf, and at 115200 baud.
Are you currently running at 9600?
Have you tried just changing the USB driver panel details to get to 115200? that’s all I remember doing. I don’t remember (although I know about) the +++ and other modem commands.
I’m thinking it’s the driver that does this automatically? no?
Alan KM6VV
Yes currently im communicating at 9600.
no, i dont know about the usb driver details.all i have done so far is followed the tutorial published by jim at lynxmotion.it does not talk about any driver details to change the baud rate.
i have searched the web for changing the baud rate of bluesmirf module,and every method talks about issuing either a +++ or a $$$ command to enter into the configuration mode and then change the baud rate with ATSW20,472,0,0,1 command.but to ensure u have successfully entered the configuration mode,the +++ and AT commands should return OK,which in my case Never resulted.
i have tried replacing the bluetooth usb dongle with my laptop’s built-in bluetooth.everything works perfectly at 9600 except the +++ command which never return a OK status.
some people over the net talk about coomunicating with bluesmirf through a hyperterminal to change the baud rate.but i think lynxterm does the same.
It might be time to actually ask Sparkfun about this. We made the tutorials with current information but there’s no guarantee that they didn’t change anything since we created it.