wireless module with PIC16F88

Chapre · Joined: 26 Feb 2012 Posts: 9 Location: Pretoria

Hi;
can you please recommend me a low cost wireless module (RF, Bluetooth, ...) to use with PICF88; I would like to design a wireless communication system between two PICS; distance ranging from 2 to 10 meters.

gpsmikey · Joined: 16 Nov 2010 Posts: 588 Location: Kirkland, WA

Well, there are a number of options - part of "designing" a system means you need to get a better handle on the requirements than what you posted. What is the environment like (noise wise), what data rate (and how much data) needs to be transferred? Does it need to be secure ? Zigbee is an option, Bluetooth is an option, IR or even ultrasonic is an option (which could work underwater). These issues need to be addressed before you can start the "design" portion of your assignment.

mikey
_________________
mikey
-- you can't have too many gadgets or too much disk space !
old engineering saying: 1+1 = 3 for sufficiently large values of 1 or small values of 3

Chapre · Joined: 26 Feb 2012 Posts: 9 Location: Pretoria

Well I'll be sending char characters only; I might also write my own protocol; no security needed; as for the data rate any is applicable as long as I can send and receive data; I'm still in experimentation stage; I have never used wireless communication with PICS, just to get me started somewhere.

gpsmikey · Joined: 16 Nov 2010 Posts: 588 Location: Kirkland, WA

You might want to check out the "wireless buying guide" over at sparkfun - http://www.sparkfun.com/tutorials/128 - there is a bunch of good information there comparing the various flavors (although they skip the IR or ultrasonic ones). Most of the modules simply drop in and you talk to them with a serial port (don't forget when you configure the RS232 port to include "ERRORS" or your program will hang if any error occurs - see the "#USE RS232" compiler directive in the CCS manual for details)

mikey
_________________
mikey
-- you can't have too many gadgets or too much disk space !
old engineering saying: 1+1 = 3 for sufficiently large values of 1 or small values of 3

temtronic · Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2012 2:11 pm

also...
to aid in debugging....

design and build your PICs and code ,then test WITHOUT the wireless modules...

simply connect xmt1---rcv2, rcv1---xmt2 ,gnd1---gnd2

that way you will eliminate ANY 'funny' problems that wireless modules can cause you to lose hair over !!

I know sounds 'silly', but if you get it working without the wireless modules you'll be lightyears ahead..as there's always 'some' quirk buried on page 47 that nobody ever reads about...

hth
jay