Can I wire a Bluefruit EZ-Link to a DB-9 connector and use it as a wireless serial cable? From what I've read it sounds like this should work, but the descriptions lean toward connecting to things like Arduinos.
Thanks,
William
Bluefruit EZ-Link as wireless serial cable
Moderators: adafruit_support_bill, adafruit
Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.
- adafruit_support_rick
- Posts: 35092
- Joined: Tue Mar 15, 2011 11:42 am
Re: Bluefruit EZ-Link as wireless serial cable
You would need to convert the DB9 signals to/from TTL Serial levels. The EZ_Link expects 3-5V levels.
-
- Posts: 306
- Joined: Wed Jun 12, 2013 5:01 pm
Re: Bluefruit EZ-Link as wireless serial cable
What he means is that the standard on the 9-pin DB connector is RS232.
Wiki has a good description of RS232 so look it up and read.
Wiki has a good description of RS232 so look it up and read.
- wbp
- Posts: 260
- Joined: Mon Mar 07, 2011 1:18 pm
Re: Bluefruit EZ-Link as wireless serial cable
ah yes, of course, now it comes back. So add one of these:
http://www.nkcelectronics.com/RS232-to- ... p_369.html
http://www.nkcelectronics.com/RS232-to- ... p_369.html
-
- Posts: 306
- Joined: Wed Jun 12, 2013 5:01 pm
Re: Bluefruit EZ-Link as wireless serial cable
Yep, that board uses a ICL3232 or MAX3232.
The older common chip is the MAX232 but there are many variations available.
The older common chip is the MAX232 but there are many variations available.
- wbp
- Posts: 260
- Joined: Mon Mar 07, 2011 1:18 pm
Re: Bluefruit EZ-Link as wireless serial cable
It works! I connected a BlueFruit EZ-Link to the NKC Electronics RS232 to TTL converter, wiring up only 4 pins. Paired the BlueFruit to my Laptop, which was about as easy as it can be, and plugged my new gadget in to a customer video projector. The communication (at 19200 bps) was flawless.
This is great news! High end projectors are often located in a separate room with a special glass window - because the fans in the projector are quite noisy - and connecting to the projector is difficult at best. I've tried a bunch of wireless RS232 adapters and returned every one of them until now.
I discovered that the "Vin" pin of the BlueFruit would power the NKC adapter. I followed Adafruit's suggestion and used a Li-Poly battery (1200 mAh) to power the device. I have not measured the total current draw yet but it ran for over 4 hours yesterday without any problems.
This weekend I'll test this with my telescopes. Since they both run at 9600 bps I don't expect to have problems. The data sent and received calibrating a projector is far more of a test than the simple commands sent to a telescope...
Nice job Adafruit!
This is great news! High end projectors are often located in a separate room with a special glass window - because the fans in the projector are quite noisy - and connecting to the projector is difficult at best. I've tried a bunch of wireless RS232 adapters and returned every one of them until now.
I discovered that the "Vin" pin of the BlueFruit would power the NKC adapter. I followed Adafruit's suggestion and used a Li-Poly battery (1200 mAh) to power the device. I have not measured the total current draw yet but it ran for over 4 hours yesterday without any problems.
This weekend I'll test this with my telescopes. Since they both run at 9600 bps I don't expect to have problems. The data sent and received calibrating a projector is far more of a test than the simple commands sent to a telescope...
Nice job Adafruit!
-
- Posts: 12151
- Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 4:21 pm
Re: Bluefruit EZ-Link as wireless serial cable
Thanks, good to hear Please post up a photo of your setup, it sounds cool!
- wbp
- Posts: 260
- Joined: Mon Mar 07, 2011 1:18 pm
Re: Bluefruit EZ-Link as wireless serial cable
Here's a pic of the working prototype. Eventually I will put it in a small box...
-
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Mon Feb 10, 2014 6:13 am
Re: Bluefruit EZ-Link as wireless serial cable
Nice work!
Would buy a package like this if awailable
Would buy a package like this if awailable
Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.