I have a project where I want to use a PICAXE as a dumb terminal interface to an application on a PC which controls an optical drive. The control commands are simply "P" for play or "S" for stop which I would like to instigate from a PICAXE remote control using infra red. Mode and track status, requested by the PICAXE approximately twice a second using a "M" or "T", will be received as a serial string ending with a null byte then the appropriate bytes will be displayed on a serial LCD.
My problems are mainly knowing which PICAXE to select and how to handle the serial status input.
The problem with the chip is the serial speed needed for the PC is 9600, the serial display 2400 and the infra red input where I intend to use irin [400,main]etc.
The problem with the serial input string is that I have never done anything with serial input and am not sure where to put a string of up to 14 bytes and if I can just buffer the string then look for the null byte or if there is time to check for it as the string goes in.
I did start to program this before going into hospital three weeks ago for a major (10 hour!) operation and am just starting to think about it again but don't have the concentration span at the moment so any help to get me started in the right direction would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Bob
My problems are mainly knowing which PICAXE to select and how to handle the serial status input.
The problem with the chip is the serial speed needed for the PC is 9600, the serial display 2400 and the infra red input where I intend to use irin [400,main]etc.
The problem with the serial input string is that I have never done anything with serial input and am not sure where to put a string of up to 14 bytes and if I can just buffer the string then look for the null byte or if there is time to check for it as the string goes in.
I did start to program this before going into hospital three weeks ago for a major (10 hour!) operation and am just starting to think about it again but don't have the concentration span at the moment so any help to get me started in the right direction would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Bob