Sending data from PICAxe to PC

[manutdfan2004]

Have not used PIC's for about two years now so I have forgotten most of their capabilities and interfacing, basically I have just started on a new project where I need data from pressure and directional sensors to be fed into my PC. I did a quick search of the forums but couldn't seem to find anything suitable.

I was thinking I could use a PIC linked using bluetooth at first but all these devices seem fairly pricey, the data doesn't need to be processed it can simply be sent raw to the PC. I was wondering if it would be possible to use the device below and rig up a circuit to receive the data and transmit it to the serial port of the PC.


http://uk.farnell.com/1304024/electrical-circuit-protection/product.us0?sku=QUASAR-QAM-TX1&_requestid=259754

The range is not too important as long as it will work in the same room and preferably not interfere with other devices as I need the data to be accurate.

Thanks for your time, any ideas would be gratefully received

 

[bgrabowski]

I am currently working on Picaxe-based wireless 'telemetry' for my maze-solving micromouse. I use a cheap Maplins 433 MHz RxTx pair. The transmitter (a Picaxe 18X) sends bytes of serial data using the Serout command to the Tx unit. This is wirelessly received by the Rx unit which is connected to a Picaxe 18X pcb which is linked to the PC with a USB-to-serial adaptor and a normal Picaxe download cable.

The PC operating system is XP. I use Visual Basic 6 with the MSComm control activated to receive the data. I do not believe this would work with Vista. I only require the separation between the Rx and Tx units to be about 5m max but the range I get is much better than this with unobstructed line of sight.

I use the wireless serial data protocol published by Hippy several years ago at a T600 baudrate. The Rx Picaxe communicates with the PC using the Sertxd command at 9600 baud by using Setfreq M8.

The current (August 08) Everyday Practical Electronics magazine has a helpful article about using the MSComm control.

 

[manutdfan2004]

Excellent sounds like an intresting project you are working on, thanks a lot for the pointers will have a look over the info.

Cheers again

 

[noycesd]

Hi, the transmitter you have can indeed be linked to a picaxe, I have a couple that are the same. Connection is fairly straight forward and the range is reasonable. The matching recivers are also a good price.

Si

 

[moxhamj]

Do it in stages. Get a PC talking to a picaxe first. http://www.instructables.com/id/Control-real-world-devices-with-your-PC/

Then get picaxes talking to each other via wireless: http://picaxe.orconhosting.net.nz/433rpt.jpg (thanks stan!)

These are projects that cost less than $20. And you have complete control about how it all works.

Then you can log the data http://www.instructables.com/id/Automate-your-science-experiments/

And send it longer distances via wireless http://www.instructables.com/id/Build-a-500-metre-radio-data-link-for-under-40./