The RF tab provides a method for updating the Garcia's RF modem settings.  It is only applicable if you have a Garcia with the wireless option.

The RF tab as it appears in Windows

The "Init Link" Button

Before using any of the other functions in this pane, you must connect your robot's spare serial port to your computer using the serial interface kit that came with your robot.  This button lets you create a serial link via the spare serial port.  When the link is established, the baud rate box will display the current baud rate of the robot's main GP processor.

The "Read RF" Button

This button lets you read the current baud rate and channel number of the wireless module.

To read the data, you must hold down the "RF Program" inside the robot.  It's located near the front end of the battery.  While holding down the button in the robot, click the "Read RF" button in the application.  Continue pushing the "RF Program" button.  The status bar at the bottom of the window will update as the data is read.  Once the data has been retrieved, the channel box will be updated.

The "write RF" Button

This button lets you write a new baud rate and channel number to the wireless module.  The new baud rate will also be applied to the GP processor.

Use the dropdown boxes to pick from the available set of baud rates and channels.  To write new data, you must first remove the EEPROM lock.  Then hold down the "RF Program" inside the robot.  While holding down the button in the robot, click the "Write RF" button in the application.  Continue pushing the "RF Program" button.  The status bar at the bottom of the window will update as the data is written.  The status bar will let you know when the operation is complete.

The "Write RF" operation also writes some default parameters to the RF module.  These parameters are discussed in the "Wireless Serial" page of the "Setup" section in the Garcia Reference.

The "Set GP" Button

Sometimes the baud rate of the wireless module and the baud rate of the robot's main GP processor may get out of sync.  This will be the case when a brand new RF module is installed in a Garcia.  The default baud rate of a new RF module is 57600.  You can use the "Set GP" button to assign a baud rate of 57600 to the GP processor.  Then you can use the "Read RF" operation to read the settings of the RF module.  Once that is done, you can write your own settings with the "Write RF" operation.