Wireless Serial

Note:

The Wireless serial feature is only available on Garcia robots with the RF-Serial option installed. This document descibes the configuration of this device, not TCP/IP links, 802.11b, or other wireless options for Garcia.

Overview

A very convenient means of hosting the Garcia API is to use a workstation or laptop as a base station and communicate using the RF-Serial option. This option offers very reliable two-way serial communications over a wireless connection that looks to the robot and the host computer like a plain serial wire link. These RF-Serial connections can be used in close proximity to other such devices with no cross-talk or interference as the underlying commmunication is done with spread-spectrum and frequency hopping methods to ensure great results with multiple simultaneous connections. Each serial link is between a small base station that plugs into the host computer's serial port and the installed RF-Serial module in the Garcia robot. Pairs of base station and robot can be assigned a specific channel (0-97) to allow multiple units to run simultaneously in a contained space.

Defaults

When assembled and tested, your Garcia is assigned the optimal RF-Serial settings for use in autonomous mobile robotics. The default baudrate is 38400 and the default channel is 0. These are the settings that will be applied to the RF module installed in a Garcia with the RF-Serial option. If you have more than one robot in an order, each robot will be given a unique channel to allow simultaneous operation.

The Aerocomm website has software and documentation for the serial modules used in the Garcia robots. The ConnexLink program may be used to perform the tasks described below.

Note:

There are two versions of the ConnexLink software: one for modules with buttons and one for modules without buttons. Check the bottom of your base station to see if it has buttons then download the appropriate version.

Reading Modem Settings

Click the "Settings" button.
Select the current baud rate of the module, point-to-point mode, and a matching COM port for your connection. New modules ship with a 57600 baud rate.
(If you have a module with buttons, hold down program button.) Click the "Read Radio" button.

Configuring a Server

Set Server.
Set Baud Rate = 38400.
Set Max Transmit Attempts = 8.
Set Broadcast Attempts = 4.
Set Channel Number (default 0, otherwise it depends on user).
Set Packet Length = 32.
Set Interface Timeout = 0.
Set System ID = 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Set Transparent mode with no other options.
Hit "Write Radio" and follow prompts.
Toggle power on modem (or hit reset button if available) to enable new settings.

Configuring a Client

Set Client.
Set Baud Rate = 38400.
Set Max Transmit Attempts = 8.
Set Channel Number (must match Server).
Set Packet Length = 32.
Set Interface Timeout = 0.
Set System ID = 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Set Transparent mode with no other options.
Hit "Write Radio" and follow prompts.
Toggle power on modem (or hit reset button if available) to enable new settings.

version: 1.0, build 91231