Talking RN1

[viper1]

I saw the Article in ROBOT's magazine about Adding a sound chip and speaker to RN1 and using ERX and TRX commands to call up different wav files that you program into the chip. I am very interested in doing this, but I am very new to all of this but yet very ambitious and willing to learn as much as I can. I bought the Quadravox progammer and soun chip. But the Article was a little vague on how to do this. I got the updated QV606m1 with 32meg mem. What im not sure about is: Will I need to add the extra circuit the article mentions such as the voltage regulator and cap?
Also I imagine I wouldnir be able to use bluetooth if the ERX and ETX are being used by the sound chip????

[Humanoido]

viper1 wrote

Also I imagine I wouldnir be able to use bluetooth if the ERX and ETX are being used by the sound chip????

Normally you would not use both on the same port. However, there are ways to use one and switch off the other if you want to get into it. However, I have a speech board in a prototype breadboard circuit on another controller. That way, full text sentences can be sent over to the chip instead of character by character when using the ERX ETX lines, and it does not tie up the RN controller.

humanoido

[Pev]

Also I imagine I wouldnir be able to use bluetooth if the ERX and ETX are being used by the sound chip????

The RN-1 does only have one serial port so if your Voice Module is serial and you want to use bluetooth you are into a bigger issue. So basically you are right it is either/or unless you fancy designing something to switch each unit as Humanoido suggested, or maybe send it all via a second processor which could sort out what needs to go to the voice and what needs to go to the bluetooth

I really must have another go at the I2C interface that KurtE posted about ages ago as there are pleanty od I2C devices including voice modules available.

Pev

[Humanoido]

Here's an example of a microcontroller that has I2C built in.

http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=BS2P24-IC

It also has a 40 pin version for more I/O.

humanoido

[viper1]

Well Im prob just gonna leave the bluetooth physically installed and just connect it when I want to use it. I also have the R/C rcvr attached and connect.
Does it hurt anything to have the Rcvr hooked up when I dont have the code for it loaded? Lets say im using Bluetooth and have the code for it loaded on the MR3024, Is it ok to have the rcvr still attached and connected? even though there isnt code installed to run it? same for gyro or anything else thats connected but not being used?

[Pev]

Does it hurt anything to have the Rcvr hooked up when I dont have the code for it loaded? Lets say im using Bluetooth and have the code for it loaded on the MR3024, Is it ok to have the rcvr still attached and connected? even though there isnt code installed to run it? same for gyro or anything else thats connected but not being used?

Hi Viper1,

Honest answer is I don't know but wouldn't think so, might be worth just setting up the ports even if you don't use them to stop floating signals being an issue. For the RC ports just do a

CH1 = RCIN(1)
CH2 = RCIN(2)
CH3 = RCIN(3)
CH4 = RCIN(5)

etc so the port knows what it is doing but that may not even be needed.

Do remember that everything connected will be drawing power so you won't be maximising your Battery Life

Pev

[Pev]

Here's an example of a microcontroller that has I2C built in.

http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=BS2P24-IC

It also has a 40 pin version for more I/O.

humanoido

Just about all the Amtel AVR processors have I2C either as hardware TWI or a soft I2C. And a lot of other can act as I2C masters too like the Basic X24. It is a useful interface but as always it is not the answer to every issue

Pev

[Humanoido]

Pev, you got that right! There's no one answer to every issue. I'm going nuts with half my boards wanting digital and sending digital pulses and the Robonova wants analog. My Mesmic accelerometer is useless on the hitec board, and I haven't looked into using the PING))).

humanoido

[viper1]

Ok Iv'e got the quadrovox board all programmed and Wired up to my RN1
Now im unsure about the baud rate, Is the mr3024 set to 2400? Is it adjustable? I could not find anything about the baud rate in the mr3024 specs.

Another thing is the speaker. I found a really small 8 ohm speaker that fits perfectly inside the chestplate, but its not very loud. I think its .25 watts Does anyone know if there is a louder speaker the same size thats 8 ohms?

[viper1]

Im also confused on where to put the code mentioned inthe "ROBOT" Article. Can u just plug it in anywhere you want the sound to be played? This is the code Does this look rite? And Can I type it in just above a GOSUB Routine to have it play the file as he executes the movements?

DIM sy AS BYTE
Sy = 10 ' Whatever the sound file number to be played
ETX 2400, sy