bluesmirf gold and mechpuppeteer problems

[Kilroym42]

Hello everyone,
I just got my bluesmirf gold today and I hooked it up using this setup.

http://www.theoddrobot.com/images/Robonova_v05.jpg

I uploaded the Mech Puppeteer bluetooth Bas file from Matts web site.
I get a green link light on the BlueSmurf gold but when I try using pupeteer
nothing happens.
If I press a button on Puppeteer the tx light on the program will go green for a sec. put my RN just sits there.
any help would be great.
I've looked all over the forum but I'm coming up blank.

[Kilroym42]

I really need some help here.
It looks like the pc and the bluesmirf link but no cmd are getting throu.
is there some way I can test what is going on.

[MadDogJoe]

Have you verified that the com port that mech puppeteer is using is the one currently assigned to your bluetooth on your pc?

You can find out which com port is being used by the bluetooth by checking the link in windows. I don't use mech puppeteer, but I would assume that Matt would have a place for you to select the correct com port.

Just a guess though.

MadDog Joe

[BillB]

I don't know what if there is much difference between the regular BlueSmirf and the Bluesmirf Gold (they look the same). But on my Bluesmirf the LED goes [color=red]red[/color] when it is connected. I know if I have not successfully connected if the LED is still [color=green]green[/color].

Things to check:
- Has the PC and the Bluesmirf been paired?
- Are you using the correct COM port (sometimes there is a separate outbound and and inbound ports).
- The default baud rate for the Bluesmirf is 9600. So try this. Once connected you can change the baud of the Bluesmirf.

[Kilroym42]

I checked the com port and tried changing the port for the bluetooth.
It's not just MechPupeteer I can't get any bluetooth program to work.
I even tried BioBluepc.
How can I verify that my RN is getting the CMD from the blueTooth.
Can I test this out with Hyperterm.
Bluetooth was the one thing I really wanted to use with my RN so any help woulld be great.

[Kilroym42]

On my bluesmirf it flashes red until it connects then it turns green
My pc showes that they are connected and I'm on the the com port that my pc has of my bluetooth.
How can I can I change my bluesmirf's baud rate?
When I go into Hyperterm it shows me connected and the led on my bluesmirf turns green but I can't type anything in.
I have not used hyperterm before I'm I doing somthing wrong?

[BillB]

First step is to confirm that your really is connected to the Bluesmirf so try this:
http://www.abotics.com/abe_setup_bluesmirf.pdf
It explains how to set up the hyperterm, get into the bluesmirf command mode and change the baud, device name etc.

If you successfully get into the command mode and can change the baud etc. then your PC to Bluetooth connection is OK and your problem is either with the physical connection of the Bluesmirf to Robot or the program that your Robot is running. But best confirm that the Bluesmirf is connected to the PC first.

[BillB]

Kilroym42 - I have Just looked at the photo of your Bluesmirf. I have permanently hard wired the RTS and CTS pins together on my robot. If you continue to have problems then you may want to consider connecting/soldering these pins together as well.

[Kilroym42]

Thanks alot BillB
You put me on the right path.
The Bluesmirf gold uses a differnt CMD set than the older Bluesmirf.
for example on the older one you have to type in +++ to get in the CMD mode but with the blue smirf gold it's $$$.
Anyway after I got in to the bluesmirf's CMD mode I found my problem,
the gold's defualt baud rate is 115200 and I had all my software and bluetooth set to 9600.
So I changed the Bluesmirf to 9600 and now everything works great.
Thanks again for all of your help.