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[on:]

Hi

New to Arduino, I'm working on an idea that will allow control of the arduino from an online webpage.  So if I understand correctly something like:

html/Javascript -> PHP -> Arduino Duemilanove

I know the first two steps (html/Javascript and PHP) and the Arduino side is reasonably simple however I need the arduino to be able to connect to the internet wirelessly and this seems quite confusing due to the number of shields and their differences.  So far I've come up with:

Xbee wifi: http://www.digi.com/products/wireless-wired-embedded-solutions/zigbee-rf-modules/point-multipoint-rfmodules/xbee-wi-fi#overview

Arduino wi-fi shield: http://asynclabs.com/wiki/index.php?title=WiShield_1.0
http://asynclabs.com/store?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=29&category_id=6

Anaconda Wi-Fi Shield for Arduino: http://www.robotshop.com/eu/productinfo.aspx?pc=RB-Lin-31&lang=en-US

Copperhead Wi-Fi Shield for Arduino:
http://www.robotshop.com/eu/productinfo.aspx?pc=RB-Lin-39&lang=en-US

DFRobot Wi-Fi Shield for Arduino: http://www.robotshop.com/eu/productinfo.aspx?pc=RB-Dfr-132&lang=en-US

Arduino WiFly Shield (unprotected networks only so not a good option): http://www.coolcomponents.co.uk/catalog/arduino-wifly-shield-p-456.html

and finally an Ethernet shield connected to a linksys gaming adapter (but I believe this was a pre-Wi-Fi shield solution from the old forum).

and I'm finding more and more.  Can somebody advise which is appropriate for what I'm trying to do, is plug and play, ideally has a external aerial and is available from a supplier in the UK (or Europe)?

Thanks in advance
Garrett

[Reply #1 on:]

Hi Garrett!

Thank you for posting this, I am also new to the Arduino, and also confused regarding WiFi shields.

Planning to use the Mega version with WiFi for a project, but uncertain what WiFi shield to use.

Cheers
Joe

[Reply #2 on:]

I'd add the WiFly RN-XV to that list: http://www.sparkfun.com/products/10822.

All of the WiFly modules support WEP, WPA, and WPA2, including the more expensive RN-131 shield you posted.

[Reply #3 on:]

Hi

Ok so it's got an external antenna and I've found a uk based supplier but this isn't plug and play is it?  I need a shield, what do I need to connect it to a Duemilanove?

>All of the WiFly modules support WEP, WPA, and WPA2, including the more
>expensive RN-131 shield you posted.

Is this a comment about the note I had on unprotected networks?  I saw that on a forum - is it not true?

Thanks.
Garrett

[Reply #4 on:]

Hi

Ok so it's got an external antenna and I've found a uk based supplier but this isn't plug and play is it?  I need a shield, what do I need to connect it to a Duemilanove?

Yes you need an XBee shield for it.  Here's a few that would do: https://github.com/harlequin-tech/WiFlyHQ/wiki. Any XBee shield should work provided it has a correct solution for the 5V to 3.3V level translation on the DIN pin for the WiFly / XBee.

>All of the WiFly modules support WEP, WPA, and WPA2, including the more
>expensive RN-131 shield you posted.

Is this a comment about the note I had on unprotected networks?  I saw that on a forum - is it not true?

Yes that's a fabrication. The datasheet is probably a more reliable source of information.  Which forum gave you the misinformation?

Edit: Here's the RN-131 datasheet, same protected networks as the RN-XV: http://www.rovingnetworks.com/resources/download/11/RN_131

[Reply #5 on:]

Thanks for your advice, I've found both WiFly and Xbee shield.

WiFly: http://proto-pic.co.uk/rn-xv-wifly-module-sma-connector/
xbee shield: http://www.alpha-crucis.com/en/shields/72-xbee-shield-for-arduino-3700386600159.html

Seems much cheaper than some of the original solutions I had seen so I'm going to order these tomorrow.

Garrett

[Reply #6 on:]

I did this research before.

when choosing, always go with the most popular/widely used. And that appears to be wifly.

get the wifly on xbee footprint. like this
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/10822
or this
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/10822
I think it is exactly the same as your first link. UK prices seems really high.

For the adapter, make sure you get one with actual level converter (5v to 3.3v) chip, like this
https://www.adafruit.com/products/126

some just use a resistor voltage divider to convert 5v to 3.3v.

Anyway, I ended up not using wifi for ethernet, because cost becomes prohibitively high.
You can get a decent ethernet shield on ebay for as low as $15 shipped. Then just add a wireless router like this for $24 shipped.
http://www.tp-link.us/products/details/?categoryid=241&model=TL-WR702N

[Reply #7 on:]

Hi!

Been looking at the links posted, learning something new everyday, thanks to the posters! 

But what (and do pretend you are talking to a less than stellar part of the human community  )

- If cost was no problem.

- A shield fitting the Mega.

- A somewhat mature/stable library

...what would you recommend?

Cheers
E-Joe

[Reply #8 on:]

when choosing, always go with the most popular/widely used. And that appears to be wifly.

Good to know, I was worried about examples and finding support if this was complex.

For the adapter, make sure you get one with actual level converter (5v to 3.3v) chip, like this
https://www.adafruit.com/products/126

What's the adaptor for?  I thought it was: Duemilanove -> xBee Shield -> WiFly
Is there something else that needs to be in there?

Garrett

[Reply #9 on:]

For the adapter, make sure you get one with actual level converter (5v to 3.3v) chip, like this
https://www.adafruit.com/products/126

What's the adaptor for?  I thought it was: Duemilanove -> xBee Shield -> WiFly
Is there something else that needs to be in there?

Yes you are correct, you just need the shield and the WiFly RN-XV. Resistor voltage dividers for 5V to 3.3V are fine. The diode solution on the sparkfun XBee shield is an example of a broken solution that does not work.

The shield you ordered looks like the same one from DFRobot. I have one and it works, although it reboots the arduino whenever the WiFly reboots, and I cut off pins 0 and 1 and soldered a couple of jumper wires to them so I could connect them to other pins (8 and 9) to use software serial.

[Reply #10 on:]

Yes you are correct, you just need the shield and the WiFly RN-XV. Resistor voltage dividers for 5V to 3.3V are fine. The diode solution on the sparkfun XBee shield is an example of a broken solution that does not work.

Sorry panicky I bought the wrong one.

The shield you ordered looks like the same one from DFRobot. I have one and it works, although it reboots the arduino whenever the WiFly reboots, and I cut off pins 0 and 1 and soldered a couple of jumper wires to them so I could connect them to other pins (8 and 9) to use software serial.

Same code so I hope so.  Thanks for reassurance.

Garrett

[Reply #11 on:]

I've suggested this several times already in other threads. You can just use a standard Ethernet shield with its widely used library and then connect a little pocket router to it. For example a TP-Link tp wr702n.
Still pretty mobile and not more expensive than most of the WiFi shields. But with the BIG advantage of being able to use the Arduino Ethernet Library out of the box.

It works very nicely in my project, which utilizes two other libraries that themselves use the the Ethernet Library (Bonjour, and ArdOSC).

[Reply #12 on:]

What he said ... I use Asus 330gE transceivers, which are 30 pounds (this
is in the UK) instead of the 70 or so which is the cheapest 802.11g shield
I can find.  They have a pretty good range, and simply plug into the
Ethernet connection; as a transceiver they don't take much power.

They can also act as a base station, as well, but I haven't looked at that.

Will