COM message reception - Garbage data

I have installed the Arduino software to install the driver for USB/COM port. Only installing the driver doesn't work.
I have COM3 created when connected to the USB port and Arduino Uno (Starter Kit).
I'm receiving garbage from the COM port instead of 123456XX that I'm sending.
I used this with another project and a pure COM port and it works.
The Serial Monitor display the strings correctly.

Is there a protocol that I'm not aware of?

Data received: xf ... and a couple of non-printable characters

Technical data:
macOs with a MacBook Pro 2014-mid.
Parallel Desktop
Windows 7 Ultimate (French)
Visual Studio 2010 C#

LucSkywalker:
I have installed the Arduino software to install the driver for USB/COM port.
Is there a protocol that I'm not aware of?

There is no need to install a driver for that port. It sounds like you are trying to use software serial on the hardware serial port. If so, don't.

The serial monitor can only be used on hardware serial. If you want to use a proper terminal programme on PC, same thing - hardware serial.

If you need to use an additional serial device on the Uno, that is the time to consider software serial.

I'm not sure I understand your point.

I have to install the software COM port in order to use it in Arduino IDE and to have a COM port available. I'm trying to communicate with it with C# (Visual Studio 2010) in a Windows Environment (with Parallel Desktop Virtualization - So Windows runs in a virtual environment). Usually, I don't have a problem with COM project. This one (Arduino) cause me to receive bad data. So I don't know how to receive directly from the COM port. It works well with the serial monitor that connect on that port.

So I wish I could have more precise instructions / directions or be able to construct a proof of concept - Which I'm not able at the moment.

I hope my point is clear enough. I welcome any help provided.

LucSkywalker:
I have to install the software COM port in order to use it in Arduino IDE and to have a COM port available.

It sounds like you don't understand anything about PCs at all.

You don't have to install any software to have the Arduino Uno communicate with SoftwareSerial.

However, you do have to install a driver if you are using a USB-Serial port adapter. That driver is provided by the hardware manufacturer.

.

Oh - What do I know - I just have a Bachelor in Computer Science.

In Windows 7, it fails to install natively. So please guide me with useful links into how to do so since COM port is not installed as long as I don't install the Arduino IDE (which is the only way I found to install the serial port - Driver install). The other installation methods (driver only) failed.

Do I use directly the USB port? I'm not using a converter. I'm using the USB port provided by the Arduino UNO board. It is readable by Serial Monitor. But garbage in C# serial port readout.

At the moment, the only way I see to be able to do it is to look at the java source code of serial monitor - Which force me to learn also that "process" application which I don't know yet. It would take a lots of time and I wish I'm not forced to pass through that.

I know I'm missing something - Just want to find out what it is - But by the reply I get, I don't see it happening yet. I checked stuff on the net but it doesn't give me the answer yet. I can't figure out from the answer I got yet.

Just want to be respectful by the way.

So useful links - video - guide are welcome.

If serial monitor in windows works, your C# application in windows should also be able to connect without additional drivers.

LucSkywalker:
Oh - What do I know - I just have a Bachelor in Computer Science.

Many of us here do have 4-year degrees in Engineering or Computer Science.

And yes, your questions show a lack of knowledge.

.

LucSkywalker:
In Windows 7, it fails to install natively.

What fails to install natively?

The driver for the Arduino. Likely if you have a board with the CH340 chip.
Who knows?

I have Arduino Unos purchased on eBay and no extra driver was needed.

Only you would know what is what since we can't see which IC your Arduino has!

.

I tried to install the Windows 7 driver. Windows doesn't seem to find the file when I unzip it in a directory and look for it by directory. I don't understand why. But I was able to install it correctly by installing the Arduino IDE that includes the driver. And the driver I tried to install does say CH340 chip in the directory.

Well - I'm happy to know (previous answers) that it is supposed to work as is. It will prevent me from learning all that Java code.

Just don't know after trying why the port is giving garbage in C#. I have 19.2k - 8bits - No Handshake / No Parity - 1 stop bit.

Thank's for all the help by the way - I'm still searching for that magical answer that will make it works :wink:

LucSkywalker:
Oh - What do I know - I just have a Bachelor in Computer Science.

Jeez, I hope your mother doesn't find that out by reading this thread. You clearly don't know what you are doing.

Indeed though, your posts are such incoherent tecnobabble that I don't believe you have a degree in computer science. About the only sensible thing you have said is this

I have COM3 created when connected to the USB port and Arduino Uno (Starter Kit).

which clearly implies that everything is installed correctly and works - including the USB cable. You have installed your Uno just like everybody else does.

The only clear indication of a problem is

Data received: xf ... and a couple of non-printable characters

which implies either

  1. Mismatched baud rate between monitor and Arduino's Serial.begin command, or
  2. Using software serial on the hardware serial port, i.e. trying to send data to serial monitor via software serial.
    If you are using just one Arduino and the serial monitor, I don't think you even need to know which COM port you are using, much less install one, and this

I have to install the software COM port in order to use it in Arduino IDE

is complete nonsense.
If you want to use some other programme, like a proper terminal, you still don't need to "install the software COM port" but you do need to know which COM port Arduino is already on. All you need do is ensure Arduino is plugged in and and then check that in the PC device manager - no "computer science degree" required.

K I found what it was.
I forgot to check the baud rate between the program on the board and the programming in C#.

Big thank's for all the help here :slight_smile:

Luc