Communications with a PC

Projects General Guidance
1

I have an application where I would like to use an Arduino. The Arduino needs digital I/O and analog inputs. I would write a program to run in the Arduino that accepts commands from the PC and then sends back data upon request. There would be a dedicated program on the PC to handle that end. I have thought of two possibilities for the communication: Ethernet and serial. I do not know which would be easiest. I would appreciate any thoughts on this.

2

In my opinion serial is much easier than any of the network stuff for wired communication.

The serial input basics tutorial is a good intro to serial comms on Arduino.

There would be a dedicated program on the PC to handle that end.

What language would you use for that?

3

This Simple Python - Arduino demo may be of interest.

The Python code should work on Windows if you edit it to use the Windows style of COM ports.

...R

4

Serial is easier. As long as you can have the PC close to the Arduino.

5

Thank you all for the quick responses. I also was thinking that serial would be easier, but I was not sure. The PC will be quite close to the Arduino. Right now I am thinking of using PureBasic in the PC. It looks like it would be quite easy to create a GUI as well as handle the serial comms.

6

k3pto:
Thank you all for the quick responses. I also was thinking that serial would be easier, but I was not sure. The PC will be quite close to the Arduino. Right now I am thinking of using PureBasic in the PC. It looks like it would be quite easy to create a GUI as well as handle the serial comms.

Remember to allow time for the Arduino to reset after your PC opens the serial port.

Paul

7

Paul_KD7HB:
Remember to allow time for the Arduino to reset after your PC opens the serial port.

Or break the "RESET-EN" link (and fit a jumper to it).

8

Hi,
Serial comms and a IDE called Processing.
Processing will give you a GUI interface.

google arduino and processing

Tom... :slight_smile:

9

Look up Firmata.

10

Paul_KD7HB:
Remember to allow time for the Arduino to reset after your PC opens the serial port.

Paul__B:
Or break the "RESET-EN" link (and fit a jumper to it).

If you open the port correctly (without activating DTR), there is no need for that. E.g. RealTerm has that option and it's easy to implement in C# (and C++ as well if not mistaken, not sure if I tried).