Connect Xbee to Pin 5 and 6 instead of Rx Tx- Solved!

Projects General Guidance
1

Hi. I tried already a lot, bought the books (wireless networks, Arduino etc.).
But not much success. Just built some Arduino projects.
I need to use the softserial but I seem to not find any simple forum post that covers it.
I want to hook the Xbees to Pin 5 and 6 because my Lilypad Simple Board has no Rx Tx pins.
http://proto-pic.co.uk/lilypad-arduino-simple-board/?gclid=CL6_2LDMmbACFcshtAodpGq7Wg

I tried to use:

const int RXPin = 4;
const int TXPin = 5;
SoftwareSerial xbee  =SoftwareSerial(RXpin, TXpin);

and I get the error message:
sketch_may24h.cpp:4:1: error: ‘SoftwareSerial’ does not name a type
or
SoftSerial.h: No such file or directory

Can you show me a way (Code) to get my 2 Xbee series 2 to talk to each other?
And if you want to help me further:
The goal of the project is a piece of interactive jewellery for my college project.
If you push a button that's attached to Pin9 the other one's LED on Pin11 lights up.
Also I would like Pin10 to light up if the Arduino-Xbees are in range and not light up when out of range.
Thanks.

2

napok:
SoftSerial.h: No such file or directory

Seems to tell you the problem right there.

3

Thanks.
I have also tried the correct word SoftwareSerial.
This is the Code:

void setup() {                
const int RXPin = A5;
const int TXPin = A3;
SoftwareSerial xbee  =SoftwareSerial(RXpin, TXpin);
  Serial.begin(9600);
}

void loop()
{
  Serial.print('H');
  delay(1000);
  Serial.print('L');
  delay(1000);
}

Then the error:
In function ‘void setup()’:
7:1: error: ‘SoftwareSerial’ was not declared in this scope
7:16: error: expected ‘;’ before ‘xbee'
When I leave it away no error occurs:

void setup() {                
const int RXPin = A5;
const int TXPin = A3;
  Serial.begin(9600);
}

void loop()
{
  Serial.print('H');
  delay(1000);
  Serial.print('L');
  delay(1000);
}

but, does it then make the pins A5 and A3 Rx and Tx at all?
I have connected the Xbees with the so-called Lilypad Xbee,

but I might need an Xbee Adapter to access the Xbees beforehand, right?
Or could I modify the Lilypad Xbee breakoutboard maybe in conjunction
with the FTDI Basic from Sparkfun?

The Xbees 2 do need pairing first, right?
Thanks so much for your help!

4

I had to change the pins from 4 and 5 to A5 and A3, because there is no pin 4 on the Lilypad Simple Board...
God, I wish I had just bought the regular Lilypad with its RxTx!

5

Notice the differences in the example code:

SoftwareSerial mySerial(10, 11); // RX, TX

void setup()  {
...
}

versus

void setup() {                
...
SoftwareSerial xbee  =SoftwareSerial(RXpin, TXpin);
}
6

I understand.
It has to be declared above. This doesn't produce an error any more.
So would this work now?
In order to check it, I need to read the
serial of the other Xbee now, right?

#include <SoftwareSerial.h>

const int RXPin = A5;
const int TXPin = A3;

SoftwareSerial xbee = SoftwareSerial(RXPin, TXPin);

void setup()
{                
  Serial.begin(9600);
  xbee.begin(9600);
}

void loop()
{
  xbee.print('H');
  delay(1000);
  xbee.print('L');
  delay(1000);
}
7 
SoftwareSerial xbee = SoftwareSerial(RXPin, TXPin);

Can be shortened:

SoftwareSerial xbee (RXPin, TXPin);
8

Thanks.

9

Hi again.
Now I tried it out -
to read out of my SoftwareSerial via simple wire into another Arduino (both Lilypad Simple) and get the other one to blink Led13.
I have connected Rx on the sender to Tx on the receiver and vice versa.
I have given both a nice Lipo 3.7 W that lights everything properly usually.
It doesn't work.
So, if the other Arduino doesn't get the read via cable, it won't print it into the Xbee when I hook it onto that pair of pins later, right?
What have I done wrong-still?

#include <SoftwareSerial.h>

const int RXPin = A5;              // setting the pin to RX
const int TXPin = A3;              // setting the pin to TX

SoftwareSerial xbee (RXPin, TXPin);// defining the new serial name

void setup()
{                
  xbee.begin(9600);
}

void loop()
{
  xbee.print('H');                  // send the letter H out
  delay(1000);                      // wait for one second
  xbee.print('L');                  // send the letter L out
  delay(1000);                      // wait for one second
}

#include <SoftwareSerial.h>

const int RXPin = A5;        // change the pin into the RX
const int TXPin = A3;        // change the pin into the TX
int ledPin = 13;

SoftwareSerial xbee (RXPin, TXPin);//naming the new serial

void setup()
{
  pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT);   //initialize the digital pin as output
  xbee.begin(9600);
}

void loop()
{
  if (xbee.read() == 'H')
  digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH);// set the LED on
  delay(1000);               // wait for a second
  digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW); // turn the LED off
  delay(1000);               // wait for a second
}
10

Hi again.
If anyone still wants to help me.
Here are 2 photos how I have wired the two Arduinos Simple Boards.
Imgur

11

It´s the Linux Arduino!
Thanks everyone!
I went on a windows pc and it worked perfectly.
Somehow the Linux version Arduino 1.01 that I had no
problems programming other Arduino stuff with, has
a problem with the SoftwareSerial. It doesn't understand: write and available.
Its now only a minor nuissance but: Does anyone have an idea how to use a Linux Notebook with SoftwareSerial now? Otherwise I have to sneak into my sons room and use his Microsoft Computer...