Raptorex writes:
So i can have a constantly updating screen.
What sort of screen would you be thinking of ?
There are other options as well.
You could write a small program to do this on a computer to do this, a laptop might be ideal if you need some sort of portability.
The program could be written in C or C++ or maybe even simpler, write it in Python. There are many examples for Python, with communicating with the serial port, even here on the forums.
Another option I have used myself is to use a Redlion Graphite HMI panel.
These are not necessarily a cheap unit, but have over 300 communication protocols built in.
The Redlion Graphite can also have user function code which allows you to do some pretty interesting things as well.
If your idea is to use a small LCD on the Arduino, then that is a viable way to go too.
You could use a simple character based LCD, say like a 20x4, which is 20 characters by 4 lines.
Also, there are nice pixel based LCDs, and I use these on various projects, but in these situations I prefer to use a DUE rather that AVR Arduino boards, primarily as the DUE has DMA and that speeds up the update of these type of screens.
Sounds like an interesting project.
Be sure to take a look into Python.
Paul - VK7KPA