What's the easiest way to connect my bare bones arduino project to my pc to be able to send and receive data via serial or USB that I can use in a vb program.
My board is performing temp logging and I want to retrieve it and display it in my web server. I also want to be able to send string patterns that will trigger functions on the logger such as resetting the real time clock or reading data from EEPROM.
I am logging right now using VB.NET 2010 and an arduino dumilenove conected via USB.
I use a serial object to connect to the correct serial port, once connected I read a CSV line from the serial (I usually proceed with $ for info ^ for data line etc), then use a thread to triger if any serial info is recieved! fairly simple, I can give the code, its not the best but it graphs my 3 variables, has a log window showing all input and output to the logger.
Also I added buttons to set the RTC to system time and clear windows etc!
Hi Squiggler
The offer of code to browse through / help me is always welcome.
My real lack of understanding is with how to connect my bare bones board that does not have the USB to bread board arduino connection as it has the bare components to run the project.
I was looking for advice on how to make the connection. So far investigation has turned up either
1)USB cable with FTDI built in
2)RS232 chip in the project
3)USB breakout board from Sparkfun etc.
Am i right in thinking an FTDI cable will allow me to connect to the breadboard arduino if i create the right header to use the serial ports and allow me to program the chip using the IDE like I do with my Duemilanove as well as using it for communication.