Problems with Standard Firmata and Digitalpin13

Forum 2005-2010 (read only) Software Syntax & Programs
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Im having a problem that I think would be best posted here. I thought initially it was a problem with hardware, but Ive concluded with the help of Grumpy_Mike and retrolefty that it is something that I need to dig into with the Firmata. Thats why Im posting here...I hope this post doesn`t simply turn up grumblers about the redundancy of postings.....you can check my other posting at
http://www.arduino.cc/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1295454138
Basically the problem is this--

I have two arduinos(ArduinoA and ArduinoB). One (ArduinoA) is connected to the computer using a serial connection, the other (ArduinoB) is connected to ArduinoA using pins 12 and 13. Pins 13 on ArduinoA and ArduinoB are connected by a single wire.

I am having difficulty with the StandardFirmata configuring the ArduinoA to read the digitalpin13 as an input. It seems in the StandardFirmata that this pin is dedicated for the onboard LED that is connected to pin 13 with a 1k resistor. ArduinoB is definately programmed to make digitalpin13 write the pin to high based on certain variables.....but ArduinoA is simply not picking them up. Pin12 is functioning fine directly between both arduinos...hmmmm.....(scratching head here)

Can someone help me debug the StandardFirmata and remove this dedication to the onboard LED associated with pin 13 so I can get this pin dedicated as an input unhindered by the typical StandardFirmata associations to it?

I would post the code for the Arduino StandardFirmata...but I think I would rather save webspace than clutter. One can find it under version 2.1 in the arduino interface. I can post it if someone can help and would find that by posting it it would facilitate an open dialogue.

Help is appreciated,
arduiYES

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Which Arduino is running StandardFirmata? Pin 13 has a resistor integrated with it. It is generally advised not to use pin 13 as an input pin because of the resistor.

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ArduinoA is running the standard firmata PaulS.
I was thinking to clip the led....but have been guided to
the deduction that the problem lay in the programming.

What do you think? shall/should I simply clip the led connected to pin 13 and then go from there? or could it be a problem with the standard firmata declarations thereof?

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Which Arduino is running StandardFirmata? Pin 13 has a resistor integrated with it. It is generally advised not to use pin 13 as an input pin because of the resistor.

This is a follow on post on the same issue that the OP posted elsewhere.

Pin 13 can be used as a input pin as long as the driving signal has the current capacity to pull the pin high which would also turn the led on for the receiving board. As this is a 5ma total load and the source signal was coming from a Arduino output pin, both Grump-Mike and I told the OP to look for a software reason it wasn't working for him.

Lefty

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  1. What is the strong attraction to pin 13?

I also see no need to use firmata... so sorry, I can't help with that.