serial communication noob simple question!

Projects Programming
1

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

void loop()
{
while(Serial.available() == 0);

int y = Serial.read() - '0' ;
serial.println(y);
}
if i start serial monitor i can just send the numbers 0-9 and get the same back from the arduino how do i modify this so i can write 10 and get 10 back? or 24 and get 24 back?

2

You are right. It is a simple question. One that is asked about three times a week. Spend some time searching and trying to figure this out yourself.

The key is that serial data is sent just like you pounded the keys - one letter at a time.

The problem will be telling 120, on the Arduino from 12. What marks the end of the packet?

3

hmmm i dont know if i really understand i dont need to modify the program? just end it with a 0?

4

i dont know if i really understand

You don't.

i dont need to modify the program?

Yes, you do.

just end it with a 0?

End what? How would that help?

The point was that the Arduino is reading a stream of data from the serial port. It is just like you reading what I am typing. Notice,though,thatwhenItypeImakeiteasyforyoubyusingseparatorsbetweenpacketssoyoucaneasilyseewhereapacketstartsandends.

You'll need to provide some way, on the sending end, for the Arduino to know when it has received a complete packet. Only when that happens should the Arduino try to understand what it has received.

Here is some code that lets you send <12> or <120> or <47> using the serial monitor. The Arduino will then read all the data between the start of packet marker (<) and the end of packet marker (>), and store that data in an array.

#define SOP '<'
#define EOP '>'

bool started = false;
bool ended = false;

char inData[80];
byte index;

void setup()
{
   Serial.begin(57600);
   // Other stuff...
}

void loop()
{
  // Read all serial data available, as fast as possible
  while(Serial.available() > 0)
  {
    char inChar = Serial.read();
    if(inChar == SOP)
    {
       index = 0;
       inData[index] = '\0';
       started = true;
       ended = false;
    }
    else if(inChar == EOP)
    {
       ended = true;
       break;
    }
    else
    {
      if(index < 79)
      {
        inData[index] = inChar;
        index++;
        inData[index] = '\0';
      }
    }
  }

  // We are here either because all pending serial
  // data has been read OR because an end of
  // packet marker arrived. Which is it?
  if(started && ended)
  {
    // The end of packet marker arrived. Process the packet

    // Reset for the next packet
    started = false;
    ended = false;
    index = 0;
    inData[index] = '\0';
  }
}

Where it says "Process the packet", inData will contain everything that you typed between the < and the >. You can then print that, or convert it to an int, or whatever.