[Solved] Writing data to PC serial port

Projects Programming
1

I've got a project I"m working on which currently writes its output to the serial monitor and it works well.

I now want to write the data to the serial port on the PC so I can record it.
I've connected up a FT232L (RX Pin) to the Arduino TX(1), connected the FT232L to my PC via USB and its picked it up as COM9.

Then I've run RealTerm and setup COM9/9600/8/n/1 but so not see any data being written.

I know the FT232L is working as I've used it in a PIC project before.

I think my assumption might be wrong though - can I just use the TX pin of the Arduino? Am I completely off - Do I need extra code to get the serial comms to the PC working?

Here's my sketch:

#include <VirtualWire.h>
int numbers[4];

void setup()
{
  Serial.begin(9600);
  
 }
 
void loop()
{
 Serial.println("testing");
 delay(2000);
}
2

I've got a project I"m working on which currently writes its output to the serial monitor and it works well.

So, why do you need different hardware, if the cable you have now works so well?

3

When my project is finished I want to use a Atmega328 on the FT232L on breadboard and get it to send the data to the PC.

4

Is it safe to assume that you have connected ground, too? Why are you not completing the circuit and connecting the TX pin to the Arduino's RX pin?

5

Yes - connected the ground.

Its only a way one communication. I'm not reading anything back from the serial port.

6

A bit more googling and its fixed :slight_smile:
Connected the RX Pin on the FT232 to pin 3 on the Arduino and its working with the below:

#include <SoftwareSerial.h>

#define rxPin 2
#define txPin 3

// set up a new serial port
SoftwareSerial mySerial =  SoftwareSerial(rxPin, txPin);

void setup()  {
  // define pin modes for tx, rx:
  pinMode(rxPin, INPUT);
  pinMode(txPin, OUTPUT);
  // set the data rate for the SoftwareSerial port
  mySerial.begin(9600);
}

void loop() {
   mySerial.print("test");   
}
7 
  // define pin modes for tx, rx:
  pinMode(rxPin, INPUT);
  pinMode(txPin, OUTPUT);

Doesn't the library do this for you?