Sparkfun 315 MHz Receiving data from Mini Cooper Key

Hello all,

I am new to the Arduino forums and I know that this product has been mentioned a lot in this forum but I am having some issues and maybe my use is a little different and may attract some help / use for someone else!

I purchased the Sparkfun 315 MHz receiver for use with my Mini Cooper key fob which also works on the 315 MHz band, I am able to wire up the receiver so that I can get a signal light to light up but I am not able to get signal into Serial Monitor. I would like to be able to see if I can find a specific ID for each button on the remote or at the very least find an ID between my two remotes so I could maybe turn my house lights on or off with my key fob when I get home.

Here is the code I have found around the web:

#include <VirtualWire.h>

void setup()
{
    Serial.begin(9600);	  // Debugging only
    Serial.println("setup");

    //vw_set_ptt_inverted(true); // Required for DR3100
    // Initialise the IO and ISR
    vw_set_rx_pin(2);
    vw_setup(2000);
    vw_rx_start();       // Start the receiver PLL running
}

void loop()
{
    //Serial.println("waiting....");
    //vw_wait_rx();
    uint8_t buf[VW_MAX_MESSAGE_LEN];
    uint8_t buflen = VW_MAX_MESSAGE_LEN;

    if (vw_have_message()) Serial.println("Have a message");
    if (vw_get_message(buf, &buflen)) // Non-blocking
    {
	int i;

        digitalWrite(13, true); // Flash a light to show received good message
	// Message with a good checksum received, dump it.
	Serial.print("Got: ");
	
	for (i = 0; i < buflen; i++)
	{
	    Serial.print(buf[i], HEX);
	    Serial.print(" ");
	}
	Serial.println("");
   }
}

I have the data out of the receiver wired into Digital Input 2 on the Arduino (which I think is what the code says is the right input... right?) and I open up Serial Monitor, it prints "Setup" and thats it, nothing else. If I am doing something wrong just let me know, I would love to get this working and since I am able to see the LED light up from the "ASSI" output of the receiver I have faith that this project is very possible.

Thanks!

Barrowsn

"Mini Cooper key fob"
Any idea what message it is putting out?
Virtualwire is expecting a certain encoded message format - doubt that your keyfob is putting that out.
Read the virtualwire manual/github data to understand what is expected.

I am not sure the message it is putting out, I guess I was just hoping that this receiver would just put out a raw data stream of all the messages coming in on the 315 MHz band and I would be able to filter that stream for a string or ID for a button or remote... is there a way to do that? or is Virtualwire the only way to view the data coming in off the receiver? Like I said, new to this aspect of Arduino and I haven't found anybody or information about this specific task on Google or anything... would love to get it to work!

The receiver probably can output a raw stream - the software has to know what to do with that data.
Baud rate? 7-8-9 bit words? start bits? stop bits?
You can guess infinitely and maybe get lucky.
Got a 'scope or logic analyzer? That'll get you on the way a lot quicker.

Sadly just moved to Jersey and I don't have a scope or anything with me... I guess I can keep poking around online and see if I can find anything / look for a cheap logic analyzer or a place in the Jersey area I could use one to see what I am dealing with. A simple USB logic analyzer seems to run around $150 and I don't even want to look into the oscilloscope category....

I wonder if this would be of any help figuring out what the key is sending out... at $30 I am much more willing to take a chance than $150 to $400