UART laser rangefinder help!

Using Arduino Project Guidance
1

Evening all,

I have spent most of the day on this and I am not getting anywhere! I have a JRT laser range finder which uses a UART interface, the unit is a couple of years old but is essentially the same as this one China Customized 100m UART Output Laser Sensor For Distance Measurement Manufacturers, Suppliers - Factory Direct Wholesale - JRT.

According to the not particularly detailed instructions, I have 4 options, I can print "O" to the module to turn the laser on, "D" to initiate a single measurement, "C" for off and "S" for module status. The module is connected to an arduino device using the standard Tx/Rx pins, a 3v pin and a ground. I have managed to sent a serial command "O" to turn the laser on but I have not managed to get much further.

I am hoping (fingers crossed) that someone has managed to get past this point in the past and have a very simple code that will switch the laser on, take a measurement which can be displayed in the serial console and then switch the laser back off. I have tried every example code I can find and hammered google for a good couple of hours but I have not managed to find anything that works. Please help!

2

For any possible help, please show us the code that works to turn the unit on.

3

There are dozens of Arduinos and some have more that one serial port.
So which is it?

4

Which Arduino are you using and how is it wired?

Be aware that you cannot directly connect I/O pins on a 5V Arduino to a 3.3V sensor, as that can destroy both devices.

This post on the JRT sensor should be helpful.