I am working on a project with a barcode scanner. The main task is to scan the product using barcode scanner and update a database with the scanned details using a http post request. Arduino MKR NB 1500 seemed suitable for this application so i am using that. In addition to sending the post request, the arduino board has to send the scanned data to a computer. So, we bought silabs cp2102 usb to ttl converter to connect the arduino to a laptop.
Setup: I am using the board's native usb to get the data from the barcode scanner and connecting the board to the laptop using cp2102 (GND --> GND, RXC --> TX, TXC --> RX, 5v --> VCC). I have installed the required drivers on windows 10 and i do not see any error in device manager. However, when i try to upload the code from arduino IDE to the board i get "No device found in COM5" error and there is no flow of data between the arduino and cp2102. I have tried all the suggestions in this forum but it is still not working. I am thinking of changing the usb to ttl converter, could you please suggest which converter is better for this application or if there is a better way to connect cp2102 to arduino. I have attached images
I am new to arduino, please suggest if there is a better way to go about this problem. Any suggestions are welcome. Thank you
Are you trying to upload via the CP2102? That will not work.
Do you have a link to the CP2102 board?
The MKR1500 NB is internally a 3.3V device. Connecting a 5V signal (CP2102 TX output if the CP2102 runs on 5V) to it can damage it. You need a 3.3V version of a ttl-to-usb converter.
I was referring to uploading code, not transferring data from an Arduino to a PC.
The CP2102 is a ttl-to-usb converter; but if you did not pay attention to 5V vs 3.3V you might have bought the wrong one. A link is a link to the product page of the specific CP2102 so we can check the specs.
I tried to do that as well according to this video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vawhrr4COjI) and i got the error "No device found in COM5". But the final requirement is to be able to send the scanned data to a connected device(laptop).
Yes, i would like to connect the barcode scanner to arduino
Barcode scanner ------> Arduino MKR NB 1500 (which takes the scanned information sends http post request to update a database. Connected to barcode scanner via USB) --------> Laptop or POS system (that prints the scanned information, connected to arduino using a ttl to usb converter and the data is received through it)
If you don't use the USB port for upload, you'll probably lose the "automatic reset" functionality, so you'll need to manually put the MKR board into bootloader mode by giving the reset button a "double tap."
(at least, I hope the double-tap works on MKR bootloaders; otherwise, you'll have to time hitting the reset button "just right.")
I’m lost. The MKR NB 1500 communicates over GSM. You’re going to pay a hefty price to update databases with that arrangement.
Is there no WiFi available?
I also do not understand how one connects a device (barcode scanner) that requires usb drivers on a standard pc.
The usb to serial converters are dumb devices, just like the barcode scanner. They are meant to be connected to a pc and they need a usb driver in order to function.
Thank you for the response, i tried by double tapping on the reset button. However, that did not work. I would like to know if it is possible to replace the CP2102 board with other usb to ttl converters such as FT232RL for this application.
I am taking reference from these videos to build it. However, they use a specific USB host module for their applications. There is a USB host shield for arduino uno. Are there any equivalent usb host modules that can be used with the MKR board. Is it possible to connect the Barcode scanner to the MKR board via a usb host.
Please let me know if i have not made myself clear.
