Using i2c pins

Projects General Guidance
1

Hi,
Is it possible to use the i2c pins, SDA (4) and SCL (5), as regular digital pins?

I want to make an additional serial port on my board. (duemilanove atmega168)

2

Yes, as digital pins or analogue pins. It is all in the setup.

3

So even though those pins are made for i2c i can use this code?

#include <SoftwareSerial.h>

SoftwareSerial mySerial(4, 5); // RX, TX

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

void loop()
{
  if (mySerial.available())
    Serial.write(mySerial.read());
  if (Serial.available())
    mySerial.write(Serial.read());
}
4

So even though those pins are made for i2c i can use this code?

Yes you can use that code.

No those pins are not the I2C pins, the I2C pins are the ANALOGUE pins 4 & 5

If you want to use the analogue / I2C pins as digital pins you use pin numbers 18 & 19

They are not made for I2C it is just that I2C is one of the modes they can operate in.