Utilizing a Serial Signal

Projects Programming
1

Hello,

I am working on a project which uses an Arduino Uno and a Sparkfun RFID reader. I have easily been able to monitor serial data from the RFID reader via RX and TX pins on the Arduino. However, my project really doesn't need to process the serial info. It, more or less, needs to use the RFID signal as a trigger to execute certain tasks (light up lights, play buzzers, etc). So, my question is, "Is there any way to use a serial signal as a simple HIGH or LOW rather than it being serial information?" How would I go about doing this? Sorry if the description is vague, I am very new to Arduino.

Regards,
Brody Strunk

2 
if (Serial.available())
{
  //do whatever you want here when serial input is detected.
}
3

"Is there any way to use a serial signal as a simple HIGH or LOW rather than it being serial information?

That's a bit like asking "Can I send an F and have it mean HIGH?". Well, of course you can.

If what you are asking is can ANY letter mean HIGH, well, yes. But then what would mean LOW?

4

strunkbrody:
So, my question is, "Is there any way to use a serial signal as a simple HIGH or LOW rather than it being serial information?"

As others have said you probably can do that. But what would be the advantage compared to the normal process of dealing with the data from the RFID reader?

...R