rbonari
USA
Asked
— Edited
Hello,
Just wondering what the EZB Serial Terminal is and how you would use it? I assume the PC Serial Terminal in ARC allows you to view serial data coming into and going out of the PC Serial Port. Seems it takes the place of hyperterminal, etc. The use of EZB Serial Terminal is not obvious to me. I have an idea but I don't think it is correct.
Using the EZB Serial Terminal it seems that I could initialize the uart port0 with script control and then write data out the uart port in the same script and it should appear in the EZB Serial Terminal window? Would this be correct or not? Thanks Much !Rick B.
Which serial control is used for advanced
Debugging and could you give me a typical scenario of how it would be used? I hear what you are saying but need to understand better how you would use it?
Would I be correct in assuming that the ezb serial terminal is used exclusively to monitor and send data to serial device connected to ez-bv4 uart?
Thanks again DJ for your help !
Scenarios which an advanced user would use the either PC or EZB terminal control is for connecting to a UART device and interacting with it. I use it often when debugging code on microcontrollers. For instance, while writing the code today for the upcoming EZ-Robot's Neopixel x 7 controller, i used the terminal program to display debug data that I wrote in code of the microcontroller.
Unless you are a programmer of a microcontroller (even arduino), you would never use it with an ez-robot.
Many Arduino sketches will have serial debug output. You could connect the serial debug output to either the terminal PC or EZB.
Without a purpose to use it, there is no other way to explain it. It's like trying to explain what a wrench is if you've never seen a bolt before.
Are you saying that a program like hyperterminal or other terminal program can't recieve data as well as send data? I think of ezb terminal and pc terminal controls as similar to hyper terminal. Also when I use the term "monitoring" I mean sending and revceiving data. Maybe a misuse of words.
Seems like we are both saying the same thing here but maybe in a different way and maybe not. It appears that ezb and pc terminal controls are one and the same and are only used to receive debug data from other rs232 devices. It also appears that you can't send data with either terminal control. Would this be correct? How does the debug data get to ezb terminal without a direct rs232 connection to the laptop? Is it via the wifi connection?
Seems both ezb terminal and pc terminal are the same and are only used for debug purposes. Would this be correct?
Thanks much again for your help on understanding these controls. Maybe some example code will clarify things better?
Yes, it is just like Hyperterminal (which Microsoft no longer provides in current windows versions). It sends anything you type in the terminal window. It displays anything it receives from the connected device. The PC version send and receives from any PC com port (just like Hyperterminal). The EZ-B version uses any of the UART ports.
Its only purpose is testing to see that the connected device is responding as you expect before you write scripts or a plugin to use the uart or send serial commands from any digital pin or your comm port. It is a test tool. Nothing more.
Alan
Thanks for the help. First thing is that I know how to program and have programmed the arduino and other microcontrllers in machine language, C++, C, python, etc. Certainly not anywhere near your capabilities and especially DJ's capabilities. I have also used programs like hyperterminal and others many times to work with microcontrollers, etc.
DJ, I am not sure what you mean by there is no code involved. Maybe I'm mixing up my terms. If you can send hex values from the terminal controls to a connected device and receive hex values or binary values from the connected device I guess you would be correct. Again my terms probably are not correct?
If ez terminal and pc terminal are the same why is there a need for both. It is a bit confusing the way this is set up.
Thanks again for hanging with me..Rick
Alan
1) It's the same as hyperterminal but the UI is designed to display hex values and enter hex values. Hyperterminal is _not_ a good programmers terminal. Hyperterminal was only for connecting to oldschool routers and such.
2) The reason there are TWO different terminal programs in ARC is because ONE works with direct local com devices and the OTHER works with the UART on the EZ-B
They are absolutely totally different methods of connecting.
The EZ-B is a wifi connected device. Wifi means wireless and therefore there are no wires. This is how your computer can connect to the ezb without wires, because it travels over the air wirelessly, like a radio. The purpose of the Terminal (EZB) is so you can connect to a UART device that's wirelessly. Perhaps in a different part of the world, or a different room, or over the internet, etc.
WIRELESS and WIRED are different things.
There is absolutely no other way i can explain this - there are two different Terminal versions because they are both different connection types.
For anyone who has programmed a micro controller or used a terminal program, they would understand. This feature is not for you and is for advanced DIY users. Again, please ignore this feature because until you begin programming microcontrollers and needing to debug connectivity, there is no use to using either of the terminal programs included in ARC.
I would like to continue this discussion but as i have stated before, there is nothing else i can add to this topic.
So why don't you see it with your own eyes, do this..Add both controls PC and EZB for the serial terminal to a project. Do they look "exactly" the same? Your answer had better be no, otherwise you doing something wrong.
The EZB Terminal has options for which board (which EZB board incase you have multiple boards) and which uart port because it's specific for things connected to the EZB.
The PC Terminal has an option to select which serial port physically on your PC running ARC.
Those are two mighty big differences. You might be thinking they should be the same or function the same, but they are separated for reason.
Thanks for the clarification. Let me know if this scenario would be correct. Say I have an arduino connected to the ezbv4 uart0 port. I write code for the arduino and put some code in the sketch to send to ez terminal for debug purposes. I guess what puzzles me is if the ezbv4 is connected to the arduino how does the debug info get to the ARC control on the laptop. Only thing I can think of is via the wifi connection to the laptop. Would this be correct thinking? Again, thanks for hanging in there with me..Rick
Alan
Alan
Thanks much, that was the key piece of information I was searching out. Thanks to all the other people that hung in there with me on this.
I think I should probably explain why I go in circles sometimes. Two years ago I was in a very serious car accident and suffered a traumatic brain injury and have some short term and executive function deficits that remain. They will be with me for the rest of my life but thank GOD I am alive. My capabilities definitely are not what they used to be, but the desire is still there and I am plugging along one step at a time.....Rick
Alan
I certainly understand and again thank you all ! It is time to experiment now ! Rick
Yes and I never give up. May take me longer than some but I will get there. Again want to thank you and all the others that have helped me out and for the very quick responses. The best support system around not to mention the awesome hardware/software products ! Rick
Really looking forward to the new controller and other software/hardware products coming out this year !