Serial VB 2005 pic 16f877a problems

Hi I m back with a new project. Thank you for all you help and support on the slot car timmer. I am working on a simple thermostat withthe 1620 chip and it works great with the lcd out. I wanted to get it to the pc so I wrote a small program in VB2005 and it took hours just to get them talking but I did it... except the pic is not listening. I can send to vb fine and read it but when I try and send back to the pic it does not get it. I can see the PC trying to send out on the scope but it does not get stored in my pic variable. I even ran a wire from the tx side of the pic to the rx and still nothing. The pic is sending but not recieving.
here is some of my code
I decalred the variable as a word and later as byte
I am using a max 232 converted and like I said I can see both signals on the scope
I am sure the pc it sending the code i think :)
I am just trying to get the pc to tell the pic to turn on a fan when it gets too hot.
YES I know there are many simpler ways to do this directly threw the pic but I want to use the PC.

serout portd.3,t2400,[#temp]
serin porta.0, t2400,pcsig ' my data in variable
if pcsig > 1 then high porta.1 ' pc writes 100 so even if the pic gets anything it should fire

thanks again
Snap

There's quite a few culprit in VBExpress, that would be really nice if you could post your VB and the whole PIC code here.

As you're using PORTA... make sure you have disabled the ADCs

PortA Doesn't Work & Common 8-Bit PIC® Microcontroller I/O Pin Issues (TB3009)
http://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=561

Any specific reason why you don't use the built-in PIC USART?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snap

I can see the PC trying to send out on the scope but it does not get stored in my pic variable. I even ran a wire from the tx side of the pic to the rx and still nothing. The pic is sending but not recieving.
Snap

I have found this http://www.serial-port-monitor.com/index.html utility extremely useful while doing anything with VB and the serial port.

Also, if you have another serial port, try and read what your VB code is in fact sending although serial port monitor would do the same anyway.

Regards,

Anand

Don't ever leave this forum mister_e, my life depends on you being here sharing your knowledge. I think I speak for everyone.

Hello again, Ok I switched off the adc'd with adcon1 statement.
And that must have done something because now everytime I start the program it locks up at the display temp part.
If I remove the serin code it works (just the program not the recieve signal from the PC)
If I remove the wire from the serin port to the rx on the max 232 adapter it works
This is all when the PC is not even plugged in the the max 232
the wire seems to be shorting out the program or the signal is screwing it up
To me the USART seems to be more work then a simple serin command why would I use it?
here is the pic code

Code:

Include "MODEDEFS.BAS" DEFINE LCD_DREG PORTB DEFINE LCD_DBIT 0 DEFINE LCD_RSREG PORTB DEFINE LCD_RSBIT 5 DEFINE LCD_EREG PORTD DEFINE LCD_EBIT 7 DEFINE LCD_BITS 4 DEFINE LCD_LINES 2 DEFINE LCD_COMMANDUS 2000 DEFINE LCD_DATUS 50 ADCON1=%00000111 ' RST var portd.2 DQ var portd.0 CLK var portd.1 temp var word 'storage for temperature pcsig var word ' low rst 'reset 1620 ' lcdout $fe,1,"Temp in Degrees C" ' Main loop mainloop: RST = 1'enable device might be high Shiftout DQ,CLK,LSBFIRST,[$ee] 'send read command RST = 0 ' reset device Pause 1000 ' wait for conversion to compleate ' RST = 1 ' SAA Shiftout DQ,CLK,LSBFIRST, [$aa] ' send read command Shiftin DQ,CLK,LSBPRE, [temp\9]'read 9 bits temp RST = 0 ' lcdout $fe,1,dec(temp>>1), ".", dec(temp.0*5), " Degrees C" pause 1000 serout portd.3,t2400,[#temp] pause 1000 serin porta.1,t2400,pcsig if pcsig > 1 then high porta.1 lcdout $fe,1,pcsig,"pcsig" pause 1000 goto mainloop END

Here is the VB code
I ommitted a class

Code:

Public Class Form1 Dim WithEvents serialport As New IO.Ports.SerialPort Dim temperature As Integer Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click If serialport.IsOpen Then serialport.Close() End If With serialport .PortName = "com1" .BaudRate = 2400 .Parity = IO.Ports.Parity.None .DataBits = 8 .StopBits = IO.Ports.StopBits.One '.DtrEnable = True '.ReadBufferSize = 40 .ReceivedBytesThreshold = 2 End With serialport.Open() End Sub Private Sub Datarecieved(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.IO.Ports.SerialDataReceivedEventArgs) Handles serialport.DataReceived TextBox1.Invoke(New mydelegate(AddressOf updatetextbox), New Object() {}) End Sub Public Delegate Sub mydelegate() Public Sub updatetextbox() Dim mytemp As New temp mytemp.binary = serialport.ReadExisting Dim resultc As Decimal = celciusconversion(mytemp.binary) Dim resultf As Decimal = farconversion(resultc) TextBox1.Text = resultc TextBox2.Text = resultf If resultc >= 24 Then 'serialport.Write("a") serialport.Write(100) TextBox3.BackColor = Color.Green TextBox3.Text = "fan on" Else TextBox3.BackColor = Color.Red TextBox3.Text = "fan off" End If End Sub Public Function celciusconversion(ByVal datarecieved As String) As Decimal Return datarecieved * 0.5 End Function Public Function farconversion(ByVal datarecieved As String) As Decimal Return (datarecieved * 1.8) + 32 End Function

Thank you for your time.
I am trying to help out on this forum as much as I can, I have been sending copies of my slot car timer to users who ask for it.

Code:

serialport.Write(100)

this should send string, so i guess you'll need to change the SERIN to

Code:

serin porta.1,t2400,#pcsig

I'll second Ardhuru's advice. A serial COMport sniffer is always handy to have on hand. I use HHDSoft's one
http://www.hhdsoftware.com

There's a load of those here and there, some are 100% free.

Having one on hand... priceless!

Thanks for the reply but the problem is that the program is now (after fixing port a) locking up as soon as I connect the rx pin on the 232 adapter, the serial cable is not even connected and it locks up.
if i comment out the serin code with the 232 connected it works (without serin)
I think the serin command is locking up the program but I don't know why.
The voltage is always 5 volts untill a code comes threw would a constant 5 volts mess up the serin pin? this is a falling trigger do i need to tell the pic what type to look for?
t2400 ? n2400?
I hope I have given enough information, I have been.
what would cause the program to lock up as soon as i connect the serin pin?

thanks again

Well that's strange indeed, why it locks... well it will lock anyways until you have some valid data.

You said you're using a MAX232 and you're capable of sending data to your PC... T2400 is the setting. Weird enough.. my computer don't work with such low baudrates...

Code:

serout portd.3,t2400,[#temp] pause 1000 serin porta.1,t2400,pcsig

i would suggest to remove the pause 1000, and change your SERIN line

Code:

serout portd.3,t2400,[#temp] serin porta.1,t2400,#pcsig

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snap

what would cause the program to lock up as soon as i connect the serin pin?

Post #20 here...http://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/show...ght=serin+idle
might help you out a bit...

Or this might:
http://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/show...highlight=idle

Valid for Timeout use...

Quote:

Originally Posted by mister_e

Valid for Timeout use...

Ayy......good point...
But what if the serial cable is 'amplifying' the unloaded pin, as in a floating input, and it ends up causing garbage to try to get into the SERIN statement.

How about adding a pullup or pulldown as appropriate?

He said he use MAX232 :D

But yes i see what you mean.

ok, I took out the pause, added the #, so the serin now looks like this...
serin portc.3,t2400,10,mainloop,[#pcsig]
it still locks up,
i added a 4.7 pull down to rx, no luck
pull up no luck
serial cable still not even connected (just trying to get it to run first with serin command intact)
will keep trying
thanks

nope... no square brackets in that.

how is this.........still does not work.
serin portc.3,t2400, 10,mainloop,#pcsig

seems i'll need to try it here :D

can you post your missing class or your whole VB code please?

and woops i just saw that...

Code:

serin porta.1,t2400,pcsig if pcsig > 1 then high porta.1

you should use another pin...

and then

Code:

lcdout $fe,1,pcsig,"pcsig"

Should have another #

Code:

lcdout $fe,1,#pcsig,"pcsig"

First of all I would like to thank you again for all of your wonderful help. It is nice to know there are people like yourself and the other members of this forum in this world who devote so much time and energy to helping newbee's like myself.

I don't wan't you to go through all the trouble of re-createing my project unless of course, you want the code (it is a pritty nifty way of showing the temp in windows).

Besides all that is it possible that it is the VB code that is locking up the pic when it isent even connected when the pic program hangs up?

my next thing will be testing out the vb program on a basic stamp I have, if that works at least I know the vb part works, the next will be trying it out on a 16f84 and then if that works I will buy another 16f877 and see if it's the ic.

If anyone has any other sugestions or you still want the code let me know
Thank You
Snap

If POST #17 don't highlight anything... I still want it :D

Those three textbox and this single button are already on the form!

i changed the serin pin after i sent the program, it now is portc.3
sorry i forgot to mention it

here is the missing class

Code:

Public Class temp Private m_binary As String Private m_celsius As String Private m_farenheight As String Public Property binary() Get Return m_binary End Get Set(ByVal value) m_binary = value End Set End Property Public Property celsius() Get Return m_celsius End Get Set(ByVal value) m_celsius = value End Set End Property Public Property farenheight() Get Return m_farenheight End Get Set(ByVal value) m_farenheight = value End Set End Property End Class

I added the extra methods for future things
create a main form with a cercius and farenheit text box and a button to get it started
good luck

I tried to zip my vb project but it is not working, I will try again in the morning ,
sorry by the way it is 23.5 c in here ;)

I see what's happening here... as the pic is waiting for DECIMAL number, it will stuck untill there's a none-numeric ASCII value... damn... so just send something else after you send your data and you should be in business.

try this...
vb code

Code:

Public Sub updatetextbox() TextBox1.Text = serialport.ReadLine serialport.Write("aaaaOK" & TextBox1.Text & "z") End Sub

The PIC side..

Code:

@ __CONFIG _XT_OSC & _LVP_OFF DEFINE LCD_DREG PORTB DEFINE LCD_DBIT 0 DEFINE LCD_RSREG PORTB DEFINE LCD_RSBIT 5 DEFINE LCD_EREG PORTD DEFINE LCD_EBIT 7 DEFINE LCD_BITS 4 DEFINE LCD_LINES 2 DEFINE LCD_COMMANDUS 2000 DEFINE LCD_DATAUS 50 ADCON1=%00000111 DEFINE DEBUG_REG PORTD ' Set Debug pin port DEFINE DEBUG_BIT 3 ' Set Debug pin bit DEFINE DEBUG_BAUD 2400 ' Set Debug baud rate DEFINE DEBUG_MODE 0 ' Set Debug mode: 0 = true, 1 = inverted DEFINE DEBUGIN_REG PORTA ' Set Debugin pin port DEFINE DEBUGIN_BIT 1 ' Set Debugin pin bit DEFINE DEBUGIN_MODE 0 ' Set Debugin mode: 0 = true, 1 = inverted temp var word 'storage for temperature pcsig var word ' Main loop portc=0 trisc=0 HIGH PORTD.3 ' Serial OUT idle state pause 500 mainloop: for temp = 0 to 1000 step 100 lcdout $fe,1,"Temp=", dec temp debug DEC temp,10 DEBUGIN [WAIT ("OK"), DEC pcsig] lcdout $fe,$c0,"pcsig=", dec pcsig PAUSE 1000 next goto mainloop END

This echo back the data, not much.

first I tried substatuting some of yor lines of code into my program for mine like...
serIN [WAIT ("OK"), DEC pcsig] insted of
DEBUGIN [WAIT ("OK"), DEC pcsig]
and i added the
portc=0
trisc=0
HIGH PORTD.3 ' Serial OUT idle state
pause 500
at the beginning
but it stilll locked up at the exact same spot.
So I started a new project and used your code exactly
I recieved the
Error[118] C:\PBP\SAMPLES\BLINK.ASM 122 : Overwriting previous address contents (2007)
Error[118] C:\PBP\SAMPLES\BLINK.ASM 122 : Overwriting previous address contents (2007)
when i compiled but programmed it anyway
it now locks up at
Temp=0
and will not move at all
and the vb still cant open the port because it is locked (just like always)
Sorry i can't get it to work, i am at a total brick wall on this one.

use it as is, paste my own first.. even better, try at 9600 bauds.. that's what i've used yesterday.

For the error message refer to post #5 at the following...

http://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=543

fixed the error messages but it still locks up after the temp= 0 lcdout
and the vb program still can't open the port because of it
sorry again i think it's time to give up for a while, i don't want to take up any more of your time. I will add to the post if I get it going.
Thanks again to everybody.
I can't believe such a simple thing as a serinn(now a debug) is causing such a problem.
Snap

Sweet Sweet Successsss

I finaly did it (or should I say We....Mr e).The program works fine.
The key hang ups were add in a "z" in the VB write code and sending code all the time to the pic. Im sure there are way better ways of doing this but this works.
You need a pic and a 1620 temp ic and a serial converter and a pc.
here is the code and thank you everyone who helped especially the big E.
Snap
VB2005 code

Code:

Public Class Form1 Dim WithEvents serialport As New IO.Ports.SerialPort Dim temperature As Integer Dim setting As Decimal Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click If serialport.IsOpen Then serialport.Close() End If With serialport .PortName = "com1" .BaudRate = 9600 .Parity = IO.Ports.Parity.None .DataBits = 8 .StopBits = IO.Ports.StopBits.One '.DtrEnable = True '.ReadBufferSize = 40 .ReceivedBytesThreshold = 2 End With TextBox4.Text = 23 serialport.Open() serialport.Write(200 & "z") End Sub Private Sub Datarecieved(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.IO.Ports.SerialDataReceivedEventArgs) Handles serialport.DataReceived TextBox1.Invoke(New mydelegate(AddressOf updatetextbox), New Object() {}) End Sub Public Delegate Sub mydelegate() Public Sub updatetextbox() Dim mytemp As New temp mytemp.binary = serialport.ReadExisting Dim resultc As Decimal = celciusconversion(mytemp.binary) Dim resultf As Decimal = farconversion(resultc) TextBox1.Text = resultc TextBox2.Text = resultf If TextBox1.Text >= setting Then TextBox3.BackColor = Color.Green TextBox3.Text = "fan on" serialport.Write(100 & "z") ElseIf TextBox1.Text < setting Then TextBox3.BackColor = Color.Red TextBox3.Text = "fan off" serialport.Write(200 & "z") End If End Sub Public Function celciusconversion(ByVal datarecieved As String) As Decimal Return datarecieved * 0.5 End Function Public Function farconversion(ByVal datarecieved As String) As Decimal Return (datarecieved * 1.8) + 32 End Function Private Sub Label1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Label1.Click End Sub Private Sub Label4_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Label4.Click End Sub Private Sub Label2_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Label2.Click End Sub Private Sub TextBox4_TextChanged(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles TextBox4.TextChanged setting = TextBox4.Text End Sub Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load End Sub End Class

Temp Class

Code:

Public Class temp Private m_binary As String Private m_celsius As String Private m_farenheight As String Public Property binary() Get Return m_binary End Get Set(ByVal value) m_binary = value End Set End Property Public Property celsius() Get Return m_celsius End Get Set(ByVal value) m_celsius = value End Set End Property Public Property farenheight() Get Return m_farenheight End Get Set(ByVal value) m_farenheight = value End Set End Property

pic code

Code:

' Pic16f877a ' LCD should be connected as follows: ' LCD PIC ' DB4 PortB.0 ' DB5 PortB.1 ' DB6 PortB.2 ' DB7 PortB.3 ' RS PortB.5 (add 4.7K pullup resistor to 5 volts) ' E PortD.7 ' RW Ground ' Vdd 5 volts ' Vss Ground ' Vo 20K potentiometer (or ground) ' DB0-3 No connect Include "MODEDEFS.BAS" DEFINE LCD_DREG PORTB DEFINE LCD_DBIT 0 DEFINE LCD_RSREG PORTB DEFINE LCD_RSBIT 5 DEFINE LCD_EREG PORTD DEFINE LCD_EBIT 7 DEFINE LCD_BITS 4 DEFINE LCD_LINES 2 DEFINE LCD_COMMANDUS 2000 DEFINE LCD_DATUS 50 ADCON1=%00000111 ' RST var portd.2 DQ var portd.0 CLK var portd.1 temp var word 'storage for temperature pcsig var word 'portc=0 'trisc=0 HIGH PORTD.3 ' Serial OUT idle state pause 500 ' low rst 'reset 1620 ' lcdout $fe,1,"Temp in Degrees C" ' Main loop mainloop: RST = 1'enable device might be high Shiftout DQ,CLK,LSBFIRST,[$ee] 'send read command RST = 0 ' reset device Pause 1000 ' wait for conversion to compleate ' RST = 1 ' SAA Shiftout DQ,CLK,LSBFIRST, [$aa] ' send read command Shiftin DQ,CLK,LSBPRE, [temp\9]'read 9 bits temp RST = 0 lcdout $fe,1,dec(temp>>1), ".", dec(temp.0*5), " Degrees C" serout portd.3,t9600,[#temp] serin portc.4,t9600,#pcsig if pcsig = 100 then high portc.5 if pcsig = 300 then goto mainloop if pcsig = 200 then low portc.5 goto mainloop END

Re: Sweet Sweet Successsss

Sorry Mr. Snap...

Can you tell me about meaning of code visual basic there line by line...
I wanna to learn visual basic, but I'm a Beginner !!

Please help me Mr.