Serial Timeout Strange Issues

[Archangel]

Just 1 question . . . Does it work now, or do you still have the same problem ?

[Corbet]

Sorry about the formatting. It doesn't work right now. The seperate movement routines work but the serial doesn't. I can make it work with a timer interrupt but it refreshes about every 25 to 30 ms which is too long and makes the servos weak. I want the servo controllers to wait for a signal from the main and if it does't get one in time then I want it to refresh using the same position.

[Archangel]

Hi Corbet, have you tried changing your byte values to word, just to see if you are overloading your bytes as Dave suggested ?
You could make redundant variables and store your current var value as a backup and then compare your new values to them and if out of range then restore from them. Something like:
psuedocode

serin . . . t1pulse
dummy1 = t1pulse 
pulseout . . . t1pulse
serin . . . t1pulse
if t1pulse >255 then t1pulse = dummy1 ' restore previous value
pulseout . . .

If time critical serial is too slow then you should switch to HSERIN which will receive via hardware while loop does it's thing.
A nice buffer is featured in the Article about "Serial Backpack LCDs" This Thread was promoted to an article based upon one my early posts seeking help to make a serial LCD as I am TOO CHEAP to lay out 35 to 50 bucks a pop for them.
You could also Increase your clock speed to 20mhz and increase the baud rate WAY UP so as to execute the loops faster. It uses a little more power though. Bit Bang serial is a Time Hog, of them Debug seems the fastest, uses serout2 syntax too.