Inventory System

[Demon]

Thanks, too bad I'm banging my head against a wall right now. LOL

The utility I found above is for true RS232 communications, it doesn't handle bluetooth enumerating. I found MScomm32.OCX, much leaner utility but with the same problem, no bluetooth enumerating. I googled "android bluetooth" for fun and it is overwhelming what goes on in the background. I'm hoping I don't need all those features and might be able to make a skeleton interface - I don't need security and all bells and whistles.

So the new plan was to see what it sent back and forth across COM2 and simulate it myself. I can't find a COM port sniffer that can monitor while I transfer a file manually using the Bluetooth icon on the taskbar. Google is literally swamped by HHD "free" serial monitor but it's just a demo screen with NO functionality on the COM ports - something like $60 for pay version. I've scrolled through at least 10 pages of google, mostly HHD using different URLs. Did I mention that HHD floods google with different URLs for the same useless freeware.

I tried Wireshark by Softonic but they force the install of a browser utility. Can't install the free version without that darned browser add-on - not interested.

I tried RealTerm, but it can't sniff while the port is in use. Payware for that SPY add-on.

So I took another angle and tried emulating a keyboard. Windows Accessibility has a feature to use Serial Keys from a COM port, no workie - most likely for true RS232 communication, not bluetooth.

Just tried SmartwedgeLite for bluetooth scanners, it sees the port and phone nicely but it doesn't do anything. The port is green but the phone doesn't seem connected. There's a big barcode on the screen, that is most likely to be scanned to configure the scanner properly (I have a broken handheld scanner that works like that).

So that's where I am. Stuck with a working Access system and an incoming barcode number on COM2. I can't find an interface/module/bridge whatever to close that gap.

Robert

[amgen]

OK then, I have a Blue Tooth (BT) module (from a few years back) sending serial data that is spit out from my PIC continually @56khz. Now on older pc's I used a BT dongle and my windows8 pc has BT in it already. So you use the SPP.......'serial port profile' on pc which just makes a faux port....(kind of software type port) that shows up in ports available in your VB.....consider VB.net free in visual studio from Microsoft.
And I recently tried an app on my android phone that could also see the data over BT utilizing SPP.
following is hyper-term displaying continuous data over BT, the port is the added port but the baud doesn't seem to matter because it still comes in at different settings !

don

[Demon]

I tried Microcode Studio Plus Terminal and it says the port is in use or not available. Too bad 'cause I like this one the most.

I tried HID USBwatch to look at the USB side and it says I don't have a serial port on my laptop. I connected a PCMCIA card with RS232 but it didn't help.

I tried MeLabs hyperterm and got it started on COM2 but nothing showed up on the screen.

I tried Windows Hyperterm and got it started on COM2 but nothing showed up on the screen.

I checked Device manager and the bluetooth dongle is connected to COM2 9600 8 N 1.

But I can receive files manually via the Bluetooth Receive File feature without fail.

Lost...

[Demon]

.... So you use the SPP.......'serial port profile' on pc which just makes a faux port....(kind of software type port) that shows up in ports available in your VB..

I don't know how/where to set COM2 as SPP?

...consider VB.net free in visual studio from Microsoft...

I have Access 2002 on my laptop, it uses VB6.3. I have VB6 Enterprise but I don't have much room left on this aging P4-1900 laptop. I'd really like to stay with VB6 if at all possible.

Robert


EDIT: I'm trying this tweak now: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1...profile-spp-in

[Demon]

Did that tweak, no difference.

At least I know the COM2 properties. Hadn't noticed RFCOMM earlier.


So if I read this right:
https://developer.bluetooth.org/Tech...Pages/SPP.aspx
RFCOMM is an adaption of RS232 via bluetooth. So I guess I can go back to MCcomm32.OCX module.

I have no idea why I can't even get a few bytes of jibberish through a Terminal. The connection is complete, I can receive a file manually via the Bluetooth icon.

Robert

[amgen]

the old BT stuff may be a little different from newer BT drivers.



the driver picks its own ports.

don

[Demon]

I know, mine were between COM12 - 18, depending on which USB slot I used. But to use the COMM modules for Access, they have to be between 1 - 4. So I go in DEVICE MANAGER, Ports (LPT & COM), click on the COM port, PROPERTIES/ADVANCED and then override 12-18 to 1-4, whichever is not used on my laptop.

I've seen different versions of that bluetooth panel. Laptop is WinXP, haven't checked downstairs what it looks like on Win7.

Now I'm having stabilitity problems. I uninstalled the bluetooth dongle this afternoon, and now it's not coming back on without intervention when I reboot.

Robert


EDIT: Ok, this is weird. I tried to update the driver because only 1 of the 2 bluetooth devices came on, halfway at that. Driver was up to date.

So I pulled out the dongle, the BT device and COM disappearred as they should. I inserted it in another USB slot and all 3 came up properly. I moved it back to the original slot and they all came up properly as well, even kept it under COM2.

Oh well, at least there are no warnings now.

[Demon]

GAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!

A little nagging voice told me to try another app. I scrolled through a zillion apps until one caught my eye with bluetooth and SPP, darn thing worked on the first shot!

(the red square turned green instantly, as soon as they were paired, and I don't even have to push buttons to transmit)



Now I know why there was a payware SDK for that first app. I thought it was to customize the app to your liking. NOooooo, it was so that you could alter the communication protocol so it would be compatible with standard bluetooth - uninstall. I'm not staying with them just for not coming out and saying in the description what they were doing.

All this time, argh.

Oh well, at least now I know what was wrong. The app I'm using now has a small scan window and it's a demo only. At least now I know to look for another one with a full size window, even if it's gonna be a few bucks. Now I know why that first one was feature rich and without advertisements.

Robert

[Demon]

... I don't have much room left on this aging P4-1900 laptop...

Real happy I rambled on about this project in this forum.

I had made backups of what I considered "important" on my old laptop and desktop, turns out I missed a few, like this project.

Now to get this up and running on these newer PCs with Win10 so I can finish what I started.

Win 10 really doesn't make things easy for you to change settings. They made it more user friendly, I think they made it incredibly harder to find what seemed so much easier on XP.