How to use SoftwareSerial Library?

[esawyja]

Hi @kduino
I think my problem is similar, what I want to do is to send the received sensor data on the serial gateway to a GSM modem for insertion into a Cloud server, but I have no idea of how to capture the data on the serial gateway, IE I can see the sensor values, but how would I trap the data for sending to the GSM modem? Any advice would be appreciated please

[kduino]

Hi,
actualy I am still struggling getting the rs485 gateway and the motion sensor example running. for some reason they don't communicate. So I connected them directly over serial output without rs485 module - but still no connection. I will investigate further...
As soon as they are connected I will extend the network....

[kduino]

Hi Hek,
thank you again for the information. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get it to work like this. Is there a trick in terms of order of the definitions?

Thank you so much for your help!

kduino

Below you will find my sketch:

#include <SoftwareSerial.h>

SoftwareSerial mySerial(4, 2);

// Enable debug prints to serial monitor
#define MY_DEBUG

#define MY_NODE_ID 80

// Enable RS485 transport layer
#define MY_RS485

// Define this to enables DE-pin management on defined pin
#define MY_RS485_DE_PIN 3

// Set RS485 baud rate to use
#define MY_RS485_BAUD_RATE 9600

// Enable this if RS485 is connected to a hardware serial port
#define MY_RS485_HWSERIAL mySerial

#include <MySensors.h>

unsigned long SLEEP_TIME = 120000; // Sleep time between reports (in milliseconds)
#define DIGITAL_INPUT_SENSOR 3   // The digital input you attached your motion sensor.  (Only 2 and 3 generates interrupt!)
#define CHILD_ID 1   // Id of the sensor child

// Initialize motion message
MyMessage msg(CHILD_ID, V_TRIPPED);

void setup()
{
	pinMode(DIGITAL_INPUT_SENSOR, INPUT);      // sets the motion sensor digital pin as input
}

void presentation()
{
	// Send the sketch version information to the gateway and Controller
	sendSketchInfo("Motion Sensor", "1.0");

	// Register all sensors to gw (they will be created as child devices)
	present(CHILD_ID, S_MOTION);
}

void loop()
{
	// Read digital motion value
	bool tripped = digitalRead(DIGITAL_INPUT_SENSOR) == HIGH;

	Serial.println(tripped);
	send(msg.set(tripped?"1":"0"));  // Send tripped value to gw

	// Sleep until interrupt comes in on motion sensor. Send update every two minute.
	sleep(digitalPinToInterrupt(DIGITAL_INPUT_SENSOR), CHANGE, SLEEP_TIME);
}

[kduino]

Hi,
I think I got to the specific part of code:

From Github MySensors/hal/transport/MyTransportRS485.cpp
https://github.com/mysensors/MySensors/blob/development/hal/transport/MyTransportRS485.cpp#L88

#if defined(__linux__)
SerialPort _dev = SerialPort(MY_RS485_HWSERIAL);
#elif defined(MY_RS485_HWSERIAL)
HardwareSerial& _dev = MY_RS485_HWSERIAL;
#else
AltSoftSerial _dev;
#endif

But unfortunately I am not able to change it to the softwareSerial option. How would the code look like if I would make an additional if for the softwareSerial?
Help is very appreciated.

By, kduino

[pjr]

Just an idea:
I would try adding:

#elif defined(MY_RS485_SWSERIAL)
SoftwareSerial& _dev = MY_RS485_SWSERIAL;

so it looks like this:

#if defined(__linux__)
SerialPort _dev = SerialPort(MY_RS485_HWSERIAL);
#elif defined(MY_RS485_SWSERIAL)
SoftwareSerial& _dev = MY_RS485_SWSERIAL;
#elif defined(MY_RS485_HWSERIAL)
HardwareSerial& _dev = MY_RS485_HWSERIAL;
#else
AltSoftSerial _dev;
#endif

and in your code define:

#define MY_RS485_HWSERIAL
#define MY_RS485_SWSERIAL mySerial

and see what happens :laughing:

ps. the #define of MY_RS485_HWSERIAL is still there since I'm not sure what will be missing for serial communication if that is not defined.

[kduino]

HI PJR,
thank you very much for your reply. I did as you suggested but were not able to test during the last days.
Today I wired it up and it worked. Unfortunately updating some sensor code it is currently not working but as soon as possible I will post the whole sketch together with the adapted MyTransportRS485.ccp.

By kduino

[kduino]

Hi PJR,
would you mind explaining me the reason for defining MY_RS485_HWSERIAL?
Thank you,
by kduino

[kduino]

I did it like this:

#if defined(__linux__)
SerialPort _dev = SerialPort(MY_RS485_HWSERIAL);
#elif defined(MY_RS485_SWSERIAL)
SoftwareSerial& _dev = MY_RS485_SWSERIAL;
#elif defined(MY_RS485_HWSERIAL)
HardwareSerial& _dev = MY_RS485_HWSERIAL;
#else
AltSoftSerial _dev;
#endif

The Arduino code is extended by:

// Enable debug prints to serial monitor
#define MY_DEBUG

// Enable RS485 transport layer
#define MY_RS485

// Define this to enables DE-pin management on defined pin
#define MY_RS485_DE_PIN 3

// Set RS485 baud rate to use
#define MY_RS485_BAUD_RATE 9600

// Enable this if RS485 is connected to a hardware serial port
//#define MY_RS485_HWSERIAL Serial1

// Enable this if RS485 is connected to Software Serial port:
#include <SoftwareSerial.h>
SoftwareSerial softSerial(4, 2); //rx, tx
#define MY_RS485_SWSERIAL softSerial

#include <MySensors.h>

[pjr]

@kduino said in How to use SoftwareSerial Library?:

Hi PJR,
would you mind explaining me the reason for defining MY_RS485_HWSERIAL?
Thank you,
by kduino

Take a look at MySensors.h:

#elif defined(MY_RS485)
  #if !defined(MY_RS485_HWSERIAL)
    #if defined(__linux__)
      #error You must specify MY_RS485_HWSERIAL for RS485 transport
    #endif
    #include "drivers/AltSoftSerial/AltSoftSerial.cpp"
  #endif
  #include "hal/transport/MyTransportRS485.cpp"
..

If I read this correctly it loads also AltSoftSerial if you dont define MY_RS485_HWSERIAL
Of course I can read this wrong..

[kduino]

Hi PJR,
thanks a lot! This is obvious. Please apologize that I didn't take a look at this site. So the MyTransportRS485.cpp is loaded only in case of defining MY_HWSERIAL... This explains why it was not working after skipping the MY_HWSERIAL definition.
Unfortunately I was not able to run another test now but I hope it will come up soon.
The changes regarding softwareSerial would be a great help for those who are not able to use the altSoftSerial pins.
Once it is running stable I will post a request @hek to ask for implementation.
I will come back with more tests.
By kduino

PS: It seams that during compilation it loads also the AltSoftSerial.cpp. In case of use of the SoftwareSerial it would be unnecessary overhead, of course. Is there a reason why it is loaded at this stage? I would rather load it at MyTransportXYZ.cpp.

[kduino]

Hi PJR,
now it is working with this code in the MyTransportRS485 without any changes on MySensors.h:

#if defined(MY_RS485_SWSERIAL)
SoftwareSerial& _dev = MY_RS485_SWSERIAL;
#elif defined(__linux__)
SerialPort _dev = SerialPort(MY_RS485_HWSERIAL);
#elif defined(MY_RS485_HWSERIAL)
HardwareSerial& _dev = MY_RS485_HWSERIAL;
#else
AltSoftSerial _dev;
#endif

As far as I can interpret the peace of code, the
#include "hal/transport/MyTransportRS485.cpp"
is active as soon as the MY_RS485 layer is defined.

This is a great step, I can use all my nodes from now on!
Thank you very much for your support!
By Kduino