Hi Mikal,

I am a newbie in using Arduino. I tried already some codes with the Lilypad and a boardino and was able to make some code which worked. In a next step I also want to use your library to connect and “talk” to a GSM modem with AT commands, but it has not become clear to me which softserial port will become the Rx and which the Tx port in the following pin selection: e.g. NewSoftSerial gps(4,3); Is the 1st position, here 4, the Rx or the Tx? Thanks in advance for your answer!

Hi Mikal,

Thanks for the swift answer. Understood! Yes, arduino rocks It is great.

Best wishes,
3dotter

Hi Mikal,

I’m working with Keywon on her project, and I’ve found the issue. I’m posting it because I think it’s worth knowing. It appears the Windows machine had a /slightly/ older version of the version 10 library. In the newest version of the library, there is a segment in lines 45-57 that is supposed to define a mapping from pin numbers to PCICR/PCMSK variables. In the slightly older version, it works as intended, but in a fresh download the #if, #else, and #endif statements are commented out. This results in the macros being defined as NULL for every type of processor.

Hi Mikal,
Love your work. I have a simple question which I think based on the responses above, I may already now the answer.

Are there any problem with NewSoftSerial and version 0017?

The reason I ask, is that I have it working perfectly for transmitting data, but I get nothing when receiving.
I started with my GPS project which worked perfectly with the hardware serial, transferred it to NewSoftSerial and I didn’t receive anything. e.g. gps.available() always return 0. Transmitting beautifully at high speed but nothing in return.
I then went to the simple example where I echoed to the hardware serial and the NewSoftSerial (reverse wiring on pins 0,1 & 2,3), same thing happened , NewSoftSerial transmitted data ok but nothing in return. I tried all speeds from 4800 to 56900. Yes, I’ve wired it properly and yes I’m using the same speed for both ports. I know the information is being transmitted from the device because I’m remotely monitoring the signal and see it going there but NewSoftware is not picking it up.

I’m using the latest Arduino Duemilanove with ATMega328 and version 0017 loaded on a XP windows platform.

Thanks

quickly scanning through the code of the library it seems this library does not support very well 1200 bauds and even worse in my case with 7bits data word.

could someone confirm ?

cheers
cTiger

Hi,

I am trying the “NewSoftSerialTest” example code and it’s not working for me. I have pins 2 and 3 connected to each other and have set all baud rates to 9600. I’m using the Arduino Duemilanove 328. In the terminal I get “Goodnight moon!” and nothing else. I am expecting to see “Hello, world?”. Has anyone else run into this problem or know how I can continue trouble shooting (I’ve tried checking mySerial.available()>0)?

Here is the code:

#include

NewSoftSerial mySerial(2, 3);

void setup()
{
Serial.begin(9600);
Serial.println(“Goodnight moon!”);

// set the data rate for the NewSoftSerial port
mySerial.begin(9600);
mySerial.println(“Hello, world?”);
}

void loop() // run over and over again
{

if (mySerial.available()) {
Serial.print((char)mySerial.read());
}
if (Serial.available()) {
mySerial.print((char)Serial.read());
}
}

Mikal,

I forgot to mention with my previous quote that I am working on Mac OS X 10.5, Arduino 0017, and have also tried NewSoftSerial 9 as you suggested to Markham.

Thanks for the explanation. It works just fine now!

Thanks Mikal, version 10C works a whole lot better. However I did find out some interesting limitations.I also tried ver9 and it did the same thing.
I have a number of GPS units and there are two which I love the most, being;
-32 Channel San Jose Navigation GPS 5Hz Receiver with Antenna.
-Venus GPS Logger with SMA Connector.

Both can be programmed to output the exact same NMEA sentences, position update rate and communicate on 3.3V TTL serial.
The interesting thing is that NewSoftSerial communicates almost flawlessly with the Venus GPS from speeds of 9600 to 115200 (fantastic). However the San Joes unit has a number of communications problems with NewSoftSerial (incorrect data determination, not necessarily just data lost). The San Joes unit works perfectly at 9600. At 38400, data is lost and incorrect characters generated but just readable. At speeds higher than 38400, data is unreadable.

Clearly the two different units, although supposedly communicating at the same speed, their timings are microseconds slightly different. Clearly the hardware serial can read both units at any speed because it can buffer more information and adjusts itself accordingly. Unlike NewSoftSerial which has hardwired timings. I could play with the timings table and get the San Joes working perfectly but then I would suspect that my Venus unit would be affected.

Mikal what would be an excellent tool, is a small program that can generate the timings table for any device. e.g. use the hardware serial in parallel and adjust the timings until the same data is read with the NewSoftSerial program. Only one problem would be different units requiring different timings being used together.

Again Thanks Mikal.

Hi Mikal,

Thanks for the great library!

I’d like one clarification, with respect to the “active” serial object, and how switching to a new active object clears the previous object’s RX buffer.

Does this mean that when we create a function to deal with a serial input, it should loop “.available() > 0″ until it’s !> 0 before moving on to the next serial object, to make sure no incoming data is lost?

I hope this makes sense…

Thanks!
D!

Hi Mikal,
Its me again so.. i still have same problem with BMW IBUS connection – i’m using adapter from Rolf Resler and reading on pc data from ibus, and at the same time i’m reading same data via arduino\NSS.
Problem is: i’m getting about 1-3 bytes of “right” data and then ~ 3-6 bytes of mess…(typical message size on IBUS is about 8-10 bytes) so i’m usualy getting normal only few first bytes of almost every message….then wrong bytes till end of message, then again good few bytes etc…(i’m reading reference data via Rolf Resler adapter and comparing it with data coming from arduino)
I’m using arduino nano duo ( ATmega328 16 Mhz).

I think its because of timers in NSS, is there any way to adjust them(how to calculate right timers) ? What rxcenter rxintra rxstop tx means in NSS ?

By the way is it possible to implement more RX buffers at cost of memory space for more than 1 NSS device ? (ie change NSS so it will be possible set num of buffers in setup section of sketch)

p.s. sorry for my bad english.

Mikal, 9600.

Hi Mikal. noob question here…i’m using sparkfun’s 16×2 LCD (http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=9395)
and im trying to send stuff on the fly using the serial monitor (arduino). This lcd only has 1 connection to arduino…I tried using your library, but it’s not working for me help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

Mikal,

I’ve been beating my head against the wall on this. I am trying to set up communication between two arduinos. Here are the sketches for each arduino.

// Sending arduino

#include
#include
#define rxPin 2 // d2
#define txPin 3 // d3
LED led = LED(13);
NewSoftSerial mySerial(rxPin, txPin);
void setup() {}
void loop()
{
mySerial.begin(9600);
mySerial.print(“1″);
led.blink(1000);
delay(5000);
}

// Receiving arduino

#include
#include
#define rxPin 2 //d2
#define txPin 3 //d3
LED led = LED(13);
NewSoftSerial mySerial(rxPin, txPin);
void setup() {}
void loop()
{
mySerial.begin(9600);
if (mySerial.available()) {
mySerial.read();
led.blink(2000);
}
delay(5000);
}

What am I missing?
Thanks, Keith

Hi Mikal,

Great work.

At some point you asked about wishlist… Well, configurability, i.e. E,7, 1 style parity, data and stopbit configuration would be appreciated much. Currently I got an FT1.2 enabled KNX/EIB device (BIM113) to listen/talk to. And the FT1.2 protocol seems to require 8 data bits, EVEN parity and 1 stop bit (8E1 if I’m right ).

Any visibility about that? Or could you point a where in your lib to start work on that?

BR Joe

Mikal,

I made the changes you suggested and now the receiving arduino blinks on receive. For the next step I’d like the sending arduino to send the number of blinks to the receiver. Here is the what the receiver is doing:

int count = mySerial.read();
for (int blinks=0; blinks < count; blinks++) {
led.blink(500);
}

No matter what number I put in on the sending side, I get one blink. I’ve tried setting the mySerial.print() to pass an integer variable with no success.

Thanks so much!

Mikal,

I made a quick&dirty hack in recv() to ignore the parity bit and write() for 8E1, just to proceed with my project. I used the stop bit timing for the parity bit, and checked it with an oscilloscope @19200. The relevant code fragments below…

Generally I could think to improve it a bit.
- begin(): add 2nd parameter with type of parity (Ignore, None, Odd, Even, Mark, Space)
- recv(): _receive_parity_error flag to indicate a parity error during reception of a byte

But you are the owner (or maintainer) of the lib. It’s up to you to decide and integrate later on. And I would go ahead only then No need to work in vain.

Joe

void NewSoftSerial::recv()
{
…
// Read each of the 8 bits
for (uint8_t i=0×1; i; i <don’t care
// skip the stop bit
for (uint8_t i=1; i<2; i++) {
tunedDelay(_rx_delay_stopbit);
DebugPulse(_DEBUG_PIN2, 1);
}

void NewSoftSerial::write(uint8_t b)
{

// *JW* hack parity=EVEN
uint8_t parity= 0;

if (_tx_delay == 0)
return;

// *JW* Calculate parity = EVEN
for (byte mask = 0×01; mask; mask <<= 1)
if (b & mask) parity= !parity;

activate();

uint8_t oldSREG = SREG;
cli(); // turn off interrupts for a clean txmit

// Write the start bit
tx_pin_write(_inverse_logic ? HIGH : LOW);
tunedDelay(_tx_delay + XMIT_START_ADJUSTMENT);

// Write each of the 8 bits
if (_inverse_logic)
{
for (byte mask = 0×01; mask; mask <<= 1)
{
if (b & mask) // choose bit
tx_pin_write(LOW); // send 1
else
tx_pin_write(HIGH); // send 0

tunedDelay(_tx_delay);
}

// *JW* write parity = EVEN
tx_pin_write(parity ? LOW : HIGH);
tunedDelay(_tx_delay);

tx_pin_write(LOW); // restore pin to natural state
}
else
{
for (byte mask = 0×01; mask; mask <<= 1)
{
if (b & mask) // choose bit
tx_pin_write(HIGH); // send 1
else
tx_pin_write(LOW); // send 0

tunedDelay(_tx_delay);
}

// *JW* write parity = EVEN
tx_pin_write(parity ? HIGH : LOW);
tunedDelay(_tx_delay);

tx_pin_write(HIGH); // restore pin to natural state
}

SREG = oldSREG; // turn interrupts back on
tunedDelay(_tx_delay);
}

Are there any news about supporting the Arduino Mega? Anyone tried to get it working?

Thanks a lot.

Hello Mikal,
I have an speed issue.
While keeping an 5khz pulse running to an stepper motor I need to send my position and other data out via serial port at the same time.
I was hopeful the NewSoftSerial was faster.
But NO.

in my test both the NewSoftSerial and the old Serial use the standard 0&1 pins.
so I can only run the test once as the old serial will not release.

Question. Do you have any ideas how I can do my 2 things at the same time?

here is my test code for the Atmega328

// Speed test of new Soft Serial
#include

NewSoftSerial mySerial(0, 1);
int ver;
long val_1;
long val_2;
long time;

void setup()
{
// set the data rate for the NewSoftSerial port
mySerial.begin(57600);
mySerial.println(“Hello, world?”);
ver = NewSoftSerial::library_version();
mySerial.print(“NewSoftSerial::library_version = “);
mySerial.println(ver);
mySerial.println(“Speed test for 480 chars begin.”);
delay(1500);
}

void loop() // run over and over again
{
//NewSoftSerial mySerial(0, 1);
mySerial.begin(57600);
val_1 = millis();
mySerial.println(“The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.”);
mySerial.println(“The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.”);
mySerial.println(“The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.”);
mySerial.println(“The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.”);
mySerial.println(“The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.”);
mySerial.println(“The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.”);
mySerial.println(“The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.”);
mySerial.println(“The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.”);
mySerial.println(“The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.”);
mySerial.println(“The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.”);
val_2 = millis();
time = val_2 – val_1;
mySerial.print(“NewSoftSerial takes “);
mySerial.print(time);
mySerial.println(” to complete.”);
mySerial.println(“”);
mySerial.end();

delay(1200);

Serial.begin(57600);
val_1 = millis();
Serial.println(“The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.”);
Serial.println(“The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.”);
Serial.println(“The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.”);
Serial.println(“The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.”);
Serial.println(“The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.”);
Serial.println(“The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.”);
Serial.println(“The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.”);
Serial.println(“The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.”);
Serial.println(“The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.”);
Serial.println(“The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.”);
val_2 = millis();
time = val_2 – val_1;
Serial.print(“Old Serial takes “);
Serial.print(time);
Serial.println(” to complete!”);
Serial.println(“”);

delay(2000);
}

I tried to compile this library with the Antipasto Arduino IDE; it’s not working. I am getting several error messages. Has anyone found out how to solve this? I would love to use one IDE for Arduino and TouchShield Slide development.

Mikal,

I get the following error:
compile(), new thread run about to sketch.handleRun()
[echo] Building Arduino Diecimila, Duemilanove, or Nano w/ ATmega168 libraries…
[apply] /Applications/Arduino/hardware/cores/arduino/src/components/library/NewSoftSerial/NewSoftSerial.cpp: In member function ‘void NewSoftSerial::begin(long int)’:
[apply] /Applications/Arduino/hardware/cores/arduino/src/components/library/NewSoftSerial/NewSoftSerial.cpp:410: error: ‘NULL’ was not declared in this scope
[apply] /Applications/Arduino/hardware/cores/arduino/src/components/library/NewSoftSerial/NewSoftSerial.cpp: In member function ‘void NewSoftSerial::end()’:
[apply] /Applications/Arduino/hardware/cores/arduino/src/components/library/NewSoftSerial/NewSoftSerial.cpp:428: error: ‘NULL’ was not declared in this scope

This looks a bit like the issue regarding the macro’s as mentioned a few replies before mine?

Mikal,

I have a project I’m working on that will have 7 or 8 Arduino AT168 clones, each receiving button and switch inputs. I am then converting the button and switch inputs to actual keystrokes, and then I am sending those to the application on the PC. What I would like to do is have all the Arduino clones communicate their respective keystroke outputs back to a single Arduino, which would do the communicating with the PC. There would only be a single button or switch activated at a time.

Is this something that could be accomplished with this library?

Jim

Hi there,
I just started using your library and its pretty awesome.
I looked through the code and it looked to me that there was a slight chance for improvement.
I was thinking about replacing tunedDelay() with a timer based interrupt. Did you ever consider that? If you explain i.e give me sample code instead of assembly, and some timing info for this routine, maybe I could offer some help too.
Thanks

Hi Mikal,

I’m having exactly the same problem described by Andre Crone when compiling the library with the Antipasto Arduino IDE. I’d really like to use NewSoftSerial to talk to the TouchShield Slide. Any thoughts on what might be the problem?

Thanks, Kurt

You’re right Mikal – it was as simple as defining NULL in the header file.

Thanks!

Quick question… is there a way to configure only a single pin for Tx or Rx? For example, can I set up only a Tx pin to support a serial LCD unit and thus not waste a pin for Rx (since it will never be used)?

Thanks for some great work!

Excellent! Thank you Mikal.

Wanting to find out if I can do all this in the same sketch on an ATmega328 running at 3.3V/8MHz:

1. Use NewSoftSerial to communicate with GPS (pins 3,4 on Arduino)
2. Use the GPS logging libraries here: http://www.ladyada.net/make/gpsshield/logging.html, replacing the hardware UART with NewSoftSerial, to log GPS/sensor data to SD card
3. Read/write serial data to the hardware UART (connected to XBee, for example)

Is this asking too much of the available processing/RAM?

Thanks!

JDMartin,
If you have 7 arduinos and need to have them all feed data, you might be able to set them up in a round robin. IE: #1 sends to #2. #2 echoes #1 (or generates its own data) and sends #3, etc. This way, all of the output is sequentially fed downstream and you don’t have to deal with multiple simultaneous reads at the tail end.

So would I be able to have 4 seperate outputs (1 hardware UART and 3 newsoftserial) and run them all at 31250 baudrate?
If I sent a byte to each one how out of sync would they all be?

e.g.
If did this:
Serial.print(myByte);
MySerial1.print(myByte);
MySerial2.print(myByte);
MySerial3.print(myByte);

How much delay would there be between each byte being sent?

I noticed you added support for a 20mhz clock.
Is there anyway to make it work with an arduino running a 12mhz clock?

I’m using wiblock’s NB1A board that runs a 12mhz clock
http://wiblocks.luciani.org/NB1/NB1A-index.html

let me know if i need to bail…
Thanks
Jeff