How do I connect Netduino+ to a pc wireless?

How can I connect my Netduino+ to my computer wireless? Thank you!

(No cables between the robot and any router, unless the router is on the robot and not connecting to anything else)

There are adapters to bridge wired ethernet and Wifi. Found this article on the subject in general:

http://howto.cnet.co...r-home-network/

I've got some old D-Link product at home that does this for me. Such a link would be totally transparent to your Netduino. You could of course also get a Wifi-shield to do the job but then you probably can't take advantage of the built in networking capabilities of the N2+. Instead you would need a special driver.

If you don't need full TCP/IP, you can use Bluetooth or a pair of serial <-> 433Mhz (315Mhz) radio tranceivers. I think there are such devices that works transparently over a regular serial line. This would probably be the simplest solution.

For Bluetooth you need a combination of two things - the first is a tiny USB dongle that goes into your PC and the second is a Bluetooth module that you connect to the UART of your Netduino:

http://www.ebay.com/...=item51a5ccadd8

http://www.ebay.com/...=item4ac1878b21

As for the 433Mhz (315Mhz) radio option, you need something like a pair of these tranceivers:

http://www.ebay.com/...=item4ab41f2491

EDIT: Note that Bluetooth is short range (usually some 10 metres) while 433Mhz (315Mhz) radio can reach up to 100 metres. The frequency 433Mhz is used in Europe and 315Mhz is used in the US.

EDIT: The Bluetooth alternative would probably also let you control the Netduino from a SmartPhone which could be really cool.

I find that the Edimax BR-6258n NANO works quite well for this purpose,

http://www.amazon.co...sl_3j9dmxb197_b

Here is how to set it up,

http://www.edimax.us...rastructure.pdf

There are adapters to bridge wired ethernet and Wifi. Found this article on the subject in general:

http://howto.cnet.co...r-home-network/

 

I've got some old D-Link product at home that does this for me. Such a link would be totally transparent to your Netduino. You could of course also get a Wifi-shield to do the job but then you probably can't take advantage of the built in networking capabilities of the N2+. Instead you would need a special driver.

 

If you don't need full TCP/IP, you can use Bluetooth or a pair of serial <-> 433Mhz (315Mhz) radio tranceivers. I think there are such devices that works transparently over a regular serial line. This would probably be the simplest solution.

 

For Bluetooth you need a combination of two things - the first is a tiny USB dongle that goes into your PC and the second is a Bluetooth module that you connect to the UART of your Netduino:

http://www.ebay.com/...=item51a5ccadd8

http://www.ebay.com/...=item4ac1878b21

 

As for the 433Mhz (315Mhz) radio option, you need something like a pair of these tranceivers:

http://www.ebay.com/...=item4ab41f2491

 

EDIT: Note that Bluetooth is short range (usually some 10 metres) while 433Mhz (315Mhz) radio can reach up to 100 metres. The frequency 433Mhz is used in Europe and 315Mhz is used in the US.

 

EDIT: The Bluetooth alternative would probably also let you control the Netduino from a SmartPhone which could be really cool.

 I thing I'll go with radio option, if the wifi wont work. Thank you!

I find that the Edimax BR-6258n NANO works quite well for this purpose,

 

http://www.amazon.co...sl_3j9dmxb197_b

 

Here is how to set it up,

 

http://www.edimax.us...rastructure.pdf

Thank you very much, how does it work?

I connect the netduino to it, and then what?

Thank you very much, how does it work?

I connect the netduino to it, and then what?

You configure the adapter according to the pdf instructions. I use a fixed IP address for the adapter outside of the router DHCP address range and also give my Netduino a fixed IP address. For example,

Router LAN address: 192.168.0.1 Router DHCP range: 192.168.0.100-254 Ethernet adapter address: 192.168.0.3 <-- fixed IP address Netduino address: 192.168.0.50 <-- Fixed IP address

(1) Setup the adapter (IP address, SSID, Wpa key) (2) let the adapter connect to the network (check by pinging it) (3) Once the adapter has established itself on the LAN, plug in the Netduino to the adapter and wait a bit. (4) Ping the Netduino IP address and it should respond if all went well.

If steps 1-4 completed successfully, execute arp -a and in the arp table you should see the Netduino IP address and the adapter address, but the Netduino will now be associated with the adapter MAC address. You will need to take this into consideration if you are using if you are using the actual Netduino MAC for some reason, but otherwise it is the same as if you had just connected the Netduino to the router through an ethernet connection.

You configure the adapter according to the pdf instructions. I use a fixed IP address for the adapter outside of the router DHCP address range and also give my Netduino a fixed IP address. For example,

 

Router LAN address: 192.168.0.1 Router DHCP range: 192.168.0.100-254 Ethernet adapter address: 192.168.0.3 <-- fixed IP address Netduino address: 192.168.0.50 <-- Fixed IP address

 

(1) Setup the adapter (IP address, SSID, Wpa key) (2) let the adapter connect to the network (check by pinging it) (3) Once the adapter has established itself on the LAN, plug in the Netduino to the adapter and wait a bit. (4) Ping the Netduino IP address and it should respond if all went well.

 

If steps 1-4 completed successfully, execute arp -a and in the arp table you should see the Netduino IP address and the adapter address, but the Netduino will now be associated with the adapter MAC address. You will need to take this into consideration if you are using if you are using the actual Netduino MAC for some reason, but otherwise it is the same as if you had just connected the Netduino to the router through an ethernet connection.

Thank you very much!

I ordered the router you suggested. You helped me a lot.

Yes it does run on a battery. I have a 6600 mAh battery with two outputs, 5V @ 1A and 5V @ 2.1A and it runs just fine on the 1A output. I don't know how much current it is drawing; I guess I should measure it sometime.

The AC adapter that comes with it is 5V 1A so actual power draw ought to be less, hopefully significantly less. It would be interesting to know so if you could find the time at some point... 

It's rather small as it is and if needed, one could rip out the PCB and use that alone for portable stuff or just to keep overall size to a minimum.

I just purchased a WIZ105SR serial to ethernet bridge and it draws 200 mA so the Edimax with a radio will probably draw more than this, but less than 500 mA because the Edimax can be powered from a USB port. I did a test with my battery and it maintained power to the Edimax for about 8 to 10 hrs.

Hello Hanzibal.

You don't need a regulator to reduce the mAh. You only need a regulator if your voltage doesn't match. If you have a battery capacity of 6000mAh and your device consumes only 500mA you could theoretically run your device for 12 hours (6000mAh / 500mA).

Hello Hanzibal.

It might have to do with the way a battery capacity is stated. Asuming the battery has not aged and has the capacity the manufacture states, the capacity is usually only acessible when discharging it with a certain load over a specified time. Peak discharges (I don't know if these occur in a wifi device), device impedance and signal strength of both transceivers might cause deviations in battery operating time but I guess I'm getting off topic now :-)

I was just looking for it for a future project.

Those Edimax  adapter are really  good solution and ready made solution. No more fight with wi-fi shield!

Thanks a lot!

if it doesent have to be ethernet, id go with a bluetooth module. they are very cheap on ebay, and its serial communication. doesent need any extra code to work.

http://forums.netdui...ss-programming/

(i not only use them for programming, nearly all my "projects" have one now, to send data from pc to the project)

//edit: sadly hey doubled in price the last few weeks

I'm picking up on of these http://www.icidu.com...outer-150n.html in a few days. Should work similarly to the Edimax but should be more easily available in Europe. Also stated to consume only 1.2W so ought to be interesting for autonomous projects.

Will report back once I've had a chance to play with it later next week.

Hi jessesteinen,

It's been a while now and I just read your post as I was looking for a compatible/compact ethernet-wireless adapter for an autonomous project. So have you tested the Icidu model you linked? Did it work? As I'm french it's very hard here to find the Edimax model...

Could I use a male to male USB cable to power the Edimax BR-6258n NANO via the N+2 if I have a battery providing power to the N+2?