Netduino - WiFi

Thanks Nick, I will give it a go, I think I have a usb TTL adapter somewhere. In regards to the web example, I was perhaps wondering how to change the state of an LED and also be able to check the state of an LED as a basic example. This should allow me to figure out how to do most things. I am planning on logging data to a web server recording ph and temperature readings and also being able to control various things and update variables such as timers and thresholds. I will let you know how I get on with the flash, Thanks, Andy

I just got a gainspan 1011 breakout board in the mail to give my netduino some wireless comm. I looked at the datasheet and it appeared all I had to do to it was put power and rs232 on it and start throwing AT commands down the serial connection. I'm using my netduino for powering the gainspan board. I'm using a rs232 cable with flying leads coming from my computer and a program called RealTerm (v2) for talking to it. I started with the my settings at 9600,8,n,1. When I send the "AT\r" command, I just get jibberish back. It looks like the baud settings are wrong, but those are the default settings from what I can tell. Does anybody have any ideas as to what I'm doing wrong?

Hi, Can you tell me the commands I need to pass using the usb ttl device to firstly connect to my network and secondly do the firmware update. I have connected to the device and have found my network but can't figure out how to connect to it? Also I have no idea what I need to do to flash the new firrmware on to it? I am using the tera term app that came with the firmware update files. Thanks in advadance your help is much appreciated. Andy

Hi,

Can you tell me the commands I need to pass using the usb ttl device to firstly connect to my network and secondly do the firmware update.

I have connected to the device and have found my network but can't figure out how to connect to it?

Also I have no idea what I need to do to flash the new firrmware on to it?

I am using the tera term app that came with the firmware update files.

Thanks in advadance your help is much appreciated.

Andy

If you're using a USB-to-TTL connection, just connect it directly to the Gainspan. You do not need to connect to any network. You're using UART comms at that point.

If you have the full documentation, the FIrmware download should have provided a com port program to use for updating the firmware (note: this is not the Tera Term app; it is another app in the download files. SOrry, I don't remember the name of it at the moment).

Andy, The firmware update program is called gs_flashprogram.exe. It is simple to use. Let me know how it goes. Nick

I just got a gainspan 1011 breakout board in the mail to give my netduino some wireless comm. I looked at the datasheet and it appeared all I had to do to it was put power and rs232 on it and start throwing AT commands down the serial connection. I'm using my netduino for powering the gainspan board. I'm using a rs232 cable with flying leads coming from my computer and a program called RealTerm (v2) for talking to it. I started with the my settings at 9600,8,n,1. When I send the "AT\r" command, I just get jibberish back. It looks like the baud settings are wrong, but those are the default settings from what I can tell. Does anybody have any ideas as to what I'm doing wrong?

According to the documentation, the module requires repeatedly sending the "AT\r" command until an "OK" response is received. Are you sending "AT\r" multiple times until you receive "OK"? If you are, and you're never getting an "OK", it sounds like a baud rate or wiring/setup issue.

Here is a video example I've been meaning to upload. It uses two Netduino's. Each Netduino contains a Gainspan GS1011MIP module and an RGB LED. The Netduino's are powered from 9v batteries, so they are completely wireless.

In this video, the Netduino's connect to each other via an ad-hoc Wi-Fi connection- there are no routers or computers involved in this demo. At the start, each Netduino powers up and sets its LED high. After a short initialization delay, the first Netduino then sends a TCP message to the other Netduino to set a random color for its LED. The second Netduino responds and sets its color. Then the second Netduino sends a TCP message to the first Netduino to set its LED to a random color. The first Netduino responds by setting its color and then sends a message back to the second Netduino, etc., etc...

The effect is a visual representation of the ad-hoc TCP messages between the two Gainspan modules. This could be the basis for a wireless sensor network. I did a rough test in the backyard and these modules can talk back and forth out to 150 feet apart in an open-air scenario.


I moved the modules around in the video just to demonstrate that it is completely wireless. It is kind of a long video, but still cool. My bag of Doritos and my iPad make a brief cameo appearance. Lol

Netduino: Gainspan ad-hoc Wi-Fi communications

According to the documentation, the module requires repeatedly sending the "AT\r" command until an "OK" response is received. Are you sending "AT\r" multiple times until you receive "OK"? If you are, and you're never getting an "OK", it sounds like a baud rate or wiring/setup issue.

Thanks, but I have tried sending the AT command several times. I even took the time to ohm out the pinouts from the breakout board back to the module and everything seems to be good. I think it's a baud rate issue, but since it's out of the box it should have the default settings. Do you know of a way to reset to factory defaults without using AT commands?

Thanks, but I have tried sending the AT command several times. I even took the time to ohm out the pinouts from the breakout board back to the module and everything seems to be good. I think it's a baud rate issue, but since it's out of the box it should have the default settings. Do you know of a way to reset to factory defaults without using AT commands?

Webenglar,

Have you tried different baud rates to see if you can match with the module?
Are you using 3.3v levels?
Do you have tx on the module going to rx on the computer and rx on the computer going to tx on the module?


I apologize if these questions seem real basic, but just wanted to make sure.

I will check if there is a way to reset to factory default without the uart and will let you know shortly.

Thanks,
Nick

Webenglar,

Have you tried different baud rates to see if you can match with the module?
Are you using 3.3v levels?
Do you have tx on the module going to rx on the computer and rx on the computer going to tx on the module?


I apologize if these questions seem real basic, but just wanted to make sure.

I will check if there is a way to reset to factory default without the uart and will let you know shortly.

Thanks,
Nick

I did try different baud rates. No luck. I also thought I saw in either the datasheet or the manual that you can use a PC to talk to it. I'm going straight from the serial port of my laptop to the module. I don't know what the voltage is, I will double check that. Tx and Rx are connected properly. What program to you use to transfer your AT commands?

I did try different baud rates. No luck. I also thought I saw in either the datasheet or the manual that you can use a PC to talk to it. I'm going straight from the serial port of my laptop to the module. I don't know what the voltage is, I will double check that. Tx and Rx are connected properly. What program to you use to transfer your AT commands?

Oops. You cannot connect directly from a PC serial port to the module. You will need to get 3.3V logic levels, and a standard serial port on a computer is not 3.3V. See how serial ports work. A USB-to-3.3V TTL converter works fine, and that is what I use.

Oops. You cannot connect directly from a PC serial port to the module. You will need to get 3.3V logic levels, and a standard serial port on a computer is not 3.3V. See how serial ports work. A USB-to-3.3V TTL converter works fine, and that is what I use.

Awesome. I'll give it a try and report back.

Edit: I just got my "OK" that I was looking for. Now, on to the WiFi'n. Thanks for the help Nick.

I got everything working just fine and thought I'd share one other stumbling point I came across. Hopefully, this will save someone some time and aggravation.

A co-worker had a CP2103 laying around the office so I used that for my 3.3V TTL and downloaded the drivers from sparkfun. That's when I got my first "OK" from the Gainspan board. Everything else I tried to do would give me an "ERROR". So I looked to reinstall the drivers and went here to get some new ones. I had to do this for both my XP and my Win7 machines. The drivers I got from this website uninstalled my old drivers and put the new ones on. Everything is working great now.

Hi Webenglar! I have looked everywhere on the gainspan site (I have the non disclosure) but cannot find anything that contains the gs_flashprogram.exe have you had any look ? Cheers Andy **** Worked it out **** If anyone else is struggling... Download the MXP Eval Kit Install the eval software Goto to C:\Gainspan\ Install gs_flashprogram.exe Get a ttl to usb device and your netduino for 3.3v Connect up the tx, rx, gnd and 3.3v (remember rx to tx, tx to rx) Before you power up you need to connect a wire from the g27 to 3.3v Power up, wait 5 seconds and disconnect g27. Open gs_flashprogram Select the three files required for the firmware update the first is in C:\GainSpan\EvalKit\2_3_1\WLAN Firmware (WFW)\bin and the last 2 are in C:\GainSpan\EvalKit\2_3_1\userapps\Serial to Wi-Fi (S2W)\bin\Web Server Provisioning Tick the three checkboxes and click update. Done

Hi Webenglar! I have looked everywhere on the gainspan site (I have the non disclosure) but cannot find anything that contains the gs_flashprogram.exe have you had any look ? Cheers Andy

**** Worked it out ****

If anyone else is struggling...

Download the MXP Eval Kit

Install the eval software

Goto to C:\Gainspan\

Install gs_flashprogram.exe

Get a ttl to usb device and your netduino for 3.3v

Connect up the tx, rx, gnd and 3.3v (remember rx to tx, tx to rx)

Before you power up you need to connect a wire from the g27 to 3.3v

Power up, wait 5 seconds and disconnect g27.

Open gs_flashprogram

Select the three files required for the firmware update the first is in C:\GainSpan\EvalKit\2_3_1\WLAN Firmware (WFW)\bin

and the last 2 are in C:\GainSpan\EvalKit\2_3_1\userapps\Serial to Wi-Fi (S2W)\bin\Web Server Provisioning

Tick the three checkboxes and click update.

Done

Hi,
Where can i Download the MXP Eval Kit? can you post a link?
Thanks

Hi,

You need to sign an NDA here is the link to register, there is a form you have to complete, sign and send, it usually takes a couple of days for them to get it back.

Register

Andy

Hi,
Where can i Download the MXP Eval Kit? can you post a link?
Thanks

I bought a Netduino Plus but decided I really need to go wireless, so I picked up a Gainspan WiFi breakout board from Sparkfun (http://www.sparkfun.com/products/10505) and after some fiddling with the AT commands, I was able to get a WiFi connection going.

I have the same board I was wondering if someone could help me get started with this board, just connecting to the internet.
I'm clueless as to how to start.

Thanks

Hi, i have aslo NetDuino + and i have connected ND+ to internet and to other computer(s), also Android Tablet PC, over router : Linksys WRT54GL-DE 54 Mbps 4-Port 10/100 Wireless G Router Works Ok . www.zlatnajedra.com

Hello guys, I've connected this wifi device to netduino and encountered the problem with sending any commands. The only response I could get was an echo. Command ATE0/r and others didn't seem to be working. I've triedsolutions shared here but they don't work for me as well . Only echo back with the sent command. Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

Hello, I know this is an old post but, Nick F. Have you been able to use the GS1011 with SPI? I'm trying to do SPI but a constant logic high is always being outputted. Also, do you have any idea on how to access the registers directly? I don't see any AT commands for that. Thanks a lot!