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Ken I have successfully got 2- BX24's to talk to each other using statusqueue, and I also found that timing is v important. I found that a debug.print in the receive loop was too slow and resulted in missed bytes. I can post you some working code if you wish. neil Michael Puchol wrote: > This timing issue is very true, and I've seen it happen - StatusQueue > is > very fast, and will miss two consecutive bytes arriving, they simply > don't > arrive fast enough. > > What you can do is this, if you want a routine that will grab a > variable > amount of data with a certain timeout: > > // BEGIN CODE > > Dim tmpString as String * 10 ' <= Change this to accomodate longer or > > shorter strings > Dim InChar as Byte > Dim TimeOut as Single > > TimeOut = Timer > > Wait_OK: > > ' Fill a string with incoming characters. Can be applied to a byte > array by > using an incremental counter > If StatusQueue(InBuffer) Then > Call GetQueue(InBuffer, InChar, 1) > tmpString = tmpString & Chr(InChar) > If Timer < (TimeOut + 5.0) Then ' <= Applies a 5 second > timeout, i.e. > the routine will wait for five seconds after the last byte is received > > before continuing > Goto Wait_OK > End If > End If > > // END CODE > > Hope it helps, > > Mike > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Doug" <> > To: <> > Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2003 2:25 PM > Subject: Re: [BasicX] Continued problems with pseudo networking > > Ken, > > > > Think about what you are doing here ... on the sending > > processor you loop 10 times and send 10 bytes which is > > the contents of the array ... on the receiving processor > > you check StatusQueue only ONCE and then loop ten times > > executing GetQueue. The issue is timing ... what happens > > on the receiving end when the loop counter increments > > and the bytes are not there yet? You need to make this > > purely asynchronous. > > > > In other words forget receiving an array, receive > > individual bytes and stuff them into an array. The > > sending end can probably stay the same. But on the > > receiving end you need to ditch the For loop. Rather > > than using the For loop use a counter to count the > > bytes. You want the StatusQueue to be triggered TEN > > times, not ONCE. Try this ... > > > > Dim ByteCtr As Integer > > Dim InData As Byte > > > > ByteCtr = 0 > > Do While (ByteCtr < 10) > > If StatusQueue(InBx) Then > > ByteCtr = ByteCtr + 1 > > Call GetQueue(InBx, InData , 1) > > Array(ByteCtr) = InData > > End If > > Loop > > > > This way StatusQueue will be triggered for each byte > > that arrives on the pin. I'm not surprised that your > > code doesn't work ... your For loop chugs along > > before the next byte arrives ... there is not a one > > to one matching between StatusQueue and GetQueue ... > > > > -- Doug > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ADVERTISEMENT > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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Ken, Perhaps you should post your code ... -- Doug Ken wrote: >After a week of playing with my pseudo networking idea between two BX-35's, >I am totally frustrated. StatusQueue does not seem to work as the manual >says it should (nor does GetQueueCount) and data between the two chips is >frequently corrupt (if it even shows up at the "other" BX at all). > >There is nothing fancy about my code - I am simply trying to move 10 bytes >from one BX to another BX. Perhaps I need to re-evaluate my use of the '35s >for my application...

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Ken, This may not make sense ... but I would try putting the array value into a single byte and sending the single byte ... and on the other end receiving into a single byte then loading it into an array. I'm just grasping at straws here, but better to eliminate the array from the debugging. Also, do some debug statements on those incoming bytes before they are put into the array. What type of data is in the array? Just FYI Protean logic has some serial buffer ICs in 8-in DIP format. They hold data in a buffer if the microcontroller can't read the data fast enough or if it's doing other things. For example let's say you want to read from three different devices, definining Com3 on different pins, you can use the buffer ICs to hold the data. Then you can cycle between the three devices and not lose data from any of the three inputs. They are called RS509s ... I have some here but have not tried them yet. Will be trying them soon. On some of my projects I have multiple human input devices where I want to read them all and never miss any bits. http://www.protean-logic.com/Applications/an034/an034.htm http://www.protean-logic.com/Applications/an012/rsb509.htm You shouldn't need these to just connect two BX35s together, but they may come in handy if you want the Com3 port to cycle between different inputs ... -- Doug

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Ken, Think about what you are doing here ... on the sending processor you loop 10 times and send 10 bytes which is the contents of the array ... on the receiving processor you check StatusQueue only ONCE and then loop ten times executing GetQueue. The issue is timing ... what happens on the receiving end when the loop counter increments and the bytes are not there yet? You need to make this purely asynchronous. In other words forget receiving an array, receive individual bytes and stuff them into an array. The sending end can probably stay the same. But on the receiving end you need to ditch the For loop. Rather than using the For loop use a counter to count the bytes. You want the StatusQueue to be triggered TEN times, not ONCE. Try this ... Dim ByteCtr As Integer Dim InData As Byte ByteCtr = 0 Do While (ByteCtr < 10) If StatusQueue(InBx) Then ByteCtr = ByteCtr + 1 Call GetQueue(InBx, InData , 1) Array(ByteCtr) = InData End If Loop This way StatusQueue will be triggered for each byte that arrives on the pin. I'm not surprised that your code doesn't work ... your For loop chugs along before the next byte arrives ... there is not a one to one matching between StatusQueue and GetQueue ... -- Doug

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Sending processor sends a byte ... Receiving processor reads StatusQueue and triggers the For Loop ... loads the first value in array (1) ... then increments the For loop ... Sending processor sends another byte ... Receiving processor reads StatusQueue and starts the For loop all over again! The array index goes back to 1 and ... you will never stuff the right array elements into the right position ... -- Doug

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After a week of playing with my pseudo networking idea between two BX-35's, I am totally frustrated. StatusQueue does not seem to work as the manual says it should (nor does GetQueueCount) and data between the two chips is frequently corrupt (if it even shows up at the "other" BX at all). There is nothing fancy about my code - I am simply trying to move 10 bytes from one BX to another BX. Perhaps I need to re-evaluate my use of the '35s for my application... Ken (rant over.....)

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At 12:28 PM 4/1/2003 +0200, you wrote: Perhaps you should post your code ... <---Here it is 1st BX-35 (this code is only called if a certain event occurs.) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- Dim OutBx(1 to 30) as Byte Dim InBx(1 to 30) as Byte Dim Array(1 to 10) as Byte Dim A as Byte Call OpenQueue(InBx, 30) Call OpenQueue(OutBx, 30) Call DefineCom3(21, 22, bx0000_1000) Call OpenCom(3, 19200, InBx, OutBx) For A = 1 to 10 Call PutQueue(OutBx, Array(A) , 1) Next ---------------------------------------------------------------- 2nd BX-35 (this is a continuous Do loop) ---------------------------------------------------------- Dim OutBx(1 to 30) as Byte Dim InBx(1 to 30) as Byte Dim Array(1 to 10) as Byte Dim A as Byte Call OpenQueue(InBx, 30) 'Open Queues and Comport Call OpenQueue(OutBx, 30) Call DefineCom3(1, 3, bx0000_1000) '8 bit, no parity, non-inverted Call OpenCom(3, 19200, InBx, OutBx) 'open com port at 19,200 baud rate If StatusQueue(InBx) Then For A = 1 to 10 Call GetQueue(InBx, Command_Array(A) , 1) Debug.Print CStr(Command_Array(A)) Sleep(0.01) Next End If Call ClearQueue(InBx) --------------------------------------------------------------------------- (the debug.print statement is in for testing purposes only and I've tried different values for the sleep call) 1st BX 2nd BX --------- ---------- Pin 21 ---------------> Pin 3 Pin 22 ---------------> Pin 1

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Ooops... in the second BX code, the variable should be Array, not Command_Array Ken ------ http://www.ah6le.net Version 3.0 of the RC-110 controller is now available. http://www.ah6le.net/arcom/rc110.html Coming soon! The RC-210 controller with tons more features! AH6LE/R - IRLP Node 3000 http://www.irlp.net

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Change your Send routine to... Call PutQueue(OutBx, Array(1), 10) Change your receive routine to... If StatusQueue(InBx) Then Call Delay(0.025) 'You may need to play with this value Call GetQueue(InBx, Command_Array(1), 10) For A = 1 to 10 Debug.Print CStr(Command_Array(A)) Next End If On 1 Apr 2003, at 9:58, Ken Arck wrote: > At 12:28 PM 4/1/2003 +0200, you wrote: > > Perhaps you should post your code ... > > <---Here it is > > 1st BX-35 (this code is only called if a certain event occurs.) > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > ------ ---------- > > Dim OutBx(1 to 30) as Byte > Dim InBx(1 to 30) as Byte > Dim Array(1 to 10) as Byte > Dim A as Byte > > Call OpenQueue(InBx, 30) > Call OpenQueue(OutBx, 30) > Call DefineCom3(21, 22, bx0000_1000) > Call OpenCom(3, 19200, InBx, OutBx) > > For A = 1 to 10 > Call PutQueue(OutBx, Array(A) , 1) > Next > ---------------------------------------------------------------- > 2nd BX-35 (this is a continuous Do loop) > ---------------------------------------------------------- > > Dim OutBx(1 to 30) as Byte > Dim InBx(1 to 30) as Byte > Dim Array(1 to 10) as Byte > Dim A as Byte > > Call OpenQueue(InBx, 30) 'Open Queues and Comport > Call OpenQueue(OutBx, 30) > Call DefineCom3(1, 3, bx0000_1000) '8 bit, no parity, non-inverted > Call OpenCom(3, 19200, InBx, OutBx) 'open com port at 19,200 baud > rate > > If StatusQueue(InBx) Then > For A = 1 to 10 > Call GetQueue(InBx, Command_Array(A) , 1) > Debug.Print CStr(Command_Array(A)) > Sleep(0.01) > Next > End If > Call ClearQueue(InBx) > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > (the debug.print statement is in for testing purposes only and I've > tried different values for the sleep call) > > 1st BX 2nd BX > --------- ---------- > > Pin 21 ---------------> Pin 3 > Pin 22 ---------------> Pin 1 > > > ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor > ---------------------~--> Get 128 Bit SSL Encryption! > http://us.click.yahoo.com/W7NydA/hdqFAA/VygGAA/dN_tlB/TM > ---------------------------------------------------------------------~ > - > > --- http://www.laser.com/dhouston/

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At 01:08 PM 4/1/2003 -0500, you wrote: >>>> Change your Send routine to... Call PutQueue(OutBx, Array(1), 10) <---Wouldn't that place the same value - Array(1) - 10 times into the queue? Ken ------ http://www.ah6le.net Version 3.0 of the RC-110 controller is now available. http://www.ah6le.net/arcom/rc110.html Coming soon! The RC-210 controller with tons more features! AH6LE/R - IRLP Node 3000 http://www.irlp.net

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This timing issue is very true, and I've seen it happen - StatusQueue is very fast, and will miss two consecutive bytes arriving, they simply don't arrive fast enough. What you can do is this, if you want a routine that will grab a variable amount of data with a certain timeout: // BEGIN CODE Dim tmpString as String * 10 ' <= Change this to accomodate longer or shorter strings Dim InChar as Byte Dim TimeOut as Single TimeOut = Timer Wait_OK: ' Fill a string with incoming characters. Can be applied to a byte array by using an incremental counter If StatusQueue(InBuffer) Then Call GetQueue(InBuffer, InChar, 1) tmpString = tmpString & Chr(InChar) If Timer < (TimeOut + 5.0) Then ' <= Applies a 5 second timeout, i.e. the routine will wait for five seconds after the last byte is received before continuing Goto Wait_OK End If End If // END CODE Hope it helps, Mike ----- Original Message ----- From: "Doug" <> To: <> Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2003 2:25 PM Subject: Re: [BasicX] Continued problems with pseudo networking > Ken, > > Think about what you are doing here ... on the sending > processor you loop 10 times and send 10 bytes which is > the contents of the array ... on the receiving processor > you check StatusQueue only ONCE and then loop ten times > executing GetQueue. The issue is timing ... what happens > on the receiving end when the loop counter increments > and the bytes are not there yet? You need to make this > purely asynchronous. > > In other words forget receiving an array, receive > individual bytes and stuff them into an array. The > sending end can probably stay the same. But on the > receiving end you need to ditch the For loop. Rather > than using the For loop use a counter to count the > bytes. You want the StatusQueue to be triggered TEN > times, not ONCE. Try this ... > > Dim ByteCtr As Integer > Dim InData As Byte > > ByteCtr = 0 > Do While (ByteCtr < 10) > If StatusQueue(InBx) Then > ByteCtr = ByteCtr + 1 > Call GetQueue(InBx, InData , 1) > Array(ByteCtr) = InData > End If > Loop > > This way StatusQueue will be triggered for each byte > that arrives on the pin. I'm not surprised that your > code doesn't work ... your For loop chugs along > before the next byte arrives ... there is not a one > to one matching between StatusQueue and GetQueue ... > > -- Doug

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From: "Michael Puchol" <> > This timing issue is very true, and I've seen it > happen - StatusQueue is very fast, and will miss > two consecutive bytes arriving, they simply don't > arrive fast enough. > > What you can do is this, if you want a routine > that will grab a variable amount of data with a > certain timeout: [...] Excellent point. Incidentally, the beta 2 IDE overloads GetQueue so you can specify an optional timeout. This was added in response to a suggestion by Dave Houston. -- Frank Manning -- NetMedia, Inc.

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At 01:52 PM 4/1/2003 +0200, you wrote: >What type of data is in the array? <----Bytes >Think about what you are doing here ... on the sending >processor you loop 10 times and send 10 bytes which is >the contents of the array ... on the receiving processor >you check StatusQueue only ONCE and then loop ten times >executing GetQueue. The issue is timing ... what happens >on the receiving end when the loop counter increments >and the bytes are not there yet? <----I had assumed a queue was FIFO and each byte remained in the queue until either flushed or read. So if I stuffed 10 bytes into the sending queue, they would remain there until "plucked" out - one at a time - by the receiving queue and timing wouldn't be an issue. Apparently this is not the case.... I'll try your code and see how it goes. Thanks to you, Dave and others who have offered me assistance! Ken ------ http://www.ah6le.net Version 3.0 of the RC-110 controller is now available. http://www.ah6le.net/arcom/rc110.html Coming soon! The RC-210 controller with tons more features! AH6LE/R - IRLP Node 3000 http://www.irlp.net

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From: Ken Arck <> > From: Doug <> >> >> Think about what you are doing here ... on the sending >> processor you loop 10 times and send 10 bytes which is >> the contents of the array ... on the receiving processor >> you check StatusQueue only ONCE and then loop ten times >> executing GetQueue. The issue is timing ... what happens >> on the receiving end when the loop counter increments >> and the bytes are not there yet? This is a good point, but in this case GetQueue blocks the task until data arrives. > I had assumed a queue was FIFO and each byte remained > in the queue until either flushed or read. That's correct. > So if I stuffed 10 bytes into the sending queue, they > would remain there until "plucked" out - one at a > time - by the receiving queue and timing wouldn't be > an issue. True. Timing is an issue, but not in this case. If you call GetQueue on an empty queue, the task halts until a byte arrives. -- Frank Manning -- NetMedia, Inc.

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At 03:12 PM 4/1/2003 +0200, you wrote: Ooops ... I didn't realize that ... so the receiving program halts completely? So then ... any idea why Ken's simple program doesn't reproduce the array on the other side? <---that's my question too. If I read Frank's comments correctly, doing it byte-by-byte should have worked. Ken ------ http://www.ah6le.net Version 3.0 of the RC-110 controller is now available. http://www.ah6le.net/arcom/rc110.html Coming soon! The RC-210 controller with tons more features! AH6LE/R - IRLP Node 3000 http://www.irlp.net

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From: Ken Arck <> > Doug wrote: > >> Ooops ... I didn't realize that ... so the receiving >> program halts completely? So then ... any idea why Ken's >> simple program doesn't reproduce the array on the other >> side? > > that's my question too. If I read Frank's comments > correctly, doing it byte-by-byte should have worked. One difficulty I see is in looking at code fragments instead of a working program. But making an educated guess, it's possible that a byte could arrive just after StatusQueue, but before ClearQueue. If that happens, ClearQueue will erase the byte, and the data is lost. This is just a guess -- the actual problem could be something completely different. I modified the receiving program to use Com1, which allows you to type data in the monitor port. In the program, if you uncomment the ClearQueue line, it's difficult to get the loop started. This may or may not be representative of the code in question. I'm kind of filling in the blank spots: '--------------------------------------------------------------- Option Explicit Dim OutBx(1 to 30) as Byte Dim InBx(1 to 30) as Byte Dim Command_Array(1 to 10) as Byte '--------------------------------------------------------------- Public Sub Main() Call OpenQueue(InBx, 30) Call OpenQueue(OutBx, 30) Call OpenCom(1, 19200, InBx, OutBx) Dim A As Integer Do If StatusQueue(InBx) Then Debug.Print Debug.Print "--- Receiving array ---" For A = 1 to 10 Call GetQueue(InBx, Command_Array(A), 1) Debug.Print CStr(A); " "; CStr(Command_Array(A)) Sleep(0.01) Next End If ' Original code was uncommented. '>> Call ClearQueue(InBx) Loop End Sub '--------------------------------------------------------------- -- Frank Manning -- NetMedia, Inc.

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