15 Dec 08 Linksys WRT54G Serial Console

Adding a serial port to your Linksys WRT54G, WRT54GS, WRT54GL and probably a wide range more is really really easy. The only thing we need is a serial to ttl converter. I personally followed the guide right here: http://www.rwhitby.net/projects/wrt54gs – works perfectly, and very well laid out. This http://www.compsys1.com/workbench/On_top_of_the_Bench/Max233_Adapter/max233_adapter.html is where I purchased my MAX232 kit from.

MAX232

MAX232

This is the device in it’s entirety. Leave the “Ct/Rt” unconnected, and connect + (+5V), – (GND), Tx and Rx according to the guide. You can then use your favorite serial terminal client to connect using 11500,8N1. You’ll need a null modem cable (serial crossover) to connect. Now it’s been some time since I worked on the Linksys WRT range. The earlier versions allow for a full firmware flash, later versions have seriously crippled hardware and a proprietory OS (VxWorks), and as such as pretty useless to hobbyists. If soldering this tiny board is too much trouble, you can also get hold of a MAX2323CPE chip, which only needs 4 ceramic capacitors to do it’s job.

Tags: capacitor, linksys router, MAX232, max2323cpe, serial console, serial to ttl, wrt54g

14 Nov 08 The Robot: A body, Sensors and Good Progress

Progress is going really well and I’m happy so far. Unfortunately I didn’t want to show the body yet as it is so far from finished but as I haven’t posted an update in a while I decided to just go with it.

Front

Head

The body is ever so slightly lop sided by a few mm here and there which is a shame however from a short distance you wouldn’t notice, it stands up straight and weight distribution is equal throughout the base plate so I’m happy with it. Ok, ‘professionally’ the body’s a mess however for my zero experience in that kind of work, I’m reasonably happy.

This is the front of it, top is a mounted webcam, to the left of that is a phidgets temperature sensor and top right is a phidgets light sensor. I am waiting to add 8 colored status LEDs around a small flat panel 5v stereo speaker as a ‘mouth’ (I got it from a Nokia phone bundle).
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Tags: battery pack, distance sensor, IR remotes, irda, LED, light sensor, Linux, Linux robot, MAX232, motor controller, nimh, phidget, phidgets sensor, picolcd, picopsu, polycarbonate glue, sabertooth, serial port, stereo speaker, temperature sensor, the robot, usb phidgets, usb sensor kit, webcam