ping not working

[kelly]

I see that ping requires a special build of Firmata. Are there more details on where to find the special build?

[rwaldron]

I haven't had a chance to document it and it's definitely a work in progress, but if you're feeling adventurous :)

(note, I only know how to walk you through on a Mac)

If Arduino IDE is open, quit!

# Get yourself into this directory...
cd /Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Resources/Java/libraries/

# make a backup of the existing Firmata
cp -r Firmata Firmata_stable

# rm Firmata
rm -r Firmata

# clone the experimental repo branch
git clone git://github.com/jgautier/arduino-1.git Firmata

# enter!
cd Firmata

# get the branch with pulseIn
git checkout -b pulseIn origin/pulseIn

Now open the Arduino IDE.

File > Examples > Firmata > Standard Firmata

Once that's loaded into the IDE, confirm it is the correct program by searching for "PULSE_IN"

Compile and upload!

If you receive an error about PULSE_IN not being in scope, then copy this:

#define PULSE_IN                0x74 // send a pulse in command

...and add it below this line:

#define REGISTER_NOT_SPECIFIED -1

Compile and upload to the Arduino. Close the IDE.

EDIT: (adding @korevec's additional instructions)

EDIT: March 2014, the steps below are no longer necessary, as the pulseIn branch ships in master

# Get into johnny-fives node module deps dir
cd johnny-five/node_modules

# copy the old firmata
cp -r firmata/ firmata-npm

# clone julian's upstream in place of the old firmata
git clone git://github.com/jgautier/firmata.git 

# enter the repo, create a pulseIn branch and pull julian's pulseIn branch
cd firmata && git checkout -b pulseIn && git pull origin pulseIn

Now you should be able to use Ping. Hopefully I haven't missed anything - let me know if I have :)

Also, I'm on IRC/freenode in #robotjs (nick: rwaldron)

[kelly]

Thanks for the quick response! It worked :) I added one more step. I had to checkout the pulseIn branch on https://github.com/jgautier/firmata/

[rwaldron]

The last git step didn't work for that? I should move these instructions to the read me

[kelly]

The last git step is for the arduino firmata pulseIn branch. It also needs the node firmata pulseIn branch. Or, am I confused? ;)

[rwaldron]

Haha -- yes, I totally missed that.

Can you help me update this with the missing steps? We'll add it to the repo for others to follow :)

[jgautier]

might as well merge the pulseIn branch into master node firmata. shouldnt hurt anything with it being there.

[Rolilink]

i got problems here:

cd firmata && git cob pulseIn && git pull origin pulseIn

Cant find command cob

[rwaldron]

Oh, ouch. my bad. Those are shortcuts that I have on my system. I had copy/pasted this. I'm sorry about that.

[rwaldron]

Should be:

cd firmata && git checkout -b pulseIn && git pull origin pulseIn

[Rolilink]

ok thanks :)!

[remy]

I just got this working on a 4 ping sensor ( HC-SR04 ) with directions from @nexxy. Basically, "bridge" the Trigger and the Echo pins. Simply put a jumper wire between these two pins as per (the bridge between 18 & 19) - then the values come through on both the Trigger & Echo, so you can pop either one in the digital out.

[rwaldron]

It was weird when I opened this and saw the picture... since the breadboard and HC-SR04 are still sitting on my desk exactly as shown here...

[remy]

@rwldrn and I had to screenshot your picture, because twitter screws with image urls, if you open them, it'll give you the full web page.