Max/MSP + Wiring Micro Controller: Serial Connect Problems

It took me a couple of days but I finally figured out what I was doing wrong. So, for those of you, like me, who are new to serial communications and are trying to use Max/MSP and wiring, here are some tips:

(I am using an Inspiron 600m laptop with Win XP Pro installed)

1: Start off by figureing out which comm port wiring is on. This is easy. It is the port that the wiring app uses to connect to the wiring board. (menu option "Tools/Serial Ports") On My computer this was com port 5. It is probably something different on your computer.

2. Write your program in Wiring and upload it to the board
Here's some basic code that I used:

-------------------

char val; // variable to receive data from the serial port
void setup()
{
Serial.begin(9600); // start serial communication at 9600bps
}

void loop() {
if( Serial.available() ) // if data is available to read
{
val = Serial.read(); // read it and store it in 'val'
Serial.print(val); //Send the value back out to the serial port
delay(100); // wait 100ms for next reading
}
}
-----------------------------

It is important to use the "serial.print(val);" line otherwise Max/Msp will have no way of knowing whether the value was recived or not. This completes the loop. Wiring gets a value from max/MSP and send the value back for verification.
Don't forget to reset your wiring board to activate the program one it is uploaded.

3. Close the wiring app, but leave the wiring board connected.

4. Open Max/MSP and write program. (See attached code snippet)

***When using max/MSP there are a few things you need to be aware of. ***

a) Never leave your Max patch open when editing your Wiring program. You will get port conflicts and won't be able to upload your program.

b) Make sure that the serial port you set in the Serial object is correct. Max uses letters as stand ins for numbers so a=1. b=2, c=3... So in my case I used e because I am on com port 5.

c) Every time I reopen max or unplug my Wiring Board (regardless of whether I reset it or not) I get serial port errors. If this happens, simply open your patch for editing, select the serial object and change the letter to something different, then click off the serial object. (You should see an error message in the Max window indicating that it can't connect to that port.) Now, re-select the Serial Object and set the letter back to the port you really are using.(In my case e.) Switch off editing mode and send some data. You should be able to send and recieve serial data with no problems.

Once the data is being sent correctly over your serial port you can assign the value to an analog out pin in Wiring to control a motor, or get a value from an analog inpin and send it to Max.

Hope that helps.

Aaron