Introduction: View Serial Monitor Over Bluetooth

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This project uses an HC-05 Bluetooth module to replace a traditional wired connection used for viewing the serial monitor.

Materials:

Step 1: Code

This code is a simple serial communication example taken from the provided examples in the Arduino IDE. You can find it in: File > Examples > Communication > Ascii Table

/*
 ASCII table
 Prints out byte values in all possible formats:
 - as raw binary values
 - as ASCII-encoded decimal, hex, octal, and binary values
 For more on ASCII, see  http://www.asciitable.com  and  http://www.asciitable.com 
 The circuit: No external hardware needed.
 created 2006
 by Nicholas Zambetti < http://www.asciitable.com >
 modified 9 Apr 2012
 by Tom Igoe
 This example code is in the public domain.
  http://www.asciitable.com 
*/
  
void setup() {
  
 Serial.begin(9600);
  
while (!Serial) {
   ; // wait for serial port to connect. Needed for native USB port only
 }
  
 Serial.println("ASCII Table ~ Character Map");
}
  
int thisByte = 33;
  
void loop() {
  
 Serial.write(thisByte);
  
 Serial.print(", dec: ");
 Serial.print(thisByte);
  
 Serial.print(", hex: ");
 Serial.print(thisByte, HEX);
  
 Serial.print(", oct: ");
 Serial.print(thisByte, OCT);
  
 Serial.print(", bin: ");
 Serial.println(thisByte, BIN);
  
 if (thisByte == 126) {   
   while (true) {
     continue;
   }
 }
 thisByte++;
  
}

  • Make sure your baud rate is set to 9600
  • Almost any code that uses a serial connection to the computer will work, but this is just a simple example.

Step 2: Circuit

After the code has been uploaded to the board, disconnect the power. Next, Attach the Bluetooth module to the circuit as seen above:

  • GND to Ground
  • VCC to 5v pin
  • TXD to pin 0
  • RXD to pin 1

Step 3: Bluetooth Connection

  1. Power on the Arduino
  2. Open your computer's Bluetooth settings
  3. Pair with the HC-05 module
  4. Find the module's serial port name in "devices and printers":
  5. In the Arduino IDE, choose serial port of Bluetooth module (mine is COM10)
  6. Open the serial monitor as normal to view incoming information

Step 4: Further Steps

Here are some optional things you may want to try out:

  • You can use virtual serial ports instead, but I found that using the real ones works a lot faster (and it's generally easier).
  • You can also use this process with the standard Firmata example to allow for wireless control with Processing (set the speed to 9600 first)