Serial monitor behaves differently on Windows vs Mac

Hi, KevinH.  Glad to hear that you are teaching school kids.

Having an incorrect baud rate setting in the serial monitor can cause some strange results.

Posting your code would be helpful

OR you could look at http://www.arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/JoyStick to see how your method varies from it.

Otherwise, consider the following:

  // read the analog input on pin 0:

  int analogValue = analogRead(0);

  // print it out in many formats:

  Serial.println(analogValue);       // print as an ASCII-encoded decimal

  //Using

  Serial.println(analogValue, DEC);  // print as an ASCII-encoded decimal

  // could easily solve the problem

  Serial.println(analogValue, HEX);  // print as an ASCII-encoded hexadecimal

  Serial.println(analogValue, OCT);  // print as an ASCII-encoded octal

  Serial.println(analogValue, BIN);  // print as an ASCII-encoded binary

My Authoratative Source.

At your service.

Sorry, I had to drive up to Minneapolis for two days and just returned.  I've posted the code below, but I don't know if that will help.  I'm using the exact same code on the Mac machine as on the Windows, and it compiles fine on both.  I'll also post a screen shot of the Mac Serial Monitor and the Windows Serial Monitor so you can see the difference.   Unfortunately I won't be on the windows machine until Thursday.  Standby for the screen shots.

• • • • • Code Listing ******

/*

Potentiometer SKETCH

Read level between 5V and Gnd as set by a potentiometer

*/

const int sensorPin = 0;   //select input pin for pot level

const int ledPin = 13;     //select output pin for LED

int potlevel = 0;        //variable to store value of light level

void setup()

{

  Serial.begin(9600);      //send and receive at 9600 baud

  pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT);  //declare the ledPin as an output

}

void loop() {

  potlevel = analogRead(sensorPin);  //read voltage on the photosensor pin

  potlevel = map(potlevel, 0, 1023, 0, 255);

  digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH);          //turn LED on

  delay(100);                   //hold LED on

  digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW);

  delay(100);                  //LED is off for same period as it is on

  Serial.write(potlevel);      // write potlevel to serial output as a byte

}

• • • • • End Listing *****

As to 'credit where credit is due,' I usually do use the CA/HA feature, I just haven't been at my computer in the past couple of days.  Once I get a chance to go over and check out the answers, I'll be sure to give credit.

Thanks,

Kevin H.

>

Somehow this solved itself.  I went back to using Serial.println() as Billabot suggested and I am getting the correct values displayed on the Serial Monitor.  Obviously a mental lapse on my part.  Hmmm.

I do have another question, however.  I like to use the Serial Monitor for debug and to monitor data in the sketch.  Each time I upload a sketch due to making corrections or whatever, the Serial Monitor goes away.  I then have to type Shift-Cmd-M to restore it.  Is there any way to keep the Serial Monitor screen from going away each time a sketch is uploaded?

Thanks again,

Kevin H.

I cannot find an answer to your question.  So, what to do?   .... mmmm.....  I think I will  ....  tweet someone who can help us.

And I quote from email just received:

If you are interested in what the alpha/beta testers are going thru on our behalf you may peruse this Arduino Forum discussion.

You asked for persistent serial port monitor.  I guess you could try Termite 2.6 to see if it will do the job.

Thanks, Mr. Billabott.  I'll try Termite 2.6 as you suggest.  I won't be able to get to it until later today, but I'll let you know how I make out.

Kevin H.

Apparently Termite 2.6 is a Windows tool and I have a Mac.  I'm looking around for a similar app for the Mac.  The school uses Windows, but I don't have daily access to the school machines.

Kevin H.

I've been using CoolTerm for Mac, and it seems to work fine with Arduino (just tried it 10 seconds ago)

Cheers,

-Nico