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Hi Mike

I am currently doing a project with consist of a PIC18F4550(host) and a ZG2100M(wifi module/slave).

I want to do a simple testing such that the host will prompt the slave to send a data to my desktop through wireless. After receiving the data at the desktop, the desktop will display the data sent.

Due to budget constraint, i solder the board out from the data sheet(see attached page 20) provided by microchip for the ZG2100M. After soldering, i wanted to connect the host to the slave and do a simple testing.

But there a some doubts.

1. Do I connect my host SDI to slave SDO or do i connect my host SDI to  slave SDI?

2. Does the Slave have a SSID or do I assign an IP address to it so that my desktop could recognise the slave? If I were to assgin an IP address to it, how must I do so?

3. To start the programming for SPI in mplab, i will need the header file for spi am I right?

4. How should I start writing the program? Do you have any demo program which can help me?

Thank You very much

Attachments:

ZG2100MC.pdf

Hi Mike

I am currently doing a project with consist of a PIC18F4550(host) and a ZG2100M(wifi module/slave).

I want to do a simple testing such that the host will prompt the slave to send a data to my desktop through wireless. After receiving the data at the desktop, the desktop will display the data sent.

Due to budget constraint, i solder the board out from the data sheet(see attached page 20) provided by microchip for the ZG2100M. After soldering, i wanted to connect the host to the slave and do a simple testing.

But there a some doubts.

1. Do I connect my host SDI to slave SDO or do i connect my host SDI to  slave SDI?

2. Does the Slave have a SSID or do I assign an IP address to it so that my desktop could recognise the slave? If I were to assgin an IP address to it, how must I do so?

3. To start the programming for SPI in mplab, i will need the header file for spi am I right?

4. How should I start writing the program? Do you have any demo program which can help me?

Thank You very much

Attachments:

ZG2100MC.pdf

Hi Calvin,

I think you're gonna have some trouble with PIC18F4550 because its Flash memory size will likely be too small...

Remember that if you use the ZG2100M WiFi module, only the WiFi protocole (802.11b) is running on the module.

You still need to run the TCP/IP on the PIC itself.

You'll be able to access high level functions through APIs.

2 recommendations from my side :

a/ The ZG2100M module has been updated. It's new reference is : MRF24WB0MA

The main difference is that the new one uses less ressources. However, the old one is not anymore compatible with the new TCP/IP stack >= v5.25

http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=2884

So if you want to use the old one you must use TCP/IP stack <= v5.20

The TCP/IP stack belongs to the free Microchip Application Libraries package which can be downloaded here.

b/ However I have a much better recommendation which will save you a lot of work : I strongly suggest that you use the open source embedded WiFi project Flyport from OpenPicus.

If you want to have also USB, it's easy because the PIC24FJ256GA106 can be replaced by the PIC24FJ256GB106 which adds USB connectivity

Free versions of the Microchip compilers can be downloaded here and MPLAB can be downloaded here.

regards

Hi Mike

Thank you very much, but I still have some doubts over what you have said

1. Since you said that I should not mess around with the SPIs, so how should i connect my ZG2100M to my PIC18F4550?

2. If I am going to continue using ZG2100M instead of MRF24WB0MA, I need to use the TCP/IP stack v5.20? Can I use TCP/IP stack v5.20b? Is there a difference?

3. If I am going to use the open source openpicus, I need to change the PIC18 to PIC24 and the ZG2100M to MRF24WB0MA even though i do not need to have any USB connection?

Thank you once again for the very useful information you have gave

regard

Hi Calvin,

1/ If you look at the schematic of the Flyport you'll see how SPI is connected :

* SDI (slave) <--> SDO (master)

* SDO (slave) <--> SDI (master)

* SCLK (slave) <--> SCLK (master)

and sometimes you also need to use the SS (slave select).

2/ When I mentionned v5.20, v5.20a & v5.20b are in fact also OK

If you don't need USB then use the Flyport with the PIC24FJ256GA106.

It seems it is possible to order Flyport as a finished module with the firmware in it and a Brutus serial booloader ;=)

regards