Hello,

I am quite new to Merlin Mount. I made bluetooth module, using http://www.connectblue.com/products/blu … spa311331/ this OEM module (approx. 30€), 74HCT08 for level shifting, stabilisator, few caps and resistors.

I found some cheaper modules on TME, but the dont have them unfortunatelly on stock.

First i was quite disapointed, i thougth that Papywizard is bad, i used it on windows and used number 6 for COM6 :-).

I finished Atmega controller (no need of pc or phone) with 16x2 character display for timelapse and panorama shooting.

But now i am solving problem. Every time i use the bluetooth module, the remote control driver stops working. Did somebody found workaroud, how to have the remote control functional. Is there some workaround?

Thank you

Jan

Hello,

I am using 9600bauds,  1 stop bit, no parity, no flow control.
Bluetooth module is 3,3V, i am usin 74HCT008 as a level convertor (3,3V is enough for Logical 1) and 7805 as stabilisator (motule handles 5V as power supply), i am taking power from Merlin mount.

I have just simple connection, yellow wire, two 220 resistors connected to Rx, Tx.

The problem i have is that when i connect bletooth module to MerlinMout, original driver (remote controller) stops working (set + go blinking). Is there some workaround to allow bluetooth module and original remote ocntroller working?

The bluetooth module works without any problem with Papywizard.

Thank you for your time.

Jan

Hello Jan,

Your settings are corrects (5,0 V is Ok as you have the 74HCT008 to convert the signal).
The connections are OK also ...

But now, I understand better your question and Paul give you allready the right answer ....

Could-you share your schema and programs with us ... they are several users interested into Timelapse combined with the Panorama's on the Merlin ?

This will be nice for all of them ...

Last edited by claudevh (2010-05-02 17:09:24)

Paul wrote:

AFAIK you must not connect them in parallel.

My mount has two inputs, i thought they are parallel.

Jan

claudevh wrote:

So the Merlin mount can't not know from were is comming the signals ...

So there is no way to have connected original controller and the bluetooth module for instance?

There are 2 problems:

1) hardware: adding too much wires is not good for the signal. This may be solved by a better design, but I'm not a specialist.
2) software: you can't have 2 devices talking to the head at the same time. During my reverse-engineneering phase, I found there is a CS (chip-select) line, which is first pull down before the hand-controller starts to talk. So, it is theorically possible to avoid collisions. But in fact the hand-controller itself does not check if the CS line is pulled down by another device before starting to talk. So, it can't be used.

Even if the hardware problem can be fixed, as soon as Papywizard has established the connection, it periodically reads the current position. Then, using the hand controller leads to collisions.