iRobot Create USB Cable + USB Bluetooth?

[crypted]

Okay, first let me admit total ignorance at the serial port schema...

I purchased and am waiting the arrival of the iRobot Create USB cable so that I can program a schedule on my newly owned Roomba 530.

I do not have the money or skill to endeavor into Rootooth or DYI setups.

That being said, I assume power flows through the serial port for the Rootooth. Is it possible that I could use a female USB/USB connector to connect an old USB Bluetooth adapter to the cable and have wireless functionality?

Input much appreciated. I apologize for the ignorance.

[mfortuna]

On the roomba side something has to enumerate the USB devices. Since that side lacks a PC and driver it will not work.

[crypted]

So, I guess somehow the Rootooth or DYI jobs achieve this?

That kind of stinks. I was hoping to have something going on my very small budget.

[mfortuna]

You could adapt something like the following to the roomba if you are comfortable with soldering.

http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product ... 83334.html

Or this:

http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product ... 81727.html

Shipping is pretty expensive though.

You would have to make your own SCI cable or wire directly to the roomba circuit board. You would also need to find a 3.3V source by using a 7803 regulator or similar.

[vic7767]

I can't tell if those are Class 1 or Class 2 bluetooth devices and the shipping is HIGH even coming from China.

[crypted]

Okay, I'm comparing the image of the SCI adapter and its cables to the markings on these boards.

I see the boards have 1x gnd, 1x txd, 1x rxd, 2x vcc, & 1x at. The schema for the roomba port has an rxd & txd to match that of the boards. But, how would I determine where to put the 2x Vpwr, 1x BRC, and 2x GND from the Roomba onto this? Also, I would be using the regulator mentioned above, so somehow that connects it.

I'm very noobish to this but interested in learning if feasible. My fear is soldering the wrong cables and frying the bot more than anything.

Anyway, so the boards above at $38, regulator at ~$18, PS/2 cable at ~$10, and some form of shell... So, this is around $70 saving $30 so not bad.

BT Board: http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product ... 81727.html
Regulator: http://www.plccenter.com/Shop/MURATA/78 ... nQodwBsAUQ
PS/2 Cable (from mouse): http://www.ebay.com/itm/LOGITECH-OPTICA ... 45ff6149d0
Shell of some sort: unknown at the moment

Where to go from here?

[mfortuna]

I'm going to move this to the hacking section.

Vpwr on the SCI connector is battery voltage and goes to the input of the regulator.
GND on the SCI connector goes to ground of the regulator and to ground on the Bluetooth board.
The output of the regulator goes to vcc on the bluetooth board.

You may have to swap TX and RX between the roomba and Bluetooth board as the pins are often labeled based on the source. For example, bluetooth TX may have to go to roomba RX and vice-versa.

[crypted]

Attached to this post is a draw-up to ensure I'm fully understanding what's necessary.

From it, the BRC is left unused. Do I need to have two regulators to connect #2 to the second VCC on the Bluetooth board?

If so, the costs become ~$5 less than the Rootooth... hmm.

[mfortuna]

BRC doesn't need to be connected. I think in a full serial interface it gets tied to RTS (DB9 pin 7). You can tie the output of the regulator to both vccs. They are the same signal.