NXT for LV 2010, Bluetooth on Win7 64-bit

[Rodney_C]

I'm using LabVIEW 2010 and the associated NXT Module. I'm using Windows 7 64-bit.

When I connect the NXT using USB, I can use the module fine. The NXT appears in NXT Terminal, and I can run examples like the Computer Controlled XNT Car (with Specify NXT wired as USB).

When I enable Bluetooth on both Windows and the NXT, I can create a connection just fine. I've tried connecting from both sides. Windows 7 always seems happy with the connection.

When I try to use the Bluetooth connection from within the LV 2010 NXT Module (NXT Terminal or diagram), it nevers finds the NXT... always times out.

Is there a special configuration required on Win 7 for the NXT Module?

I've heard something about 2 COM ports. My Win 7 always assigns only one COM port (COM40). Is that the problem?

Thanks

[ESearl]

Have you tried connecting from the "Find NXT..." Dialog? You should be able to select it from the NXT Terminal drop down menu.

If that doesn't work you may need to reset everything and start clean.  In my experience sometime the NXT/Windows can occasionally get into a weird state where they will never connect over bluetooth.

Here are some steps you can try.

Delete the blueooth device from the Window 7 BTDevices control panel.

Remove all the entries in the "MyContacts" menu under Bluetooth on the NXT.

If it doesn't work after that you may need to uninstall/reinstall the bluetooth driver on your computer.

[Rodney_C]

Thanks for the help.

I tried Find NXT... in the NXT Terminal. When I select Scan, it shows the Wait dialog for about 2 minutes, then returns with no devices found.

I have also tried reseting all connections and contacts on both sides and retying... same result. Win 7 always connects just fine (including 1234 password), but no luck in LabVIEW.

I have a Toshiba Qosmio notebook, which doesn't seem to use the typical Microsoft BT drivers. I have no BTDevices item in my Control Panel or Device Manager. Device Manager lists

BlueTooth RFBUS, BlueTooth RFCOMM, BlueTooth RFHID, BlueTooth USB Controller-7 from TOSHIBA.

I upgraded the Toshiba driver from version 6.x to 8.x (latest), but same result. Toshiba provides a Bluetooth Settings control panel, and that's where I can connect to NXT with one assigned COM port.

I found a Bluetooth Development Kit on the Lego site, with some technical info on the protocol. I might try using that with the plain LabVIEW Bluetooth VIs (instead on NXT module), to see if that works.

[ESearl]

Oh I was assuming you could find the devices in a scan, but not connect to them. It sounds to me like your built in toshiba bluetooth chip is incompatible with the Fantom DLL that Labview uses to communicate with an NXT.

You can try and use the other labview bluetooth vis but i think it may be difficult do anything meaningful once you have a connection. Would be interested to hear how it goes though.

The easier option is to buy the official lego supported bluetooth dongle.

http://shop.lego.com/en-US/Bluetooth-Dongle-9847?p=9847

[Rodney_C]

Thanks for the help,

After reading the Lego specs for the protocol, it seemed clear. I tried sending data using the plain LV Bluetooth VIs, and I also tried sending data on the mapped COM port (VISA Serial). Neither technique worked with my Toshiba on-board Bluetooth.

I proceeded to buy the ABE converter from Lego. I had to uninstall the Toshiba drivers to get the default Win7 64-bit Microsoft drivers up and running. After doing that... works like a charm.

Thanks again