Deepwire's Blog

So I definitely don’t think I’m interested in game development.  I’ve made no progress on the idea I had for a Windows Phone 7 game since August.  I got so far, but just lost interest when it came to implementing all the mechanics that would make it a playable game.  The core idea behind it is actually more generic, and is something I still plan to use in an app in the near future, just it won’t be a game.  The plan to develop it in to a game was more to kill time before I could progress my other idea, but it just didn’t grab me.

I’ve also not made progress on the Netduino based project I started, also back in August.  There was a reason behind this, and the now abandoned game was meant to fill the wait.

My project calls for wireless connectivity, ideally to a Windows Phone 7 device.  Due to poor implementation on the part of Microsoft, I was unable to use Bluetooth (with a BlueSMiRF module I had already purchased!).  For whatever reason, Microsoft have not included the Serial Port Profile (SPP), so I could not connect the phone to the BlueSMiRF module.

My next option was to use WiFi.  But there are not many options for giving the Netduino WiFi connectivity.  Fortunately, in July I read an article on Engadget detailing a newly developed XBee Wifi Module from Digi.  Previously their modules had implemented Zigbee, a proprietary standard, which would not work with a Windows Phone 7 (or any phone for that matter).

This new XBee WiFi module, with the standard XBee form factor and pin out, was perfect!  It communicates using the UART, over the same pins as the XBee Zigbee modules.  The XBee Arduino Shield from SparkFun would work perfectly (in theory), as the Netduino UART pins are the same as on the Arduino.  All I needed to do was wait for them to go on sale, and get one.

This took a while, but I eventually tracked down the only place in the UK currently selling them, 2001 Electronic Components.  I purchased the XBee 802.11b/g/n WiFi Module with PCB Antenna, and it arrived this week.  I will now connect this to my Netduino using the XBee shield and test it.  When I can send data between the Netduino and my computer (or Windows Phone 7), I will post the results (and maybe some code). Then it’s time to finish building, and reveal more of what I’ve been working on!