Bit Bang support

[mpiraux]

Hi!, Do you plan supporting bit bang mode in the future ? I need synchronous bit bang mode for my project, but I can't find a node js package that support bit bang mode for FTDI. Or maybe you can show me a way to achieve this ? Anyway, thanks for the good work so far.

[adrai]

Can you give more information or do a pull request... ;-)

[mpiraux]

I'm not fluent enough in C nor in node js package implementation to make the implementation myself, but i've found another repo that implements it for node js (https://github.com/shinuza/node-ftdi). But I'm unable to use it because it require node-waf to compile it, and using node-gyp seems to require more than just the binding.gyp file. As far as I know, bit banging mode is used to replace dedicated hardware interface (such as UART) by software.

[adrai]

Do you mean chapter 5.3 in http://www.ftdichip.com/Support/Documents/ProgramGuides/D2XX_Programmer's_Guide(FT_000071).pdf ?

[adrai]

I have no ftdi device at the moment so I can't check if this works... Can someone verify this branch? https://github.com/KABA-CCEAC/node-ftdi/tree/bitbang

[mpiraux]

I have one right now, but I'm having some troubles to compile the branch as a module that I can use as the main branch, I'm afraid that I have to ask your help again. However, this seems to be exactly the feature I was looking for.

[adrai]

I`m not on a pc right now but try "npm install https://github.com/KABA-CCEAC/node-ftdi/archive/bitbang.tar.gz"

[mpiraux]

I've successfully installed the bitbang branch. But, despite setting what seems the correct mask and mode for the bitbang mode of my device (which is the SainSmart USB 4 Channel Relay Automation 5V btw), it do not work as expected. Maybe some further testing from your part will detect the possible bug

[adrai]

As I mentioned before I've no device here and no idea how bitbang should work. But to exclude some basic mistakes please send me your whole working dir (incl. node_modules) and I will check some stuff... ok?

[adrai]

@hermeli do you have some experience with bibang mode?

[mpiraux]

Here is my working directory: EDIT: You don't need this anymore ;) Thanks for you help

[adrai]

try:

var ftdi = require('ftdi');

ftdi.find(function(err, devices) {
    console.log(devices);
    var device = new ftdi.FtdiDevice(devices[0]);
    device.open({
        baudrate: 9600,
        databits: 8,
        stopbits: 1,
        bitmode: 0x4, // or bitmode: 'sync',
        bitmask: 0xFF,
        parity: 'none'
    },
    function(err) {
        console.log('err '+err);
        device.on('data', function(data) {
            console.log(data);
        });

        device.write(15, function(err) {
            console.log('write '+err);
        });

    });
});

[adrai]

see: https://github.com/KABA-CCEAC/node-ftdi/blob/bitbang/README.md#all-together

[mpiraux]

It worked! Or at least I got a response from my device! As my device is poorly documented, I cannot ensure that it's working perfectly. But with some trial and error, I'll be fine. Thanks for the quick support of that feature!

[adrai]

ok, I'm gonna release it with v1.1.0...