Configuring the TGAM1 board for raw EEG data (57600 baud)
- The default output baud rate for TGAM1 boards (at least the ones taken out of Mindflex and Force Trainer headsets) is 9600 baud (this only allows you to capture data for the default frequency bands once per second).
- To use these cheap headsets with apps made to work with "Think Gear" headsets - we need to change the communication rate to 57600 baud. There are 2 methods to achieve this:
- One way involves programming the TGAM1 board over Bluetooth - if you look through the links at the end of this post you'll find ways of doing this. I did not do it this way, instead I chose the second method.
- The second way involves removing a single SMD (surface mount) resistor (pull-down resistor) and adding a different resistor going from the same area and then over to positive connection of the power supply on the TGAM1 board (pull-up resistor).
- To do this you'll only need:
- Basic soldering iron
- 10k 1/8th watt resistor
- Heat shrink tubing to insulate the resistor
- Step 1: Remove SMD Resistor (surface mount resistor, it a little rectangle on the top of the board.
- The SMD resistor can be removed by heating up the pad with a soldering iron and pulling it off with tweezers (or, if you are brave - snap it off with needle nose pliers).
- Step 2 - Solder in the 10k through hole -(meaning is has wires) resistor.
- the 10k resistor goes from the spot marked B1 on the board and goes over to the positive power connection (refer to the labeled picture at the top of this post)
Setting up the HC-06(?) Bluetooth Host/ Slave Module (SPP – Serial Port Profile).
Setting up the Bluetooth communication board/module:
- Configuring the Bluetooth Slave Module for 57600 baud rate (most modules seem to be configured for 9600 baud rate as the default setting) **This step should be done with the Bluetooth Module alone (not connected to the TGAM1 board)**
- This is where we need some type of USB to TTL serial converter
- The easiest is to use an Arduino Board and load a 'Sketch' to connect to the Bluetooth Module over the serial console.
- Breadboard wiring (from Fritzing - just pretend the HC-05 is an HC-06 Slave)
- So, you need:
- An Arduino (I like the Nano since its made for bread boards - but you could use an Uno, etc.)
- Logic Level Shifter
- HC-06 Bluetooth Breakout Board
- Arduino sketch to send commands to the HC-06 (HC-06 Setup ).
- Physical connections of Bluetooth Serial board to TGAM1board pics
- I used 90 degree male pin headers so I could use cables
- Bluetooth RX pin to TGAM1 TX pin
- Bluetooth TX pin to TGAM1 RX pin
- Vcc to 3.3v source (if you are using the Mindwave or Force Trainer headset use the on board regulated voltage)
- Gnd - make sure the TGAM1 and HC-06 (or -05) grounds are connected together
- LED on Bluetooth Module
- When initially connected to power it should blink
- There are different flashing rates that depend on default baud rates
- Vast majority of modules are set at 9600 as the default baud rate
- LED will stay lit constantly after the device is paired
- actually a little more complicated – stays lit constantly when paired and ACTIVELY sending data to application (while setting up my module, I couldn't understand why it would say it was paired and the light on the board continued to blink. Even after I attached it to the headset and powered it on again – it continued to blink – computer said it was paired. FINALLY, after installing Neurosky's Mindwave Mobile and starting the Brain Wave Visualizer – it stayed lit. After I closed Mindwave Mobile it began blinking again. I mention all this because, I didn't see it stated anywhere else.)
Some REALLY BASIC! Background on Bluetooth Communication
Being very, very new to working with Bluetooth, myself, I decided to include some additional information so that others can hopefully avoid making the same mistakes that I've made:
Slave vs Master
- Master is the device at the center of a Bluetooth network (in this case – your phone, tablet or computer)
- a Master can pair with multiple Slave devices
- Slaves send and receive data only to or from the Master (in this case – the MindFlex headset, you could, conceivably, pair multiple headsets to one Master device)
- a Slave can only be paired to 1 Master at a time
Pairing
- Bonds Slave device to Master device
- After pairing devices automatically connect when they are both powered on and close enough
- uses authentication data saved on the 2 devices
Profiles (devices need to support the same profile to communicate - "communication profiles") – this is not an exhaustive list
- HSP -head set profile
- HFP – hands free profile
- HID – human interface device (generally a keyboard, mouse, etc.)
- SPP – serial port profile (this is what we need for communication)
- A2DP – advanced audio distribution profile (streaming audio data to speakers, etc)
- AVRCP – A/V remote control profile (Bluetooth remote for TV, etc.)
- A little note on profiles and their importance: I have an older android smartphone (Bluetooth and WiFi capable), an IPhone 5 and a Kindle Fire. It turns out that
none of them support the Bluetooth
Serial Port Profile and as a result the only way I can use the Bluetooth connection is with my laptop and a Bluetooth USB dongle. So, if you are planning to use this with a specific device make sure to check if it supports
SPP (Serial Port Profile) Bluetooth Profile.
- First modules I purchased were actually just back planes (essentially just the breakout board without the module – read descriptions very carefully – not a costly mistake but annoying)
- The
next module was a Master – (projects I looked at never seemed to
mention if I needed a Master or Slave module... well it turns out I
needed a Slave module, of course)
- Finally got an HC-06 Slave Module
AT Commands
You can find these on the datasheets for the Bluetooth Serial Modules (you can find them online - none of the ones I ordered included the datasheet). AT commands apply to both the HC-05 and HC-06 boards. These are the ones we need to setup the HC-06 breakout:
- AT pings the
device (response back “OK”over serial)
- AT+PINxxx
- AT+NAMExxx
- AT+BAUD4 (sets
baudrate to 9600 – default rate)
- AT+BAUD7 (sets
baudrate to 57600)
Links to more information and resources:
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