Asking the Frequently Asked...

Posted by Brian Davis September 30, 2006

Asking the Frequently Asked...

We need your help. Many of us on this blog have been playing with the new NXT for some time now, and if we have a question, we dig in and try to answer it. But we'd like to know what questions you, the community, still have and would like answered. This can be as advanced or as basic as you want, and while there's no guarentee that we can answer your question... well, we certainly can't answer it if you don't ask it. So step up and ask! Building tips? Programming tips? Questions about batteries, the display, future uses, FLL, etc.? Ask away! Please feel free to send questions to jktechwriter@gmail.com, and we will try to select a question from the stream and answer it.

--
Brian Davis

Comments

Mike said…

I would like a better tutorial and sample NXT-G program that shows the use of bluetooth. A simple starter program to show me that I have the bluetooth properly setup and working. Then, a more advanced sample program to show what can be done using the bluetooth.

Sep 30, 2006, 5:26:00 AM

JT said…

Are there any GOOD forums for Mindstorms that aren't filled with questions like the ones on the LEGO mindstorms forums?

Example of the questions - "Lol Howz doe I mak a bot wit the NTX? "

Sep 30, 2006, 5:26:00 AM

Anonymous said…

Are there any GOOD forums for Mindstorms that aren't filled with questions like the ones on the LEGO mindstorms forums?

Example of the questions - "Lol Howz doe I mak a bot wit the NTX? "

Whew, for a minute there I thought you where talking about the User section:-) Heavan help us if it ever gets that bad.

As for forums, I know only of the NXTasy forums. I havn't checked them out though, you may want to try there.

Sep 30, 2006, 5:57:00 AM

Anonymous said…

I don't understand the send and receive message blocks that use bluetooth. If someoen could cover that topic I would be grateful. My brother is getting his own NXT and I would like to know how to do remote control from my NXT using bluetooth.

Mike

Sep 30, 2006, 6:23:00 AM

JT said…

Whew, for a minute there I thought you where talking about the User section:-) Heavan help us if it ever gets that bad.

As for forums, I know only of the NXTasy forums. I havn't checked them out though, you may want to try there.

Thanks. I haven't heard of that forums before. I'll look into it.

Sep 30, 2006, 7:04:00 AM

Anonymous said…

Until Lego comes out with the block that allows for communication between the RCX and NXT-G it would be nice if someone with the skill level come put out a few blocks of code. Example: The NXT-G sending out a command to run program no. 1, 2 etc on an RCX. I have one of the adapters from Mind Sensors but don't I don't have any coding skills.....yet.
Thanks
John C.

Sep 30, 2006, 7:27:00 AM

Anonymous said…

If i put AA rechargable batteries and then connect the Brick to the USB port will the batteries get recharged???

:P

Sep 30, 2006, 11:23:00 AM

Brian Davis said…

OK, that last one I'll answer here (pending perhaps a better, longer post on the power chareteristics of the NXT in general).

No. Plugging in the NXT to a computer via the USB port will NOT recharge the AA batteries. Not even if you are using the Li-ion rechargable battery pack in place of AA's.

--
Brian Davis

Sep 30, 2006, 12:14:00 PM

Christopher R. Smith (Littlehorn) said…

In defense of the "Official LEGO MindStorm Forum".... There are 2 MindStorms forums at LEGO Club. One Public where anybody can post and it does draw every type of person like the example shown above. And the other non-public MindStorms Members Forums where the serious MindStormers are housed and have formed a very nice community of High-tech people discussing high-tech topics without clutter or nonsense. In the later, you will not find any micro-brained postings such as the example posted by jt above. you can however find over 10,000 postings by your's truly.

Let's get that straight. If you have a membership card from the old Robotics Invention System...join and become a part of the valued community that expands on higher-knowledge. You will never find a better group of people in the entire web.

As a Host in the non-public forums for 8 years...I can say it is a great place. I can also mention that a new forum is in the works that will center around the NXT toolset. It IS very unfortunate that the Official NXT forum does not exist as of yet...and more so, that the 2 older Official MindStorms forums get meshed as one when described with the comments in this thread.

Now, on to better postings under this topic!

Christopher Smith
Littlehorn

Sep 30, 2006, 12:55:00 PM

Anonymous said…

The NXTasy forums are a good source for information. We have about 220 users registers and ~2500 posts in about 3 months since forums were online. It is a public forum, with free registeration unlike the MindStorms Members Forums mentioned by Chris (Chris: how one can join these forums without a RIS membership card?). I strongly advise you to take a look. NXTasy also holds a categorized repository with links to NXT stuff sorted by topics e.g. programming, NXT projects, tutorials etc.

Sep 30, 2006, 5:32:00 PM

Christopher R. Smith (Littlehorn) said…

I have written before I checked...The old RIS registration function at LEGO.com is no longer available nor is it possible to enter the non-public MindStorms member forums at this time unless you did registor and remember your login information. Maybe some of your LEGO Club logins will work...Give it a try.

Christopher

Oct 1, 2006, 9:11:00 AM

James Floyd Kelly (Jim) said…

Yet another reason for LEGO to create a new LEGO NXT OFFICIAL FORUM :)

Jim

Oct 1, 2006, 9:36:00 AM

Anonymous said…

Hello
I want to know how to use BLuetooth for sending information from mi pc to nxt.
I Try whit NXTender And im not able to run it becouse if i Try to clik it in tender it disapear. Plz help me to use well that program or to send me another program that makes me able to comunicate pc and NXT via Bluetooth.
Thx

Oct 2, 2006, 1:21:00 PM