can't pair mac and arduino fio with bluetooth bee - macos

Question

I can't get my arduino fio with bluetooth bee paired with my mac. I got my application working with a different board (arduino uno) and USB connection. The code I'm uploading to my arduino fio is below:
#include <SoftwareSerial.h>
SoftwareSerial softSerial(2, 3); // RX, TX
void setup() {
// bluetooth bee setup
softSerial.print("\r\n+STWMOD=0\r\n"); // set to slave
delay(1000);
softSerial.print("\r\n+STNA=MYAPP\r\n"); // set name
delay(1000);
// Serial.print("\r\n+STAUTO=1\r\n"); // permit auto-connect of paired devices
softSerial.print("\r\n+STOAUT=1\r\n");
delay(1000);
//Serial.print("\r\n +STPIN=0000\r\n"); // set PIN
//delay(1000);
softSerial.print("\r\n+STBD=9600\r\n"); // set baud
delay(2000); // required
// initiate BTBee connection
softSerial.print("\r\n+INQ=1\r\n");
delay(20000); // wait for pairing
// Start the software serial.
softSerial.begin(9600);
// Start the hardware serial.
Serial.begin(9600);
}
I think the pins are right -- 2 and 3 seem to be the pins that connect to the bluetooth bee. I've been googling for 2 days straight, and people don't seem to have problems pairing. What am I doing wrong?
Thanks,

Answer 1

Ok -- this took me nearly three solid days of Google-fu, and I stumbled across this page. Apparently that guy, also, had an immense amount of trouble finding a solution, so hopefully having the solution posted on StackOverflow will help future inquirers.
Really, two things are necessary. First, for whatever reason, I have no idea why, you don't worry about the "software serial". Just address the "Serial". Secondly, it will not work if you don't have the baud for the Serial at 38400. I'm actually using a "software serial" to talk to another device, and that baud is at 9600, but for the bluetooth Serial, you want it at 38400.
If you define "setup" as follows, the BluetoothBee should blink red and green, and pair (mac has nothing to do with it):
long DATARATE = 38400; // default data rate for BT Bee
char inChar = 0;
int LED = 13; // Pin 13 is connected to a LED on many Arduinos
void setup() {
Serial.begin(DATARATE);
// bluetooth bee setup
Serial.print("\r\n+STWMOD=0\r\n"); // set to slave
delay(1000);
Serial.print("\r\n+STNA=myDeviceName\r\n"); // set the device name
delay(1000);
Serial.print("\r\n+STAUTO=0\r\n"); // don't permit auto-connect
delay(1000);
Serial.print("\r\n+STOAUT=1\r\n"); // existing default
delay(1000);
Serial.print("\r\n +STPIN=0000\r\n"); // existing default
delay(2000); // required
// initiate BTBee connection
Serial.print("\r\n+INQ=1\r\n");
delay(2000); // wait for pairing
pinMode(LED, OUTPUT);
}
Then, after pairing you should see another serial port under 'tools -> serial port' in your Arduino IDE. If you select that and define the "loop" function as follows, you should be able to send those commands and get verification that you are, in fact, talking to the bluetooth bee:
void loop() {
// test app:
// wait for character,
// a returns message, h=led on, l=led off
if (Serial.available()) {
inChar = Serial.read();
if (inChar == 'a') {
Serial.print("connected"); // test return connection
}
if (inChar == 'h') {
digitalWrite(LED, HIGH); // on
}
if (inChar == 'l') {
digitalWrite(LED, LOW); // off
}
}
}