I’ve started playing with the Arduino platform and is really amazing the possibilities that this open source platform can offer, from beginners to more experienced users!

Recently, I’ve ordered Rainbowduino and a 8×8 RGB led matrix. Rainbowduino is essentially an Arduino designed for controlling an 8×8 RGB led matrix, with some features (I2C protocol suport, cascading).

Let’s get to work!

The first problem that I faced was to make it work: I don’t have a serial port (and rainbowduino cannot be connected via USB, as Arduino does), after 1min search in google, I found this post, with good instructions about how to use Arduino as a host for programming it. In the same page, you can find the mtXcontrol program, very useful for starting drawing with your rainbowduino!

The short instructions are:

1- Check the necessary materials

  • Arduino with 328 chip (it will not work with model 168)
  • Some wires
  • Rainbowduino + 8×8 rgb matrix

2- Connect all cables as described in the web:

(Arduino) Reset <-> (Rainblowduino) DTR

(Arduino) 5V <-> (Rainblowduino) VCC

(Arduino) GND <-> (Rainblowduino) GND

(Arduino) TX <-> (Rainblowduino) TX

(Arduino) RX <-> (Rainblowduino) RX

3- Plug the USB cable to the Arduino, Start the Arduino IDE, and select the 328 model and upload a blank sketch:

/* blank sketch to upload on Arduino */
void setup()
{
}

void loop()
{
}

4- Now change the model to 168, and upload the firmware to the Rainbowduino and execute mtXcontrol!! and you’re done!

8×8 pixels never were so impressive!!