'''
Created on Sep 11, 2012

@author: art3

got this from:
http://www.varesano.net/blog/fabio/serial%20rs232%20connections%20python
'''

import time
import serial


# configure the serial connections (the parameters differs on the device you are connecting to)
ser = serial.Serial(
    port='/dev/ttyUSB0',
    baudrate=9600,
    parity=serial.PARITY_NONE,
    stopbits=serial.STOPBITS_ONE,
    bytesize=serial.EIGHTBITS
)

#ser.close()
print(ser.isOpen())

ser.open()
print(ser.isOpen())

print 'Enter your commands below.\r\nInsert "exit" to leave the application.'

input=1
while 1 :
    # get keyboard input
    input = raw_input(">> ")
        # Python 3 users
        # input = input(">> ")
    if input == 'exit':
        ser.close()
        exit()
    else:
        # send the character to the device
        # (note that I happend a \r\n carriage return and line feed to the characters - this is requested by my device)
        #ser.write(input + '\r\n')
        ser.write(input + '\r')
        out = ''
        # let's wait one second before reading output (let's give device time to answer)
        time.sleep(1)
        print (ser.inWaiting())
        while ser.inWaiting() > 0:
            
            out += ser.read(1)
        if out != '':
            print "answer: " + out