Serial Monitor Installation Guide 

Table of contents
  1. Serial Monitor Installation Guide
    1. Introduction
    2. Connection Overview
      1. USB Connection (when using YAT and Arduino IDE)
    3. Option 1 – Arduino IDE Serial Monitor
      1. Steps
    4. Option 2 – YAT (Yet Another Terminal)
      1. Installation
      2. Setup
    5. Option 3 – WebSerial (Browser-Based)
      1. Requirements
      2. Steps
    6. Option 4 – Bluetooth Serial Terminal (Mobile)
      1. Recommended Apps
      2. Steps
    7. Common Issues & Troubleshooting
    8. Quick Reference
      1. Summary

Introduction

This guide introduces how to connect and use a Serial Monitor to view diagnostic messages or run commands on your LCC Fusion Node Cards and I/O Cards. Even if you’ve never used a Serial Monitor before, this step-by-step guide will walk you through every option — wired or wireless.

A Serial Monitor is a communication window between your computer (or phone) and the ESP32 microcontroller on your LCC Fusion Card.
It’s used for:

  • Viewing firmware startup and self-test messages.
  • Sending simple commands (like m or 1) to open menus.
  • Testing connected devices such as Output, Audio, or Sensor Cards.

You’ll use one of several options: Arduino IDE Serial Monitor, YAT, WebSerial (browser-based), or Bluetooth Serial Terminal.

Tip: The baud rate for all LCC Fusion Node Cards is 115200.

Connection Overview

USB Connection (when using YAT and Arduino IDE)

  • Connect a USB cable between a computer and the ESP32 found on the LCC Fusion Card (e.g. Node Card, Quad-Node Card, or Audio Card)
  • If your board doesn’t power on (LEDs off), verify the USB cable supports data, not just charging.
  • Windows and macOS will create a COM port automatically.

Check it:
On Windows: open Device Manager → Ports (COM & LPT).
On macOS: open Terminal → ls /dev/tty.*.

Option 1 – Arduino IDE Serial Monitor

If you’ve ever programmed an Arduino, you already have this tool. Otherwise, it’s free to install from arduino.cc.

Steps

  1. Open Arduino IDE.
  2. Plug in the Node Card’s USB cable.
  3. Select the correct COM port under Tools → Port.
  4. Open the Serial Monitor (top-right magnifying glass icon).
  5. Set the baud rate to 115200.
  6. Type commands into the input bar (lower-right corner):
    • m → opens the Main Menu
    • 1 → selects Node Management
    • 5 → simulates MCP Device Input (Output Card test)

Example Output:

[I] LCC Node: Started
[W] Checking Node Bus Voltages
Main Menu - LCC Fusion Project
[1] Node Management
[2] Message Management
... etc

Option 2 – YAT (Yet Another Terminal)

YAT is ideal for extended use since it supports scrollback, logging, and persistent settings.

Installation

Setup

  1. Open YAT and go to Connection → New Terminal.
  2. Select your COM port and set baud rate = 115200.
  3. Under Text Settings, enable:
    • “Append CR+LF on Enter” (so each command is correctly sent)
    • “Display timestamps” (optional)
  4. Click Connect.
  5. Type m and press Enter to open the menu.

Screenshot Placeholder: Image showing YAT connected with menu text on screen.

Option 3 – WebSerial (Browser-Based)

If your Node Card firmware supports WebSerial, you can connect directly from your browser.

Requirements

  • Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or any Chromium-based browser.

Steps

  1. Open your LCC Fusion device’s WebSerial URL (shown on startup in the Serial Monitor or OLED display).
  2. When prompted, choose your Node Card’s COM port.
  3. The Serial Menu will appear in your browser window.
  4. Type commands as you would in YAT or Arduino IDE.

Note: WebSerial doesn’t require any additional software installation — perfect for quick testing.

Option 4 – Bluetooth Serial Terminal (Mobile)

For wireless monitoring using a phone or tablet.

  • Android: Bluetooth Serial Terminal (by Kai Morich)
  • iOS: Serial BlueTerm or Bluetooth Terminal HC-05

Steps

  1. Power on your Node Card with Bluetooth enabled firmware.
  2. Open your phone’s Bluetooth settings → pair with LCC-Node-XXXX.
  3. Launch the app and connect to the paired device.
  4. Set baud rate = 115200.
  5. Type m to open the menu and begin monitoring.

Use Case Example: Perfect for mobile diagnostics on your layout without connecting a computer.

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

Problem Possible Cause Solution
No text shown in Serial Monitor Wrong COM port or cable Verify the correct port and use a data-capable cable
Garbled text Incorrect baud rate Set to 115200
Nothing after reboot Firmware may not include Serial Menu Flash the latest Node Card firmware
Menu freezes Multiple serial sessions open Close other serial tools
Connection drops Auto-reboot after firmware upload Wait for reboot or reconnect

Quick Reference

Command Description
m Open Main Menu
1 Node Management
2 Message Management
5 Simulate MCP Device Input (test Output Card)

Message Prefixes:

  • [I] → Information message
  • [W] → Warning
  • [E] → Error

Baud Rates:

Always set the Baud Rate to 115200 within the serial monitor application

Summary

The Serial Monitor is your window into the LCC Fusion ecosystem — a tool for diagnostics, configuration, and testing. Once you’re familiar with it, you’ll use it frequently to verify connections, monitor events, and run self-tests during setup and operation.

Last updated on: December 17, 2025 © 2025 Pat Fleming