broken.ino

// Commands for Alpha Sign Communication Protocol
byte NUL = 0x00;
byte START_HEADER = 0x01;
byte START_TEXT = 0x02;
byte END_TRANSMISSION = 0x04;
byte ESC = 0x1B;
byte FILL = 0x30;
byte ROTATE = 0x61;
byte SLOW = 0x15;
byte FAST = 0x19;
byte TIME = 0x13;
byte CALL_STRING = 0x10;
byte CALL_SIZE = 0x1A;
byte SIZE_LARGE = 0x33;
byte SIZE_SMALL = 0x31;

#include <Console.h>

String message;
int current_char;

void setup() {
  Serial1.begin(9600);
  writeText("This serial message is never displayed.");
  Bridge.begin();
  writeText("bridge started.");
  Console.begin();
  writeText("console started.");
  delay(5000);
  writeText("waiting for console connection.");
  while (!Console) {
    ; // wait for Console port to connect.
  } 
  writeText("enter your message.");
  Console.println("Enter your message: ");
}


void loop() {
  current_char = Console.read();
  
  if (current_char == '\n') {
    writeText(message);
    Console.println("Written to sign.");
    message = "";
    Console.println("Enter your message: ");
  } else if (current_char != -1) {   //if the buffer is empty Cosole.read returns -1
    message = message + (char)current_char;
  }
}


void writeText(String text) {
  Serial1.write(NUL); // Start frame sync chars
  Serial1.write(NUL);
  Serial1.write(NUL);
  Serial1.write(NUL);
  Serial1.write(NUL); // end frame sync chars
  Serial1.write(START_HEADER); // start of header
  Serial1.write("Z00"); // all sign types, all addresses
  Serial1.write(START_TEXT); //start of text
  Serial1.write("AA"); // write command, text file A
  Serial1.write(ESC);
  Serial1.write(FILL);
  Serial1.write(ROTATE);
  Serial1.print(text);
  Serial1.write(END_TRANSMISSION);
}

works.ino

// Commands for Alpha Sign Communication Protocol
byte NUL = 0x00;
byte START_HEADER = 0x01;
byte START_TEXT = 0x02;
byte END_TRANSMISSION = 0x04;
byte ESC = 0x1B;
byte FILL = 0x30;
byte ROTATE = 0x61;
byte SLOW = 0x15;
byte FAST = 0x19;
byte TIME = 0x13;
byte CALL_STRING = 0x10;
byte CALL_SIZE = 0x1A;
byte SIZE_LARGE = 0x33;
byte SIZE_SMALL = 0x31;

#include <Console.h>

String message;
int current_char;

void setup() {
  Serial1.begin(9600);
  writeText("Serial writing works in this simple sketch.");
}


void loop() {
}


void writeText(String text) {
  Serial1.write(NUL); // Start frame sync chars
  Serial1.write(NUL);
  Serial1.write(NUL);
  Serial1.write(NUL);
  Serial1.write(NUL); // end frame sync chars
  Serial1.write(START_HEADER); // start of header
  Serial1.write("Z00"); // all sign types, all addresses
  Serial1.write(START_TEXT); //start of text
  Serial1.write("AA"); // write command, text file A
  Serial1.write(ESC);
  Serial1.write(FILL);
  Serial1.write(ROTATE);
  Serial1.print(text);
  Serial1.write(END_TRANSMISSION);
}