Softwareserial H Jun 2026
: Declare a SoftwareSerial object, specifying the RX and TX pins you want to use.
For 16 MHz Arduino, 9600 baud → 104.17 µs per bit. Software loop overhead adds ±2 µs jitter → bit error rate <1% (acceptable). At 115200 baud → 8.68 µs per bit → loop jitter ±2 µs → error >20% (unreliable).
Understanding SoftwareSerial.h: A Guide to Virtual Serial Ports on Arduino softwareserial h
The SoftwareSerial.h library is a built-in Arduino library that allows you to turn almost any two digital pins into a serial port. It replicates the functionality of a hardware serial port through software-based timing, enabling communication with additional serial devices without needing a board with multiple hardware UARTS (like the Arduino Mega). Key Features
In the world of Arduino, serial communication is the primary way your microcontroller "talks" to the outside world—whether it's sending data to your computer for debugging or communicating with external modules like GPS, Bluetooth, or GSM. : Declare a SoftwareSerial object, specifying the RX
: You can define any digital pin as RX (receive) or TX (transmit).
SoftwareSerial uses precise timing loops and digital pin manipulation to: At 115200 baud → 8
: It supports common speeds, typically up to 115200 bps, though 9600 bps is the most stable standard for software-based timing. How to Use SoftwareSerial.h
// Software serial for GPS module mySerial.begin(9600);
Instead of using dedicated hardware chips (UARTs), this library uses the board's main processor to "mimic" serial communication in software. You can initialize a new port with a simple line of code: SoftwareSerial mySerial(rxPin, txPin); . Common Use Cases