> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.escapedirector.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Connect your first Arduino prop

> Install the Escape Director Device SDK, upload the example escape room prop sketch to an Arduino, and see it work in a Room.

This quickstart uploads **room\_basic**, a one-prop example sketch, to an
Arduino and connects it to a Room. The prop is a train door: the board's
built-in LED stands in for the door relay, and touching pin **2** to **GND**
pulls the lever. You need no wiring.

## Before you begin

* **A board:** an Arduino UNO R4 WiFi or GIGA R1 WiFi, and a USB data cable.
  Use a spare board: uploading replaces its sketch.
* **Arduino IDE 2** or Arduino CLI on your computer.
* **Escape Director:** a Room to test with, and the Room Station computer with
  [Room Connector](https://docs.escapedirector.com/build-your-rooms/connect-room-devices.md) running and Chrome
  open. The board pairs over USB from that computer.
* **The SDK download:** `EscapeDirectorSDK-<version>.zip` from the
  [latest release](https://github.com/directorhq/escape-director-device-sdk/releases/latest).

## 1. Install the SDK

1. In Arduino IDE, open **Boards Manager** and install **Arduino UNO R4
   Boards** or **Arduino Mbed OS Giga Boards**.
2. Open **Library Manager** and install **ArduinoJson** (version 7) and
   **ArduinoMqttClient**.
3. Extract the SDK download.
4. Choose **Sketch → Include Library → Add .ZIP Library…** and select the
   `EscapeDirector-<version>.zip` file inside the extracted folder, not the
   download itself.

If you can't find these menus, see
[Arduino's library guide](https://support.arduino.cc/hc/en-us/articles/5145457742236-Install-libraries-in-the-Arduino-IDE).
To use the command line instead, see [Install with Arduino CLI](#install-with-arduino-cli).

## 2. Upload the example

1. On a GIGA, attach its external Wi-Fi antenna.
2. Choose **File → Examples → EscapeDirector → room\_basic**.
3. Select your board and its USB port. On a GIGA, choose the main M7
   processor.
4. Click **Upload**. Keep the board connected by USB.

## 3. Pair the board with your Room

Pair the board on the Room Station computer. The full steps are in
[Pair the controller](https://docs.escapedirector.com/build-your-rooms/build-your-own-controller.md#2-pair-the-controller).
In short:

1. Close Arduino IDE's Serial Monitor. Room Connector needs the USB port.
2. In the Room's **Devices**, choose **Add Integrated Device → Your own
   firmware (SDK)**, then **Pair controller**.
3. Choose the Wi-Fi network. Controllers use 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi.
4. Choose **Save props to Room**. **Train door** appears with its signal,
   commands and live state.

> [!WARNING]
>
> Never choose **Install firmware** for a board running your sketch. It replaces
> your sketch with Escape Director firmware.

## 4. Try the prop

1. Turn on **Test mode** and run **Open door**. The LED lights for one second.
2. Turn off Test mode. On the **Train door** prop, set **Completes Puzzle** to
   any Puzzle.
3. Start a practice game and touch pin 2 to GND. The LED lights for five
   seconds, the prop shows **Open**, and the Puzzle completes.

## Install with Arduino CLI

Run these commands from the extracted SDK folder. They pin the versions the SDK
is tested with.

```sh theme={null}
arduino-cli core update-index
arduino-cli core install arduino:renesas_uno@1.5.3
arduino-cli lib install ArduinoJson@7.4.3 ArduinoMqttClient@0.1.8
arduino-cli compile --fqbn arduino:renesas_uno:unor4wifi --library . examples/room_basic
arduino-cli board list
arduino-cli upload -p <port> --fqbn arduino:renesas_uno:unor4wifi examples/room_basic
```

For a GIGA, install `arduino:mbed_giga@4.6.0` and use
`--fqbn arduino:mbed_giga:giga`. On Windows, run the same commands in
PowerShell.

## If the board doesn't appear

Open the Serial Monitor at **115200** baud. If the sketch broke a rule,
`room.begin()` prints the reason there. Close the Serial Monitor again before
you pair. For other problems, see
[Troubleshoot SDK firmware](https://docs.escapedirector.com/developers/troubleshoot-your-firmware.md).

## Next

[Add the SDK to your sketch](https://docs.escapedirector.com/developers/add-the-sdk-to-your-sketch.md)


This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.