Arudino Uno, Xbee shield, Xbee series 2 problems

Wireless & IoT
1

First off, are these 3 devices compatible?

I ask because it is not working…

I am a relatively experienced Arduino user and first time Xbee user. I installed the Arduino software and drivers and upon first connecting my Arduino (with 328 chip in) with xbee shield and xbee, the X-CTU software (set to 9600, none, 8, none, 1), shows:

–

Arduino UNO (COM 3)

–

So I click Test/Query and it says unable to communicate. I read that some were checking “Enable API”, so trying this, Test/Query returns:

–

Communication with modem OK

Modem type = Name unknown (ID = 429496724800)

Modem firmware version =

–

This not being very convincing, I then went to the modem configuration tab and clicked read and it failed. I also tried typing +++ in the terminal, as well as hyperterminal, and no returned ‘OK’.

I’ve read many threads about jumping DTR and RTS to 3.3V and GND, or shorting the diode at DIN, but I was kind of hoping there was another solution…

Any ideas would be much appreciated.

:slight_smile:

2

Sorry, I meant to say Xbee series 2.5

http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/produc … ts_id=8695

3

The XBee Wireless Shield will not interface with your computer. You will need an XBee explorer to get the XBee modules to talk with your computer. There seems to be a lot of confusion around on this stemming from the fact that there are a few different XBee shields floating around from different manufactures with different features. Some of them do allow you to hook connect directly to your computer, but ours doesn’t. We’ve recently updated our product page to help relieve some of the confusion. If you have any more questions on the XBee Wireless Shield feel free to contact us at techsupport sparkfun com.

4

tmsbird:
I am a relatively experienced Arduino user and first time Xbee user. I installed the Arduino software and drivers and upon first connecting my Arduino (with 328 chip in) with xbee shield and xbee, the X-CTU software (set to 9600, none, 8, none,

With the official Arduino XBee SHield, you need to remove the processor from the Arduino to be able to talk to the XBee while it is installed in the shield. Have you tried communicating with the processor removed?

Paul

5

Yes I have tried removing the chip and it didn’t change anything. Are you referring to the Sparkfun Xbee Shield?

http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/produc … ts_id=9841

I am wondering if it has something to do with the fact that the new Arduino Uno does not have a 232 chip in it, hence not needing the FTDI driver. Anyway, I ordered the Xbee Explorer since Sparkfun said that I would not be able to configure my Xbee with XCTU while it is on the Xbee Shield on my Arduino Uno. I hope that works! :expressionless:

6

does your problem solved with xbee explorer?

7

From looking at the connection diagrams it appears the problem with the sparkfun xbee shields (which really isn’t a problem) is that…

Micro Rx----*-------Tx Xbee

… Tx----|–*----Rx Xbee

… | |

… | -----Rx FTDI

… --------Tx FTDI

(*) is a connection BTW

You see that Xbee Rx and FTDI Rx are wired together, same with both Tx’s.

You would need to swap the comm lines to get them to ‘talk’.

Dave