So I got a few XBee Series 2 chips, couple of arduino shields, a USB dongle. All set to go. I uploaded the coordinator and end device firmwares with all default settings. Upload a simple serial command/response sketch that outputs some text on init.
As I said, defaults, so coordinator is set to broadcast, and the end device is set to talk to the coordinator.
I test out the sketch on a local USB to my dumenilove. So far so good. I toss the end device on the XBee shield, and it works fine. I hit reset, its still working. I unplug the USB, plug it back in (I want to see if it comes up fast enough or buffers the initial text on startup)
Now…nothing. So I start troubleshooting. Eventually I find that its now a one way connection. I can type on the PC, and the data goes, over Xbee to the dumenilove, but, the output is only visible on the dumenilove USB serial port!
I swap end device XBee chips with an identically programmed one, it works, until I pull the USB and replace it to power cycle… and one way communication again!
I have tried reloading the firmware on the coordinator and the second end bee, but, so far, all I can get is one way communication, though, I saw it work bi-directionally before.
I am, definitely a bit confused now.