questions about my XBEE modules

Wireless & IoT
1

I am currently working on a project that requires the use of two XBEE modules; I have never used XBEE before and have looked everywhere to try and get them setup using X-CTU with no luck. My question is, can I use what I have to get wireless communication between the two modules and, what do I need to get these up an running…

Here is what I have:

Arduino Duemilanove ATmega328

http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/produc … cts_id=666

Arduino XBee Shield

http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/produc … ts_id=8471

XBee Pro 60mW Wire Antenna

http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/produc … ts_id=8742

XBee 1mW Chip Antenna

http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/produc … ts_id=8664

  • the breakout board and headers to connect it to a breadboard…

My question is are these two XBEE’s compatible and what do I need to do to make the XBEE pro (connected to the Arduino and Shield) wirelessly communicate with the other XBEE.

Thanks,

Dave

2

I believe that those two XBees are compatible and should ‘talk’ to each other.

What is the firmware version in each module. This will verify compatibility and ensure the use of the correct Digi Document. You did download the documents from Digi, right?

Take a look is this forum (Wireless/RF) for a thread titled “Better XBee documents”. It has links to other info that should help.

What exactly is not working?

How are you connecting the XBees? Is one to your PC? Is there an RS232 or USB adapter between the XBee and the PC?

Have you gotten the Arduino to communicate directly with the PC first? This is the first step. Once this works then connect the XBees.

What are the XBee settings?

Does the XBees respond to X-CTU?

3

I couldn’t connect the module to the computer through the USB board. I figured it out and it seems to be interfacing with the X-CTU software.

that was the major problem

my question is, do I need anything else on the receiving end of my setup other than the breakout boards and headers to have receive RF data from the transmitter?

4

That should work. The only connections needed is ground, Din and Dout on the XBee to ground, UART TX and RX on the processor. The baud rates need to match and a logic level translation (5V to 3.3V) if the processor runs on 5V.

Are the XBees set for transperant mode (AT command mode with AP = 0)?

Again, get the processor communicating with the PC without the XBees first. Don’t assume that the processor code works until tested. If this part isn’t working then you will never get communications through the XBees. You can do this by removing the XBees from both the breakout board and the USB adapter. Then jumper the three need lines between them.

5

Both modules seem to connect to the computer via the USB board fine, I want to see if the two nodes will communicate with each other before I start sending data through. I cant seem to get them connected.

I don’t know if they are in transparent mode, how do I find out?

could you elaborate on what pins I need to connect to the XBEE that is on the breadboard in order to get them to communicate with each other…

thanks

6

I don’t know if they are in transparent mode, how do I find out?

From my previous post:

AP = 0

is transparent mode. Read this parameter in X-CTU under the Modem Configuration tab.

what pins I need to connect to the XBEE

See page 7 of Digi’s XBee document 90000982_A.pdf or the Sparkfun’s schematic for the breakout board.

I cant seem to get them connected.

Have you read any of the info the links I referenced?

Are the destination addresses set to the address of the other XBee?

There are many ways to get the XBees NOT to communicate including wrong settings on the Arduino.

So for the third time: Does the Arduino and the PC communicate? If not then the XBees NEVER will.

There are also many other threads on setting up the XBees and a few on using them with the Arduino on this forum. Have you read any of them?

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