which XBee would you recommend for this?

Wireless & IoT
1

Hi,

Which would be the cheapest XBee module that would be able cater for this scenario:

  • act as a remote battery operated door open/closed sensor

  • sensor would be a reed switch connected to the XBee

  • would want the remote XBee, battery powered, to last for at least 6 months (1 year would be better) without having to change the battery

  • multiple of these remote sensors sending open/closed signals back to a base

  • the base would be an Arduino with a mounted XBee for reception

Q1 - What would be cheapest XBee model to act in the capacity of the remote sensors?

Q2 - Which XBee model would be cheapest for the base receiver, mounted to an Arduino?

Any other info/comments/advice on trying to implement what I’m doing with XBee welcome. I’m just new to things here…

Thanks

2

The cheapest XBee is the Series 1 with 1mW output. The lower power is also easier on the battery and it can be configured to sleep most of the time.

The 802.15.4 firmware would do all you needed for remote sense and sleep and as a point to multi-point network.

Do go through the other XBee threads in this forum for ideas as to what other people are doing and for links to more info.

3

thanks waltr

Can I ask whether to do what I’m talking about I need to “program” the XBee unit itself? (e.g. like an Arduino) If yes, is there any specific doco/text books etc you’d recommend. I’m about to go off for a few days tomorrow and it would be good to download a text book/tutorial/other info

thanks

4

No need to “program” the XBee as you would a Arduino or PIC. You may wish to update the Firmware with is really the same thing as programming a HEX file into another processor but this isn’t a requirement.

You will need to configure the XBee’s parameters. This is normally done with the X-CTU utility program.

There are many links in threads on this forum that have good info in them.

5

Xbee “Virtual Wire” support in Series 1

6

Really. So there is a way to upload he virtualwire library and an associated program into an xbee then? Is this what you’re suggesting?

7

virtual wire, remote A/D, are functions in the standard firmware for Series 1 XBee. Not sure if it is for Series 2. You install the Digi firmware of your choice, or use what came with it.