I’m part of a student group working on bluetooth connections. We are trying to setup a connection between a portable telephone (operating with Android) and an arduino with an xbee shield and an xbee module (model 2B). Is that possible, or is Xbee only meant to
communicate with other Xbees?
If that’s possible, what would be the Xbee’s configuration so it could communicate with a portable phone?
Thanks.
First, XBee is a brand of Digi which covers alot of different models for different wireless standards (Zigbee, 802.15.4, Wifi. They represent the house-shaped blue modules. The S2B model is a variant of the Zigbee protocol version:
http://www.digi.com/products/wireless-w … e#overview
Some bluetooth modules have the same form-factor as an Xbee module from Digi, and are pin compatible to the Xbee shields. But Bluetooth doesn’t communicate with the Xbees because they do not share the same protocol. They share the same RF spectrum, but that is it. They speak different languages over the air.
The most commonly used Xbee modules are the so called ‘Series 1’ 802.15.4 RF modules. More complicated in use (because of network routing issues) is the ‘Series 2’ Zigbee products. Apparently there are even newer higher ‘series’, but I have no knowledge of it. My first guess (no experience of my own with them), the Wifi modules would be a logical solution to communicate with Android telephones since that is an available feature in most smart phones. But that is obviously also different from the Bluetooth protocol.
I suggest you investigate what is available on Digi’s website yourself. Other pages on the website suggest they also made bridging and gateway devices. Maybe they do have something special that interacts with bluetooth.
Digi’s wireless modules product page:
They would be the best to answer your question.
The Zigbee/Xbee protocol is different from the Bluetooth protocol. Thus they don’t talk to each other. Why don’t you use a BT shield or module ?
https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11601 (not BLE compatible)