Xbee Configuration

Wireless & IoT
1

I recently bought a pair of the 60mW Xbee Pro modules when they were on sale along with an XBee shield, USB explorer, and a pair each of the RP-SMA to UF.L connectors and RP-SMA antennas. I wired everything together but am having difficulty getting them to talk. I configured each XBee through the explorer using X-CTU. I changed the following settings:

XBee1

ATBD: 115200

ATID: 3334

ATDL: 11

ATMY: 10

XBee2

ATBD: 115200

ATID: 3334

ATDL: 10

ATMY: 11

I uploaded the following sketch to the Arduino and verified it was working via USB cable and the Arduino serial monitor:

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200); 
}

void loop() {
  Serial.println("Hello");
  delay(1000); 
}

I plug the shield into the Arduino (since it interferes with uploading a sketch) and power it via a wall adapter, plug the explorer into the PC and open up the Arduino monitor on that COM port and I get nothing. I verified all of my solder joints for the headers on the shield with my multimeter and continuity test, seems to be fine. The only thing that concerns me hardware-wise is that the DOUT light seems to be just barely lit all the time. Power lights for both the shield and the explorer are lit. Additionally the DIN LED on the shield appears to flicker every second (as per the sketch). The LEDs on the explorer do not appear to light.

I was playing around with the hardware and when I looked up there was a solitary “Hello” in the serial monitor on 1 occasion, however I have no idea how it worked that 1 time and have not been able to recreate it. I also tried setting ATRO to 0 to try and prevent any packetization buffering to see if that would help, but it didn’t.

One of the things I am concerned about is the “Function Set” drop down of the “Modem Configuration” tab. I have read a lot of tutorials and searched around and it sounds like for series 2 (and 2.5) one XBee needs its function set to “Coordinator” and the other to “End Point” but I don’t believe this is the case for my XBP24. Is there something that needs to be set here other than “XBee PRO 802.15.4”?

Is there any other configurations (or anything else for that matter) that I should try? Thanks

2

The problem is surely something simple. But first to be sure we know exactly which modules and protocol you have please do a Test/Query from the PC Setting tab of X-CTU and post the Firmware version number. This also tells us which of the Digi XBee Documents to use.

Also in the Modem configuration tab click the Read button to get and display the current parameters. This will also fill in the Modem XBee box and the Function set box to match what your XBees are loaded with. Post this information also.

If your XBees are running ZNet2.5 then one XBee must be running coordinator firmware and has the job of creating the network.

If your XBees are running 802.15.4 firmware then there isn’t a coordinator and the two should communicate.

An XBP24 should be running 802.14.5 but the requested info above will verify this is so.

3

Attached are screenshots of those two screens.

4

Ok, Firmware 10E6 is the latest and is 802.15.4. Did you download the Digi Document of this XBee? Its the OEM RF modules doc #90000982_B.

The screen shoots are fine but to show what all the parameter settings click the Save button under Profile in the Modem Configuration tab of X-CTU. This saves a text file that you can copy/paste into your post.

Have you dug through all the XBee threads here? Many have similar problems that you are having and you may get ideas for a solution.

Have you gotten the Arduino to communicate with your PC without the XBees? If not do this first to be sure all the serial settings are correct then put the XBees in line.

5

Arduino talks to PC fine via a USB cable. I have looked at many tutorials and many forums including this one. I am fairly certain it is something simple but I haven’t nailed down what.

xbp24_15_4_10e6.mxi
FE
0
241
10E6
0
[A]CH=C
[A]ID=3334
[A]DH=0
[A]DL=11
[A]MY=10
[A]MM=0
[A]RR=0
[A]RN=0
[A]NT=19
[A]NO=0
[A]CE=0
[A]SC=1FFE
[A]SD=4
[A]A1=0
[A]A2=0
[A]EE=0
[A]NI= 
[A]PL=4
[A]CA=2C
[A]SM=0
[A]ST=1388
[A]SP=0
[A]DP=3E8
[A]SO=0
[A]BD=7
[A]NB=0
[A]RO=0
[A]AP=0
[A]PR=FF
[A]D8=0
[A]D7=1
[A]D6=0
[A]D5=1
[A]D4=0
[A]D3=0
[A]D2=0
[A]D1=0
[A]D0=0
[A]IU=1
[A]IT=1
[A]IC=0
[A]IR=0
[A]IA=FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
[A]T0=FF
[A]T1=FF
[A]T2=FF
[A]T3=FF
[A]T4=FF
[A]T5=FF
[A]T6=FF
[A]T7=FF
[A]P0=1
[A]P1=0
[A]PT=FF
[A]RP=28
[A]DD=10000
[A]CT=64
[A]GT=3E8
[A]CC=2B
6

Arduino talks to PC fine via a USB cable.

I assume that the Arduino is using its UART and is connected to a serial to USB adapter.

Check all the parameters. Questions on the following:

[A]ID=3334

Does both XBee have this value the same?

[A]DH=0

[A]DL=11

[A]MY=10

This should be ok as the other unit is; DL = 10 & MY = 11

Anothe way to set addressing is to match DH & DL on one XBee to the SH & SL of the other. This amy be worth trying.

[A]BD=7

This is 115.2kBaud. There have been notes about problems at this high speed. Try dropping the Baud rate of the XBees, Arduino and PC to 9600 for testing. If this works try going to higher Baud rates until it doesn't then drop back.

[A]NB=0

8-bit. no parity, ok.

[A]PR=FF

All IO pull-up enabled. Good the XBees DIN pin needs the pull-up due to the series diode on the Explorer board. But from looking at the Arduino shield schematics the pull-up for the DIN line should be disabled, bit 7 = 0 or PR = 7F only for the XBee on the shield. The shield uses a voltage divider the convert the 5V logic from the Arduino to 3.3V logic to the XBee DIN.

[A]D7=1

CTS Flow control enabled. Probably want to disable this, set to 0;

from your first post:

The only thing that concerns me hardware-wise is that the DOUT light seems to be just barely lit all the time.

That doesn’t seem right. Double check that the XBee shield is plugged into the Arduino correctly and check the Arduino schematics to ensure that the Arduino UART’s TX & RX are properly connected with the jumpers.

I guess you have read this:

http://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/ArduinoXbeeShield

there was a solitary “Hello” in the serial monitor on 1 occasion

This could be the high speed Baud rate or a bad connection. Use a good magnifier to re-check solder joimts and also look inside the female connector for damaged contacts.

Hope some here helps.