xbee explorer regulated

Wireless & IoT
1

if i am using X-CTU to try and send data to my xbee module and the remote module is only connected to a battery and mounted on an xbee explorer regulated do i have to connect any pins of the module to each other to allow data flow or to get it to send something back?

everytime i try to send something to it, it says timeout waiting for data.

thanks

2

The SFE regulater XBee explorer board is not intended to be connected to the COM port of a PC. The XBee’s serial is 3.3V TTL level async whereas the PC’s COM port is RS232 voltage levels.

You need a level translator between the two devices that convert a +3.3V to -12V and 0V to +12V going from the XBee to the PC and the reverse to go the other way.

Here is how the wire a MAX232 level translator:

http://www.societyofrobots.com/microcon … uart.shtml

3

i am using a USB xbee explorer to connect the base module to the computer, and i am using an Xbee explorer regulated to power the remote module but i am using XBee Pro modules series 1 and am trying to do a range test and dont know if i need to do anything to the remote module the one mounted on the xbee explorer regulated and powered by batteries so that it can work, everytime i try to do a range test i get an error: timeout waiting for data

4

Ah…USB explorer to the PC, that’s better.

Did you follow the instructions in the X-CTU Range Test document #90001067?

http://ftp1.digi.com/support/documentat … 1067_a.pdf

5

Yes, I’ve been there… Lucky for me a friend took a workshop on these guys.

Well, your problem is that you are only connecting one Xbee to the X-CTU. It’s sounds crazy but you have to connect the other to a computer and run the same command at the same time to perform a range test.

I have a dev kit with a usb shield and a serial shield so all I had to do was connect one xbee on each and run the range test simultaneosly and you’ll be able to do a range test.

This is because a range test is only possible on the extenden mode (I can’t remember the name but I think it’s the API Command mode or something)

This means you need another USB explorer or a USB to TTL converter (or a USB to RS232 and a RS232 to TTL) to perform that test easily. There could be another way, but I haven’t read to much documentation on the API Commands to know hehe.

Hope this helps,

6

Take a look at the linked image to see how to range-find between two xbees using only one computer running X-CTU. The second xbee (not hooked to computer) must have its DOUT and DIN pins connected together so it relays back any message it receives. http://www.blakefallconroy.com/wirelessxbee.jpg

Blake