XBee Gateway

Archive New Product Ideas
1

Hi.

I am attempting to get an XBee Ethernet gateway device but I don’t have the electronics know how to do it myself. I would like to use the Lantronix XPort chip.

I am looking for thoughts about possible solutions. I would appreciate it if someone would post or e-mail me a possible solution.

I found the following post on the forum using the keywords “XBee Gateway”.

viewtopic.php?t=12978&highlight=xbee+gateway

The ConnectPort gateways from Digi are great, however depending upon your application they may be way too expensive.

Another option is to create a simple gateway. Get a WiPort or MatchPort module from Lantronix and route the serial output of the XBee to the serial input of the Lantronix module. Configure the Lantronix module to automatically connect to a particular IP address and port. Now everything addressed to that XBee will automatically be repeated over the Internet.

I have tried the ConnectPort solution but there is too much overhead and it trys to do more than I need. And I can’t get access to the API mode of the on-board XBee coordinator chip without writing more code for the ConnectPort device. I even had one of the Digi engineers send me some code to install but it didn’t work. I gave up and decided to look for a simpler solution.

I found the EtherBee by BrulTech. It works as advertised but the XBee chip is soldered to the WizNet Ethernet board so I can’t replace the chip. It uses the chip antenna and I need either the RPSMA or the U.Fl. And since it is a 4 pin connection to the WizNet, I can’t even change its firmware. I am currently working with them to see if they can produce a few with sockets for the XBee chip rather than the chip soldered in.

The reason I posted to the sparkfun forum is because I like the Lantronix solution better than the WizNet solution. Also it looks like you could take parts from the sparkfun site and put them together to make a Lantronix/XBee solution. But like I said earlier, I am not an electrical engineer so I don’t have the know to piece it together.

Again, I am looking for a Lantronix XPort and XBee Ethernet gateway solution. If you have a solution, please let me know.

Thanks for your time.

Sincerely,

Keith

2

Hi,

Its pretty easy to go from lantronics to xbee. Just get the xbee breakout and the lantronix breakout

http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/produc … ts_id=8845

http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/produc … ts_id=8276

and the xbee headers

both from sparkfun. Then they are both powered via 3.3v, connect rx to tx on the opposite device, then there are 2 more pins for handshaking.

look at this:

http://www.lammertbies.nl/comm/cable/RS-232.html

and look at the names on the xbee and xport, you dont have to do full handshaking, i dont.

this is where i get bogged down: setup an internet server and this is then published on the web, OR, get another lantronix xport and then map them to each other to just extend ur network. What is ur aim in the end?

3

Not sure if you have made a decision yet, but here’s a software gateway for XBees. It’s built on Jabber (open source instant messaging)

http://code.google.com/p/xbee-xmpp/

Andrew