XBee3 Pro not working with WRL-11812

Wireless & IoT Other Radios
1

Trying to configure a XBee3 with my WRL-11812 (batch 130788 v 21) but I am not able to get XCTU to communicate with the XBee. I have tried multiple computers to communicate here but to no avail. XCTU will search for the XBee and the RX light (green) will flash. Nothing is found and it goes into Press the reset button while the TX light (red) flashes rapidly. XCTU does not find the board though.

I have tried the other Xbee3 I purchased at the same time but it does not work either. Do I need to cut any of the traces on the bottom of the board?

Thanks for your help

2

Hi, thanks for writing in.

Let’s start out with the drivers for the explorer board and serial configuration. Have you successfully installed FTDI drivers?

https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/ho … rivers/all

What operating system are you using? If using a Windows machine while the explorer is plugged in without an Xbee present, does it come up as a COM port in device manager?

Have you tested your USB cable to see if it allows data transfer and not just power?

Let us know. Cheers in the meantime.

3

TS-John:
Hi, thanks for writing in.

Let’s start out with the drivers for the explorer board and serial configuration. Have you successfully installed FTDI drivers?

https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/ho … rivers/all

Yes they are installed. v 2.12.28.0 per the USB serial port properties in windows.

Device has been uninstalled (and drivers removed) and reinstalled multiple times without success.

What operating system are you using?

Windows 10 pro , current patches

If using a Windows machine while the explorer is plugged in without an Xbee present, does it come up as a COM port in device manager?

Yes with and without an xBee plugged in it shows as a COM port

Have you tested your USB cable to see if it allows data transfer and not just power?

Cable being used was purchased at the same time - CAB-11301

I have tried alternative cables as well and have the same problems.

I have no problems connecting a Parallax Prop plug to my system OR a FDTI cable - DEV-09717 to my system.

I did connect the explorer to a Mac and tried connecting to the serial port but nothing was received back -

"screen /dev/cu.usbserial-D3086QTI -f 9600,cs8,-parenb,-cstopb,-hupcl "

sent ‘+++’ multiple times but no response back. green RX light appeared on board but no red TX

FUQ: Can you confirm that an XBee3 Pro PCB (WRL-15127) can use the Explorer board without modifications?

4

Hey again. Thanks for the clarification and confirmation.

We have been selling the Xbee 3 modules for over a year now and several orders contain the USB explorer you are using. To my knowledge additional physical modifications to the explorer board are not required to interface an Xbee 3 module. If there were additional steps required we would have caught it by now and added a note to the product page of either or both products.

I am betting that your explorer might be faulty at this point if anything. It looks like you performed a serial loop test and the TX pin is not transmitting data which would explain all of the other issue you are seeing.

Let’s get you a new explorer. Fill out the return form on the right from the link below and we will get you taken care of:

https://www.sparkfun.com/returns

Cheers for now.

5

I can confirm that the [Explorer dongle with the USB-A connector with XBee3s and older XB24s works fine without the need to cut any traces or anything else.](https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11697)

6

Thanks, brow! I appreciate the quick test on this.

7

Thank you for the confirmation.