xbee module set up

science_geek

i have just recently received a pair of xbee modules, and i dont know where to start. i would like to make some various sensors like the acceleromters from a wiimote be linked wirelessly to a propellor chip. i dont have any of the computer connect modules and i have no known way to update the firmware, what i want to do is to set it up so that each pin on the transmit senor module has the wireless connection with corresponding pins on the receiver prop module, any help is appreciated

sylvie369

Here's a good place to start:

http://www.selmaware.com/appbee/home.htm

Assuming you don't already have them, you'll want boards to put your XBees onto that can connect with your Propeller. These are nice ones at a good price.

Once you've mounted an XBee on one of these boards, your Propplug can be connected to it so you can use the XCTU software to change the XBee settings. It works beautifully.

Tracy Allen

Which XBee series do you have? If you have series 2, you will find it printed below XBee logo on the module.

The carrier boards from Selmaware will work great with either series. However major parts of the firmware are different from series 1 to series 2, and much of the program code you will find here applies to series 1.

Series 2 requires one of the modules to be a "coordinator", and that will most likely require that you re-flash the firmware for one of the modules. That was not necessary with series 1.

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Tracy Allen
www.emesystems.com

science_geek

http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=8742
i already have the following xbee, its the 60mw pro version, dont see a thing that says if i have version 1 or 2, how would i hook them up with the prop plug to flash them, and once is set up as a coordinator receiver pair, do i need a microcontroller to run the reciever, one thing i want to do is have a 3 axis accelerometer set up on various applications,

sylvie369

science_geek said...
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=8742
i already have the following xbee, its the 60mw pro version, dont see a thing that says if i have version 1 or 2, how would i hook them up with the prop plug to flash them, and once is set up as a coordinator receiver pair, do i need a microcontroller to run the reciever, one thing i want to do is have a 3 axis accelerometer set up on various applications,

That's a regular version 1. For some cryptic reason, Sparkfun labels the version 2 XBees as "Series 2.5" (see the example lower on the page you linked us to - and notice that in the photo it's clearly marked "Series 2").

You change the settings by putting it onto one of the Selmaware boards with a four-pin header for your Propplug, feeding it power through the Vin and Vss pins (a 9v battery will do just fine), and running the Propplug from a USB port on your computer to the remaining four pins. Then you start up the XCTU software

www.digi.com/support/kbase/kbaseresultdetl.jsp?id=2125

and follow the instructions (RTFM first!).

Note that you can use an XBee (Series 1) to communicate as it is "out-of-the-box": you don't need to change any settings to use it in "transparent mode":

XBee manual said...
By default, XBee/XBee-PRO RF Modules operate in Transparent Mode. When operating in this
mode, the modules act as a serial line replacement - all UART data received through the DI pin is
queued up for RF transmission. When RF data is received, the data is sent out the DO pin.

You could use it in that mode with a Stamp or Propeller on each end to format and transmit/receive the data. If your 3-axis accelerometer is one that puts out an analog voltage as signal (e.g., an ADXL3xx), you'll want to use the fancier settings and the ADC on the XBee. But if I were you, I'd get 'em working in transparent mode first before you go messing with all of that other stuff.

Post Edited (sylvie369) : 12/11/2008 11:38:13 PM GMT

Tracy Allen

Yes, you have series one, and you will not have to reflash any firmware, nor will you have to be concerned with the mish-mash of nomenclature, hardware and firmware that came with the development of the newer series. The series one is real easy to get going just as sylvie says, no coordinator required, and you won't even need to bother with the XCTU software--unless you want to confuse yourself! Instead, visit the Selmaware link, scroll to the bottom of the page, and download the code examples and documentation.

You do probably need a breakout board of some sort, either from Selmaware or from Sparkfun. If you are using a propeller you do not need level translation to/from 5 volts, so the breakout board will mainly be an easy way to connect to the tiny pins (2mm spacing) of the XBee module.

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Tracy Allen
www.emesystems.com

science_geek

so now the million dollar question, how do i set it up for line passing, thats the big thing i want to work with

Tracy Allen

The baby steps communication with the XBee is very much like a modem, with AT commands. I'd suggest that you arrange to have both modules connected to simple terminals at each end, either using a PC (with level translators!) or using the Prop as a simple terminal to send keyboard input to the module and to display module responses. Then you can develop a manual feel for the command set, the timeouts, and how to address data to a chosen end point. Then go for line passing. I have not done any of that, but it appears that it can be enabled with complementary AT commands, first on one XBee and then on the other.


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Tracy Allen
www.emesystems.com