This will be really great to have the XBees available directly from Parallax. I second Jim's comment about the Sparkfun breakout boards. The first one, XBee USB explorer, plugs into the PC serial port and something like that is almost essential for tesing and for reflashing for firmware upgrades. The USB development boards direct from Digi are fine, too, but are more expensive and with more leds and pushbuttons are overkill for most purposes.
I'd like to put in a plug for the SelmaWare Appbee adapters too. www.selmaware.com/appbee/index.htm. I think Martin Hebel was one of the first to document serious use of the XBees with the BASIC Stamp, and his plug and play documentation is available on his web site. He wrote the first OBEX object too obex.parallax.com/objects/146/.
The series 1 XBees come with the 802.15.4 firmware, but they can also be re-flashed with the so called Digimesh firmware, a proprietary mesh protocol.
I think that the Selma boards are superior to the Sparkfun or Adafruit boards for a variety of reasons (for example, the Pro versions of the XBee won't fit on some of those other boards because there's a pair of capacitors in the way). The documentation on the Selmaware site is also excellent - very helpful stuff.
@sylvie369 - I'm looking at a couple of PRO XBees right now and I don't see the capacitors you describe on the bottom of the XBee board. Are the capacitors you refer to on the XBee or on the XBee carrier boards? Thanks, Ken Gracey
They're on the carrier board. Let me go check which one...BRB.
Here we go - it's the Adafruit board. If you build it per instructions, there's a 100uF cap and a TO-92 transistor standing up right where the bottom edge of an XBee Pro wants to go. You'll see what I mean in the attached photo. A regular XBee fits just fine, but that extra .21"·tail on the -Pro modules goes right where those components are (despite the fact that the product page says "For use with any XBee/Pro pin-compatible module").· (and no, I didn't put them too high. The cap is sitting right on the board, and I couldn't get the transistor much lower either - and they're not even close to low enough).
It might be possible to build one with those components bent over out of the way somehow, but frankly, I'd rather use a well-designed board (like the Selma ones). If you guys are putting together a design for boards, please test fit the Pro modules as well as the regular ones. It can't be that hard - I'm really new to designing boards, but·the Sparkfun XBee footprint I'm using includes space for that "tail" on the -Pro modules, so I haven't had any fit problems with mine.
Post Edited (sylvie369) : 1/11/2010 10:22:52 PM GMT
Aha. Now I see the problem. Indeed, that's a design issue. We don't have this problem on the XBee boards we are releasing (all SMT, low-profile parts).
Check these out (attached). They're the onboard and then receiver parts of my altitude telemetry gizmo for high power rockets. All sorts of stuff I learned on this forum went into them.
Hey there, just showing you the new XBee USB Adapter boards that are flowing off of our Pick and Place today. Special attention was put into the manufacturing process of these boards - connectors are firmly attached for multiple connect/disconnect handling and shall be fully tested prior to shipping. Fully made in the USA, too, by a team that wants to produce the best products possible. We're shooting for a $24.99 retail price, though $19.99 would really make us happy.
I assume the XBee can be programmed through the USB port. Can the firmware·be updated as well? Right now I'm plugging wires through a DB9 breakout to do that, and a straightforward board would be a nice change.
It's sooo easy with the USB connection, plus you get bi-directional communication with your other XBee hanging off of a Propeller or BASIC Stamp.
Also, we won't be putting the 2mm M/F sockets or 0.1" M/M headers on these boards. We're leaving them off for two purpsoes: (a) give the customer maximum flexibility in case they want to solder wires to the carrier board's pads and (b) save in labor, as there's no sense in making our customers pay Parallax staff $60/hour when they can do it in a few minutes.
Oh, yes, I've been XCTU-ing like mad for a couple of years now. Easily the best way to become familiar with all the little AT commands.
Good decision re. the headers, especially with the .1" ones where the pins are broken out. As you can see in my Prop receiver board, it's useful to have those available for soldering wires. I've got wires going from Prop I/O pins to the XBee DIO0 and DIO1 pins to read those pins as "digital line passing" outputs.
Are the boards powered through the USB connection?
That is, can you just plug an XBee into the sockets, attach a USB cable, and go, or do you also need to supply 3.3V to the appropriate pins? I think I see one of those tiny voltage regulators there, maybe connected to a power on LED, but I'm not sure.
Massimo, we'll release the XBee modules and basic adapter board today. The USB Adapter is still in test and packaging, so expect it in a few days. Like you, I prefer having no headers installed on the XBee boards - particularly the 0.1" headers. Leaving those off maintains flexibility - I wired directly to the I/O pads.
sylvie369. Yes! Power is provided through USB with the XBee USB Adapter. You can use the XBee on the XBee USB Adapter Board to communicate with the PC. No need to supply 3.3V to any pins - it has a tiny voltage regulator.
Excellent. I see the boards and the XBee modules themselves on the New Products page. Glad to see that the modules are at the same price as Digikey (which is where I've been getting them).
Not surprisingly, you are going to make it a lot easier to get into using XBees.
On the left side of the Prop Proto Board you can drop the XBee Adapter on as shown in this photo. Several XBee pins are then directly connected to Propeller pins if you install the M/M header (the I/Os). Or, simply snip those portions of the header off and don't connect them to the Prop I/O pins at all. You could also move the XBee Adapter to the top left or the right side.
Even better is to place the XBee Adapter on the right side of the Prop Proto Board. On the right side ALL of the XBee pins are free to connect to whatever you want to.
We've thought about these issues and I've experimented quite a bit myself. There are also mounting holes on the XBee Adapter so you can mount it anywhere you want - off of the Prop Proto Board. If you do this, leave the M/M headers off the board and wire directly to the XBee Adapter pads.
And it fits in the Prop Demo Board, too. I'm not sure what the concern is with that board. Let me know if I answered your questions.
I see that it will fit where you have it in the photo. But you must run wires from power, ground and the signal pins. Martin's design just plugs in near the Prop chip, vertically, not horizontally.· Photo attached
Reference the Demo Board: The XBee Adapter documentation says:
ALTHOUGH THERE ARE 11 PINS ON THE
XBEE ADAPTER, THE LAST PIN IN EACH ROW
(LABELED VDD AND VSS) ARE NOT NEEDED
FOR THE XBEE MODULE AND SHOULD BE LEFT
UNCONNECTED.
But it looks like if you moved the 10 pin header down 1 pin it could plug directly into the female socket of the Demo Board.
Thanks for the mention John.
EDIT: And Tracy & Sylvie, thanks! Reading up through the posts...
I've been working with Xbee's for several years now - just took Ken 3 years to listen to me [noparse]:)[/noparse]
I have posted a fairly good object with a lot of XBee functionality (including API data, remote config, etc) at: obex.parallax.com/objects/146/.
Also, for the BASIC Stamp users, I have a use tutorial on my website at: www.selmaware.com/appbee/index.htm (see near bottom).
Oh, and some boards I have support the 5V logic of the BASIC Stamp.
@parallax
for keeping all of us informed why not have your own internet channel for demo's, howto's and etc.
where it can be found all in one place. something like the tech shows at revision3 but have something like the
the way the forum is laid out-just a thought... revision3.com/
-dan
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Arguing with myself--sometimes me, myself, and I don't always agree.
(Former) Caterpillar product support technician
That's a standard Series 2 (or 2.5, if you prefer) XBee, and there is no reason why it shouldn't work with the Parallax boards. I'm fairly certain that they're completely interchangeable (but be aware that you cannot communicate between a Series 1 and a Series 2.5 module - your XBees all have to be of the same Series).
I'm fairly sure that the 900 MHz modules are compatible as well, though of course they also can only talk amongst themselves, and not with the 2.4 GHz versions.
I just saw the page! Nice! I'll be buying some soon. I just bought 2 of the 433Mhz RF Transievers only to discover that there is a signal in my part of the world that blocks the signal for them and I recieve jibberish on the lines. Eather that or one of my transievers are broken. Maybe Parallax will let me trade out.
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Parallax has wisely chosen to distribute the series 1 XBees with the 802.15.4 firmware. That is the original XBee and the one covered by the notes on Martin Hebel's Selmaware site and in the OBEX. When I first got into this, a couple of years ago, I bought a development kit, a promotion at the Embedded Systems Conference, naively thinking that there was only one flavor of XBee. But it was a newly introduced "series 2 znet 2.5" and I had to learn about the flavors the hard way. Confusion about this comes up from time to time here on the forums.
Here is my quick buyer's guide to the XBee universe. I will go only into the 2.4 GHz embedded modules. There are also sub 1 GHz versions of some of these (also pin compatible), and there are specialized modules that add sensors or special functions, such as higher power (long range) and Python programmable gateways to other systems.
"Series 1": a hardware platform that supports two distinct protocols, "802.15.4" and "Digimesh" both actively promoted by Digi Corporation. The firmware and upgrades for either protocol can be downloaded from the Digi web site and burned into the series 1 module using their nice X-CTU software on a Windows box. The standard version outputs a maximum of 1mW (0 dBm) and the Pro version outputs a maximum (USA) of 63 mW (+63 dBm) and has slightly higher receiver sensitivity. (Parallax on the XBee product page says 2mW for the standard XBee, a discrepancy)
"802.15.4" (the one being sold by Parallax)
Digi part numbers start with XB24-A or XBP24-A for standard or pro.
The single 802.15.4 firmware version covers both the "router" and "coordinator" functions, and it also covers both the transparent AT command mode and the API mode. Most simple tasks can be accomplished without learning either what a coordinator is or the difference between AT and API modes. But if you find that you need them, they can be activated by commands with no change of firmware. IEEE standard 802.15.4 defines the physical and MAC layers for device communication. The Digi "802.15.4" XBee can be interoperable with baseline 802.15.4 devices from other manufacturers, with caveats.
"Digimesh", a proprietary mesh protocol, the newest XBee from Digi.
Digi part numbers start with XB24-DM or XBP24-DM for standard or pro.
This firmware also runs on the series 1 modules, and there is one a single version of the firmware that runs on all modules in the network. This also operates on a 802.15.4 backbone, but is not interoperable with devices from any other manufacturer nor with the "802.15.4" XBee. Note again that a "digimesh" XBee can be reflashed with "802.15.4" firmware, and vice versa, using the X-CTU program and the firmware files from the Digi web site.
"Series 2": a hardware platform internally quite different from "series 1", despite the fact that it has the same form factor and pinout. The module usually has "series 2" imprinted on the top. The series 2 hardware supports two distinct protocols, "znet 2.5" and "ZB". The firmware and upgrades for either protocol can be downloaded from the Digi web site and burned into the series 2 module using X-CTU software. These XBees are also built on the 802.15.4 backbone, however, Zigbee is intrinsically a much more complex protocol layer. These come in a standard version with 2mW (+1.25 dBm) output and a Pro version with 50 mW (+17 dBm) and slightly higher receiver sensitivity.
"ZB" is the most Zigbee compliant Digi module, and can with caveats be interoperable with Zigbee devices from other manufacturers.
Digi part numbers start with XB24-Z7 or XBP24-Z7 for standard or pro.
6 different firmware versions, AT coordinator, AT router, AT end-point, API coordinator, API router and API end-point. Each device in the network has to be preprogrammed or reprogrammed with the firmware appropriate to function. One source of confusion when people purchase these is that the distributers like Mouser or Digikey only stock the XBee "ZB" with the router firmware installed, and it is necessary to have one in a network reprogrammed as a coordinator using X-CTU.
"Znet 2.5" is the Digi predecessor to "ZB", , and although Digi still supports it, they are not actively promoting it and they suggest upgrade to "ZB".
Digi part numbers start with XB24-B or XBP24-B for standard or pro.
4 different firmware versions, AT coordinator, AT router/end-point, API coordinator and API router/endpoint. "ZB" and "znet 2.5" are not interoperable.
Not only do all of the XBees share the same physical look and pinout, the command sets and operation are very similar. The differences though are crucial, so buyer beware. Be sure you are getting the XBee you need!
There are also the suffixes on the part number that specify the antenna type:
W for wire
C for chip
U for U.fl R for RPSMA
S for RPSMA
XB24 -- the 24 refers to 2.4 GHz, XB09 for the 900 MHz models (longer range).
Tracy, thank you for your very usefull info.
I still have one question: 2.4GHz XBee XBP24-BSIT-004 wich protocol uses ? It is the one from my previous link.
Minor addition to what Tracy said (I think he'll agree - if not, he can blast away):
The Series 2 XBee is NOT in any meaningful sense a "new improved, better version" when compared with Series 1. Tracy chose the word "flavors" carefully, I think. Do not fall into the trap of thinking that a Series 2 XBee is better than a Series 1. They're different, that's all. Different flavors, as it were.
I suspect that all things considered, Series 1 XBees are easier to use. But as I said in an earlier post, they'll do everything short of sing and dance for you.
Right, sylvie369, that was the trap I fell into initially when I visited the glossy Digi booth at the Embedded Systems Show. I was completely oblivious to the fact that there were different flavors, and "series 2" (as you say) simply registered in my mind as somehow better than "series 1". Then I tried Martin's code. but the setup is different in a number of respects. I had to RTFM, aha! The manuals for these things get thicker and thicker! I did get it working, but as we moved forward with the project I switched back to "802.15.4" because all I need is a simple peer to peer, many to one, network. That may change and I may reflash the series 1 devices to Digimesh, where all nodes can spend most of the time asleep, even while relaying message through the mesh. The series 2 are probably better if, say, one is setting up several interlinked networks in a hospital or a factory or if one needs to support Zigbee certified devices from several manufacturers. I'd certainly recommend "802.15.4" series 1 XBees as a starting point. That is what you are using for your exciting rocket telemetry, right? (Enjoy your rocketeers patch, Mr. Smith!)
Mugur,
XBP24-B specifies the znet 2.5 firmware on series 2 hardware. The S suffix means RPSMA connector. The part number does not indicate which firmware version is installed. The best bet is for you to connect it to the X-CTU software and check its internal settings.
Comments
I'd like to put in a plug for the SelmaWare Appbee adapters too. www.selmaware.com/appbee/index.htm. I think Martin Hebel was one of the first to document serious use of the XBees with the BASIC Stamp, and his plug and play documentation is available on his web site. He wrote the first OBEX object too obex.parallax.com/objects/146/.
The series 1 XBees come with the 802.15.4 firmware, but they can also be re-flashed with the so called Digimesh firmware, a proprietary mesh protocol.
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Tracy Allen
www.emesystems.com
Post Edited (Tracy Allen) : 1/11/2010 4:33:27 AM GMT
Here we go - it's the Adafruit board. If you build it per instructions, there's a 100uF cap and a TO-92 transistor standing up right where the bottom edge of an XBee Pro wants to go. You'll see what I mean in the attached photo. A regular XBee fits just fine, but that extra .21"·tail on the -Pro modules goes right where those components are (despite the fact that the product page says "For use with any XBee/Pro pin-compatible module").· (and no, I didn't put them too high. The cap is sitting right on the board, and I couldn't get the transistor much lower either - and they're not even close to low enough).
It might be possible to build one with those components bent over out of the way somehow, but frankly, I'd rather use a well-designed board (like the Selma ones). If you guys are putting together a design for boards, please test fit the Pro modules as well as the regular ones. It can't be that hard - I'm really new to designing boards, but·the Sparkfun XBee footprint I'm using includes space for that "tail" on the -Pro modules, so I haven't had any fit problems with mine.
Post Edited (sylvie369) : 1/11/2010 10:22:52 PM GMT
So, Pro modules fit the same on our adapters.
Thanks for sharing sylvie369.
Ken Gracey
Check these out (attached). They're the onboard and then receiver parts of my altitude telemetry gizmo for high power rockets. All sorts of stuff I learned on this forum went into them.
Ken Gracey
Parallax Inc.
I assume the XBee can be programmed through the USB port. Can the firmware·be updated as well? Right now I'm plugging wires through a DB9 breakout to do that, and a straightforward board would be a nice change.
http://www.digi.com/support/kbase/kbaseresultdetl.jsp?kb=125
It's sooo easy with the USB connection, plus you get bi-directional communication with your other XBee hanging off of a Propeller or BASIC Stamp.
Also, we won't be putting the 2mm M/F sockets or 0.1" M/M headers on these boards. We're leaving them off for two purpsoes: (a) give the customer maximum flexibility in case they want to solder wires to the carrier board's pads and (b) save in labor, as there's no sense in making our customers pay Parallax staff $60/hour when they can do it in a few minutes.
I really like these little XBee modules.
Ken Gracey
Oh, yes, I've been XCTU-ing like mad for a couple of years now. Easily the best way to become familiar with all the little AT commands.
Good decision re. the headers, especially with the .1" ones where the pins are broken out. As you can see in my Prop receiver board, it's useful to have those available for soldering wires. I've got wires going from Prop I/O pins to the XBee DIO0 and DIO1 pins to read those pins as "digital line passing" outputs.
Massimo
That is, can you just plug an XBee into the sockets, attach a USB cable, and go, or do you also need to supply 3.3V to the appropriate pins? I think I see one of those tiny voltage regulators there, maybe connected to a power on LED, but I'm not sure.
sylvie369. Yes! Power is provided through USB with the XBee USB Adapter. You can use the XBee on the XBee USB Adapter Board to communicate with the PC. No need to supply 3.3V to any pins - it has a tiny voltage regulator.
Ken Gracey
Parallax Inc.
Not surprisingly, you are going to make it a lot easier to get into using XBees.
XBee Adapter Board: VSS - VCC - Data pins
Proto Board: VDD - VSS - Data pins
Cannot plug into a Proto Board. Hopefully Martin (http://www.selmaware.com/appbee/index.htm) keeps selling his.
If assembled according to the PDF it will not plug into a Demo Board. Can you slide the 10 pin header down one and then plug it into the demo board?
John Abshier
PS. On the next revision of the DemoBoard or ProtoBoard it would be nice to make the pinouts match.
It's not so difficult.
On the left side of the Prop Proto Board you can drop the XBee Adapter on as shown in this photo. Several XBee pins are then directly connected to Propeller pins if you install the M/M header (the I/Os). Or, simply snip those portions of the header off and don't connect them to the Prop I/O pins at all. You could also move the XBee Adapter to the top left or the right side.
Even better is to place the XBee Adapter on the right side of the Prop Proto Board. On the right side ALL of the XBee pins are free to connect to whatever you want to.
We've thought about these issues and I've experimented quite a bit myself. There are also mounting holes on the XBee Adapter so you can mount it anywhere you want - off of the Prop Proto Board. If you do this, leave the M/M headers off the board and wire directly to the XBee Adapter pads.
And it fits in the Prop Demo Board, too. I'm not sure what the concern is with that board. Let me know if I answered your questions.
Thanks,
Ken Gracey
Reference the Demo Board: The XBee Adapter documentation says:
ALTHOUGH THERE ARE 11 PINS ON THE
XBEE ADAPTER, THE LAST PIN IN EACH ROW
(LABELED VDD AND VSS) ARE NOT NEEDED
FOR THE XBEE MODULE AND SHOULD BE LEFT
UNCONNECTED.
But it looks like if you moved the 10 pin header down 1 pin it could plug directly into the female socket of the Demo Board.
John Abshier
EDIT: And Tracy & Sylvie, thanks! Reading up through the posts...
I've been working with Xbee's for several years now - just took Ken 3 years to listen to me [noparse]:)[/noparse]
I have posted a fairly good object with a lot of XBee functionality (including API data, remote config, etc) at:
obex.parallax.com/objects/146/.
Also, for the BASIC Stamp users, I have a use tutorial on my website at:
www.selmaware.com/appbee/index.htm (see near bottom).
Oh, and some boards I have support the 5V logic of the BASIC Stamp.
And finally, the new text "Programming and Customizing the Multicore Propeller", my chapter 5 on Wireless Networking has good information on using the XBee's and some good demos including a 3-node wireless bot system.
www.amazon.com/Programming-Customizing-Multicore-Propeller-Microcontroller/dp/0071664505/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263517826&sr=8-1-spell
-Martin Hebel
SelmaWare Solutions
Post Edited (Martin Hebel) : 1/15/2010 1:11:20 AM GMT
for keeping all of us informed why not have your own internet channel for demo's, howto's and etc.
where it can be found all in one place. something like the tech shows at revision3 but have something like the
the way the forum is laid out-just a thought...
revision3.com/
-dan
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Arguing with myself--sometimes me, myself, and I don't always agree.
(Former) Caterpillar product support technician
www.coolcomponents.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=55&products_id=294
This will also work well with your boards and adapters ?
I'm fairly sure that the 900 MHz modules are compatible as well, though of course they also can only talk amongst themselves, and not with the 2.4 GHz versions.
·
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Computers are microcontrolled.
Robots are microcontrolled.
I am microcontrolled.
SX Spinning light display·
http://designedbymemicros.blogspot.com/
But give me up to two weeks to accomplish this simple task due to travel obligations.
Thanks,
Ken Gracey
Parallax has wisely chosen to distribute the series 1 XBees with the 802.15.4 firmware. That is the original XBee and the one covered by the notes on Martin Hebel's Selmaware site and in the OBEX. When I first got into this, a couple of years ago, I bought a development kit, a promotion at the Embedded Systems Conference, naively thinking that there was only one flavor of XBee. But it was a newly introduced "series 2 znet 2.5" and I had to learn about the flavors the hard way. Confusion about this comes up from time to time here on the forums.
Here is my quick buyer's guide to the XBee universe. I will go only into the 2.4 GHz embedded modules. There are also sub 1 GHz versions of some of these (also pin compatible), and there are specialized modules that add sensors or special functions, such as higher power (long range) and Python programmable gateways to other systems.
"Series 1": a hardware platform that supports two distinct protocols, "802.15.4" and "Digimesh" both actively promoted by Digi Corporation. The firmware and upgrades for either protocol can be downloaded from the Digi web site and burned into the series 1 module using their nice X-CTU software on a Windows box. The standard version outputs a maximum of 1mW (0 dBm) and the Pro version outputs a maximum (USA) of 63 mW (+63 dBm) and has slightly higher receiver sensitivity. (Parallax on the XBee product page says 2mW for the standard XBee, a discrepancy)
"802.15.4" (the one being sold by Parallax)
Digi part numbers start with XB24-A or XBP24-A for standard or pro.
The single 802.15.4 firmware version covers both the "router" and "coordinator" functions, and it also covers both the transparent AT command mode and the API mode. Most simple tasks can be accomplished without learning either what a coordinator is or the difference between AT and API modes. But if you find that you need them, they can be activated by commands with no change of firmware. IEEE standard 802.15.4 defines the physical and MAC layers for device communication. The Digi "802.15.4" XBee can be interoperable with baseline 802.15.4 devices from other manufacturers, with caveats.
"Digimesh", a proprietary mesh protocol, the newest XBee from Digi.
Digi part numbers start with XB24-DM or XBP24-DM for standard or pro.
This firmware also runs on the series 1 modules, and there is one a single version of the firmware that runs on all modules in the network. This also operates on a 802.15.4 backbone, but is not interoperable with devices from any other manufacturer nor with the "802.15.4" XBee. Note again that a "digimesh" XBee can be reflashed with "802.15.4" firmware, and vice versa, using the X-CTU program and the firmware files from the Digi web site.
"Series 2": a hardware platform internally quite different from "series 1", despite the fact that it has the same form factor and pinout. The module usually has "series 2" imprinted on the top. The series 2 hardware supports two distinct protocols, "znet 2.5" and "ZB". The firmware and upgrades for either protocol can be downloaded from the Digi web site and burned into the series 2 module using X-CTU software. These XBees are also built on the 802.15.4 backbone, however, Zigbee is intrinsically a much more complex protocol layer. These come in a standard version with 2mW (+1.25 dBm) output and a Pro version with 50 mW (+17 dBm) and slightly higher receiver sensitivity.
"ZB" is the most Zigbee compliant Digi module, and can with caveats be interoperable with Zigbee devices from other manufacturers.
Digi part numbers start with XB24-Z7 or XBP24-Z7 for standard or pro.
6 different firmware versions, AT coordinator, AT router, AT end-point, API coordinator, API router and API end-point. Each device in the network has to be preprogrammed or reprogrammed with the firmware appropriate to function. One source of confusion when people purchase these is that the distributers like Mouser or Digikey only stock the XBee "ZB" with the router firmware installed, and it is necessary to have one in a network reprogrammed as a coordinator using X-CTU.
"Znet 2.5" is the Digi predecessor to "ZB", , and although Digi still supports it, they are not actively promoting it and they suggest upgrade to "ZB".
Digi part numbers start with XB24-B or XBP24-B for standard or pro.
4 different firmware versions, AT coordinator, AT router/end-point, API coordinator and API router/endpoint. "ZB" and "znet 2.5" are not interoperable.
Not only do all of the XBees share the same physical look and pinout, the command sets and operation are very similar. The differences though are crucial, so buyer beware. Be sure you are getting the XBee you need!
There are also the suffixes on the part number that specify the antenna type:
W for wire
C for chip
U for U.fl
R for RPSMA
S for RPSMA
XB24 -- the 24 refers to 2.4 GHz, XB09 for the 900 MHz models (longer range).
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Tracy Allen
www.emesystems.com
Post Edited (Tracy Allen) : 1/17/2010 3:56:30 AM GMT
"This product is the 60mW XBee 802.14.4 Module with chip antenna (Digi Part# XBP24-AWI-001)."
Should say "wire".
Rich H
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The Simple Servo Tester, a kit from Gadget Gangster.
I still have one question: 2.4GHz XBee XBP24-BSIT-004 wich protocol uses ? It is the one from my previous link.
The Series 2 XBee is NOT in any meaningful sense a "new improved, better version" when compared with Series 1. Tracy chose the word "flavors" carefully, I think. Do not fall into the trap of thinking that a Series 2 XBee is better than a Series 1. They're different, that's all. Different flavors, as it were.
I suspect that all things considered, Series 1 XBees are easier to use. But as I said in an earlier post, they'll do everything short of sing and dance for you.
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Tracy Allen
www.emesystems.com
Post Edited (Tracy Allen) : 1/17/2010 1:38:20 AM GMT
XBP24-B specifies the znet 2.5 firmware on series 2 hardware. The S suffix means RPSMA connector. The part number does not indicate which firmware version is installed. The best bet is for you to connect it to the X-CTU software and check its internal settings.
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Tracy Allen
www.emesystems.com