Xbee Tips And Tricks ( Help)

chris jones · 2011-01-30 09:01

Hello

i am working on a cool project and will rely on my xbee modules a lot, i have had a lot of issues getting my xbees off the ground but was a hardware issue all along. So i would like to start this forum thread to see if i can get some help from the community on my ideal’s and questions i have about my xbees.

Current Setup
2 prop demo boards
2 xbee S1
2 LCD
2 Adapter boards ( http://www.parallax.com/Store/Access...2/Default.aspx )
1 USB Adapter board

chris jones · 2011-01-30 09:02

First Quick question how to i get my xbees Mac address and display to my LCD.

sylvie369 · 2011-01-30 13:26

Do you have your XBees mounted on any kind of adapter board? You'll need adapter boards for both of them.

You should get at least one of these:

http://www.parallax.com/Store/Accessories/CommunicationRF/tabid/161/CategoryID/36/List/0/SortField/0/catpageindex/2/Level/a/ProductID/643/Default.aspx

When you put an XBee on that board and connect it through a USB cable to your computer, you can use the free XCTU software (available at Digi.com, links on the Parallax site) to read whatever information you want to from the XBee, and also to change the various settings. That's the easiest way to do those things.

If you remove the USB cable from that board, and you've installed headers, it can also be used to mount the XBee on a breadboard. Otherwise you'll want another adapter to mount your second XBee on, so you can connect it to your Prop demo boards. Since the Prop is 3.3V (which matches the XBee), you can simply use one of these:

http://www.parallax.com/Store/Accessories/CommunicationRF/tabid/161/CategoryID/36/List/0/SortField/0/catpageindex/2/Level/a/ProductID/642/Default.aspx

chris jones · 2011-01-30 13:37

sorry yes i have 2 adapter boards as well and 1 usb adapter board to configure the xbees.

sylvie369 · 2011-01-30 16:47

Okay, I see you added them to your list.

I'm not sure what you mean by "my xbees Mac address" - are you talking about its hardware serial number? The ATSL and ATSH commands will get you the high and low words of the serial number, but normally you use other means of addressing an XBee, notably the "MY" source address, in combination with the PANID (network ID number). Alternatively, you can set and use a unique Node Identifier label for each of your XBee modules. Your other XBees can use those addresses/PANIDs/NIs to address a specific XBee.

chris jones · 2011-01-30 17:05

so do i set the "MY" source address in the configuration software from digikey?

And one i set the ID how do i access it from my propeller chip?

sylvie369 · 2011-01-30 18:59

You have two options for setting up the XBee modules.

1 - You can mount the module on your USB board and use XCTU to read the current settings, make the changes you need, and then write the new settings to the module. They will stay set that way then until you explicitly change them.
2 - You can read and change the settings through your Propeller software. Of course you can write the changes you make that way to nonvolatile memory as well, but it's fine to just set up your software so that when the program runs, it makes the changes, so that it doesn't matter what the settings are before that point.

Reading and setting the settings through the Prop chip is a matter of using the XBee object in the OBEX (or of just sending the serial data yourself through your own code, if you prefer). Here's a snippet of Spin code I'm using:

OBJ 
  XB   : "XBee_Object"       
  Comm : "FullDuplexSerialPlus"  
  Num  : "Numbers"
  LCD  : "Debug_LCD"
  BS2  : "BS2_Functions"
VAR     byte          Alt[6]       ' Variable to hold the first 6 bytes of altitude data from MAWD. First 5 bytes are 5 digits of altitude, then CR (then LF, unread).
        word          AltN         ' Variable to hold numerical value of altitude, after conversion from string. 
        word          MaxAlt       ' Variable to hold maximum altitude
        byte          Event0       ' Has pull-pin 0 pulled?
        byte          Event1       ' Has pull-pin 1 pulled?
        long          PinStack[65] ' Stack for cog running PinsCheck (stack size set by trial and error: 9 is too small, and overwrites E1).
        long          LCDStack[65] ' Stack for cog running LCDUpdate
        word          LCDBuffer[8] ' Variable to hold values to be displayed on the LCD.
                      { 0 - AltN
                        1 - MaxAlt
                        2 - Flight status: 0 = Ready, 1 = In flight, 2 = Landed
                        3 - Event 0: 0 = No event, 1 = Event
                        4 - Event 1: 0 = No event, 1 = Event
                        5 - Data received: 0 = No, 1 = Yes
                        6-7 (reserved)
                      }
        word          LCDBufOld[8] ' Temporary buffer to be compared with current contents to determine whether or not to update LCD.
        byte          temp, flag   ' General purpose variables 
Pub Start 
    XB.start(0,1,0,9600)           ' XBee Comms - RX,TX, Mode, Baud
    XB.AT_init
    XB.AT_Config(String("ATMY 0")) ' Config to receive as Module 0 to match XBee-MAWD telemetry output DL setting.
    DIRA[22..23]~                  ' Set pins 22 and 23 as inputs from the XBee I/O pins 0 and 1
    XB.AT_Config(String("ATD0 5")) ' Config to use XBee DIO pin 0 as a digital output, default HIGH
    XB.AT_Config(String("ATD1 5")) ' Config to use XBee DIO pin 1 as a digital output, default HIGH
    XB.AT_Config(String("ATIA 1")) ' Config to receive DIO data from module whose MY = 1. 
    XB.AT_Config(String("ATIU 0")) ' Config so that DIO pin states are not sent out UART, where they would interfere with alt data

You should read through the XBee object to get a sense of what can be done, and how to do it.

chris jones · 2011-01-30 19:13

Thanks, i used option 1 and set my id as a 3 digit number. your exmaples shows how to set the My Address but not get the id unless i am overlooking it.I will also look over the xbee object to see if i am missing anything.

sylvie369 · 2011-01-31 07:48

You should be able to get the value using either AT_Config or API_Query, from Martin's XBee object. I don't remember if I have any code that reads the configuration information, though.

I would try declaring a string, then using AT_Config with ATMY and a pointer to your string to get the MY address into that string.

chris jones · 2011-01-31 09:21

ok , thanks i will give this a try.............

chris jones · 2011-02-02 15:22

I added thsi code and it seems to always return null any idelas what i am doing wrong

ID := XB.AT_Config(string("ATMY"))

Martin Hebel · 2011-02-02 17:57

Reading the XBee Object Documentation for AT_Config, you will see this:
PUB AT_Config(stringptr)
{{
Send a configuration string for AT Mode
XB.AT_Config(string("ATMY 2"))
May also be used to query
XB.AT_Config(string("ATMY")) ' request value
addr := XB.RxHEX ' accept value
FOR Transparent (Non-API) MODE USE
Be sure to issue .AT_Init once at startup
}}

You can use
AT_Config(string("ATMY"))
to request the value, but you need another line of code accept the data returned by the XBee:
ID := XB.RxHex

-Martin

chris jones · 2011-02-02 19:40

Hello

i seem to have something messed up can you glance at my code and see if everything is correct.

''****************************************
''*  Sensor Node technology              *
''****************************************
CON
  _clkmode = xtal1 + pll16x                             ' use crystal x 16
  _xinfreq = 5_000_000                                  ' 5 MHz cyrstal (sys clock = 80 MHz)
  LCD_PIN   = 2                                         ' for Parallax 4x20 serial LCD on P0
  LCD_BAUD  = 19_200
  LCD_LINES = 4
    ' Set pins and Baud rate for XBee comms  
  XB_Rx     = 0        ' XBee DOUT
  XB_Tx     = 1        ' XBee DIN            
  XB_Baud   = 9600
  ' Set pins and baud rate for PC comms 
  PC_Rx     = 31  
  PC_Tx     = 30
  PC_Baud   = 9600          
VAR
  byte ID[10]
  
OBJ
  lcd   : "debug_lcd"
  XB    : "XBee_Object"     

PUB main | idx
  'start the xbee nodules
  XB.start(XB_Rx, XB_Tx, 0, XB_Baud)                    ' Initialize comms for XBee
  XB.AT_Init                                            ' Initialize for fast AT command use - 5 second delay to perform                       
  if lcd.init(LCD_PIN, LCD_BAUD, LCD_LINES)             ' start lcd
    lcd.cursor(0)                                       ' cursor off
    lcd.backLight(true)                                 ' backlight on (if available)
    lcd.custom(0, @Bullet)                              ' create custom character 0
    lcd.cls                                             ' clear the lcd
    lcd.str(string("Sensor Node 1", 13))
    lcd.putc(0)                                         ' display custom bullet character
    lcd.str(string(" Status", 13))
    lcd.putc(0)
    lcd.str(string(" Wireless", 13)) 
    lcd.putc(0)
    lcd.str(string(" Energy"))       
    repeat
      repeat
        XB.AT_Config(string("ATMY")) 
        'to request the value, but you need another line of code accept the data returned by the XBee:
        ID := XB.RxHex
        updateLcd(ID)
        'waitcnt(clkfreq / 5 + cnt)                      ' pad with 1/5 sec

PRI updateLcd(value)
      
    lcd.gotoxy(12, 1)
    lcd.str(value)                         
    lcd.gotoxy(11, 2)
    lcd.str(value)                                   
    lcd.gotoxy(7, 3)
    lcd.str(value)                                              
                
      
DAT
  Bullet      byte      $00, $04, $0E, $1F, $0E, $04, $00, $00
{{
}}

chris jones · 2011-02-03 05:37

it looks like i might be missing this in my code

XB.AT_init
XB.AT_Config(String("ATMY 0")) ' Config to receive as Module 0 to match XBee-MAWD telemetry output DL setting.

_________________________________

its using pin 0 to get the setings P0 DOUT

Martin Hebel · 2011-02-03 05:52

In UpdateLCD, I suspect you would want to use:
LCD.Dec(value)
or
LCD.Hex(value)
since the ID is stored as a value and not a string.

Also, your repeat loop has this being done continuously with no delay in it - probably not a good idea. Read and display once and end with a repeat for testing.

You also have ID defines as an array, where it only needs to be a word value - again, not a string that is returned.

Some untested revisions... Ok, I've not used the new forums much yet, and how to insert code in a post escapes me right now, so attached.

XBee_LCD.spin

Good luck!
-Martin

sylvie369 · 2011-02-03 05:54

It looks to me like your code has the XB.AT_init line already.

You don't need to set your XBee's MY before reading it. Every XBee has a MY address, whether you've ever changed it or not. I believe they're shipped with their MY set to 0, but I'm not certain about that. Regardless, you should be able to read the MY address even if you've never set it.

chris jones · 2011-02-03 22:37

Martin i gave your code a try and i still return a empty value.

Martin Hebel · 2011-02-05 18:22

Chris,
It's good code for reading the XBee. Did you get any other errors?

Start slow, be sure you can read the XBee and send to the PST instead, then add in your LCD stuff and test that.

I tested the code I sent without the LCD. It read it.

-Martin

chris jones · 2011-02-05 18:24

ok good ideal i need to crawl befor i walk i will make sure i can get the infomation to a terminal screen and update you one io i try that.

chris jones · 2011-02-08 19:00

Martin i tried the code with just the terminal and i still get a blank screen my code is posted

''****************************************
''* Sensor Node technology *
''****************************************
CON
_clkmode = xtal1 + pll16x ' use crystal x 16
_xinfreq = 5_000_000 ' 5 MHz cyrstal (sys clock = 80 MHz)
LCD_PIN = 2 ' for Parallax 4x20 serial LCD on P0
LCD_BAUD = 19_200
LCD_LINES = 4
' Set pins and Baud rate for XBee comms 
XB_Rx = 0 ' XBee DOUT
XB_Tx = 1 ' XBee DIN 
XB_Baud = 9600
' Set pins and baud rate for PC comms 
PC_Rx = 31 
PC_Tx = 30
PC_Baud = 9600 
VAR
' byte ID[10] - no reason to make global if passing value to another routine
 
OBJ
lcd : "debug_lcd"
XB : "XBee_Object"
Term : "FullDuplexSerial" 'to serially commincate with the XBee module " 
PUB main | idx, ID ' Put ID here to make local
'start the xbee nodules
XB.start(XB_Rx, XB_Tx, 0, XB_Baud) ' Initialize comms for XBee
XB.AT_Init ' Initialize for fast AT command use - 5 second delay to perform 
if lcd.init(LCD_PIN, LCD_BAUD, LCD_LINES) ' start lcd
lcd.cursor(0) ' cursor off
lcd.backLight(true) ' backlight on (if available)
lcd.custom(0, @Bullet) ' create custom character 0
lcd.cls ' clear the lcd
lcd.str(string("Sensor Node 1", 13))
lcd.putc(0) ' display custom bullet character
lcd.str(string(" Status", 13))
lcd.putc(0)
lcd.str(string(" Wireless", 13)) 
lcd.putc(0)
lcd.str(string(" Energy"))
XB.AT_Config(string("ATMY")) 
'to request the value, but you need another line of code accept the data returned by the XBee:
ID := XB.RxHex
updateLcd(ID)
repeat
waitcnt(clkfreq / 5 + cnt) ' pad with 1/5 sec
PRI updateLcd(value)
 
lcd.gotoxy(12, 1)
lcd.hex(value, 4)
Term.hex(value, 4) 
' lcd.gotoxy(11, 2)
' lcd.hex(value) 
' lcd.gotoxy(7, 3)
' lcd.hex(value) 
 
 
DAT
Bullet byte $00, $04, $0E, $1F, $0E, $04, $00, $00
{{
}}

Xbee Tips And Tricks ( Help)

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