Linking XBee to Altimeter

s_butcher11

Ok I've been working on a project for a rocket that I am helping design for my senior design class at Texas A&M and was directed here to ask a question about the XBee unit I am planning on using. I will be using a pair of XBee PRO 60mW Wire Antenna units to do an active downlink from my rockets altimeter to a computer at our launch site. The unit that is onboard the rocket was recommended to be attached to a XBee SIP Adapter and then attached to my Stratologger altimeter. My question is, how would the XBee and the adaptor be powered and would the regulator be able to handle a mostly continuous stream of data being transmitter by the atimeter and XBee. The coresponding items are linked below

XBee

https://www.parallax.com/desktopmodules/catalookstore/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductID=641

SIP Adaptor

https://www.parallax.com/desktopmodules/catalookstore/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductID=691

Thanks for the help.

sylvie369

I'm the one who directed him here. The basic question I have is about the ability of the SIP adapter's power supply to the XBee to handle 7 bytes of data transmitted 20 times per second by an XBee Pro (2.4GHz). Can anyone verify that the SIP adapter can handle that?

groggory

I don't see how the data stream affects the power supply.

So in short, your solution seems viable to me.

Duane Degn

I think when I looked at the altimeter's datasheet (two days ago), it said it outputs data at 9600 bps which is the default baud for the XBee.

The SIP adapter includes logic translaters which aren't required for the altimeter (it's 3.3V).

I think a simple XBee adapter with some sort of regulated power supply (3.3V) would be a better solution (and less expensive). I don't know if the level shifter (on the SIP adaptor) will mess things up with a 3.3V device.

You want to be careful about switching regulators. They can cause a lot of radio interference.

Edit: Here are some caps to go with the voltage regulator.
https://www.parallax.com/StoreSearchResults/tabid/768/txtSearch/capacitor/List/0/SortField/4/ProductID/160/Default.aspx
https://www.parallax.com/StoreSearchResults/tabid/768/txtSearch/capacitor/List/0/SortField/4/ProductID/165/Default.aspx