Simple? Xbee24 project

Pliers

Here is what I am trying to do.
Use a PC with an Xbee as a transmitter to communicate with a remote Xbee.

On the remote side, the Xbee only needs to set DO high or low.

After trying various API commands and AT commands I was getting nowhere.
The Xbees passed the X-CTU range testing. But I could not set the DO line high or low remotely.

I eventually found an API command set that did accomplish my task.
cribbstechnologies.com
Using the X-CTU terminal in “packet mode” I could send

“7E 00 10 17 05 00 13 A2 00 40 08 C9 80 00 02 02 44 30 05 20” to set DO high.
Then I would send:
“7E 00 10 17 05 00 13 A2 00 40 08 C9 80 00 02 02 44 30 04 21” to set DO low.

I next wrote a visual basic code that continuously toggled the LED on the remote’s DO line.
It was great; I walked around with the remote Xbee checking the range.

Then I wanted more range, I read about the Xbee net work being able to extend the range by using a different modes of operation. It seemed like I needed an Xbee in “Router mode”.

I played around with the firmware, and lost the functionality of my system.

I reset the firmware back to its defaults. Verified the Xbees are working (X-CTU range testing software). But now I can’t get back to where I was with the PC side Xbee setting the remote Xbee DO line.

Help me please.