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Does the xBee system transmit information instantly — Parallax Forums

Does the xBee system transmit information instantly

.:John:..:John:. Posts: 64
edited 2007-10-13 22:02 in BASIC Stamp
Does the xBee system transmit information instantly. I want to use it to continuously transmit data between the boebot and computer. Would that work or no? Someone talked about "packets" so I do not think it will work.

Comments

  • Mike GreenMike Green Posts: 23,101
    edited 2007-10-13 20:54
    The xBee system does not normally transmit instantly. It does "packetize" the serial data and there are timeouts involved that are configurable. You can use the xBee as a packet-based system (see the xBee documentation). In that case, it sends the packet on command from the Stamp. The PC end also has to switch to this "direct mode". The commands and data are still sent via a serial connection between the Stamp and xBee or xBee and PC, but they look like modem commands ("AT...").
  • Martin HebelMartin Hebel Posts: 1,239
    edited 2007-10-13 21:19
    It depends on your definition of instantly.... within several milliseconds? Yes.

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    StampPlot - GUI and Plotting Software
    Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Electronic Systems Technologies
  • .:John:..:John:. Posts: 64
    edited 2007-10-13 21:27
    could the information be sent back and forth between the bot and computer
  • Martin HebelMartin Hebel Posts: 1,239
    edited 2007-10-13 21:38
    Yes, it can be sent back and forth. It's half-duplex with full buffering on both transmit and receive and clear channel assesment (CCA) and acknowledgements to help ensure data arrives, so it will be effectively transparent to the end user. On the bot side, their RTS may be used so that the receiver will hold the data in the buffer until the BS2 is ready for it.

    Though I no longer sell the boards, there are BS2 example documents on my website that may be of use to you:
    http://www.selmaware.com/appbee

    -Martin

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    StampPlot - GUI and Plotting Software
    Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Electronic Systems Technologies
  • .:John:..:John:. Posts: 64
    edited 2007-10-13 21:48
    who sells the boards then?
  • Martin HebelMartin Hebel Posts: 1,239
    edited 2007-10-13 22:02
    No one I know, www.sparksfun.com has a 2mm to 0.1" adapter board, but it's still just 3.3V. If you want to get your own parts, I can send you a couple blank boards. The zip file at the top of my page has the digikey parts list in it.

    PM me your address if you want a couple, sent via US Mail only. I have some AppBee-Sips and Mods on hand.

    Making/sellin/shipping boards took up too much of my time, and Parallax didn't want to pick them up themselves [noparse]:([/noparse].

    -Martin

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    StampPlot - GUI and Plotting Software
    Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Electronic Systems Technologies
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