Xbee configuration

This method may work on most XBees, not sure about S2 models however.

The commands follow this order

Enter Configuration Mode

Set PAN ID

Set Local address

Set Destination Address

Write to non-volatile memory

Exit Configuration Mode

Assuming you have a PAN ID of 1111, and two modules called 0x01 and 0x02, you would have a configuartion like this,

Xbee1:

+++

ATID1111

ATMY01

ATDL02

ATWR

ATCN

XBee2

+++

ATID1111

ATMY02

ATDL01

ATWR

ATCN

This setup is known as unicast mode as it is a one to one connection and not a mesh network as you may be aiming for. Have a read of the manuals for the XBee modules you are using, it should include a description of the different modes and the different things you need to set to use them. If you are still curious, have a look for Building Wireless Sensor Networks: with Zigbee, XBee, Arduino and Processing by Robert Faludi (O'Reilly, ISBN-10: 0596807732).

Hello John,

Thanks for your reply.

I'm using Xbee S2.

If I send the command ATID1111, OK

but if I send the command ATMY01 or ATMY02 I receive ERROR.

It seems there is another way to proceed with this type of Xbee.

Thanks

Quick look through the manual and I think I've worked it out.

Earlier you got the SL and SH values from both devices, these make up the addresses for the network. XBees have two adressing modes, 64bit and 16bit. In some versions of the modules, MY sets the 16bit address. In the version you are using, you need to use the 64bit address. With this in mind, you need to adjust the configuration method so it is:

XBee 1

+++

ATDH13A200

ATDL4061318A

ATWR

ATCN

XBee2

+++

ATDH13A200

ATDL40612FEC

ATWR

ATCN

Have a flick through the manual for it, chapter 10 is the reference for all the commands and explains the kinds of values you can give to each.

Hello John

It works fine. Exactly as you described.

I will now try to transmit data from Xbee1 to Xbee2

Thanks a lot for your time.

While we are at it I was always wondering if its possible to make a  two way connection - both xbees sending and receiving

All XBee modules are capable of two way communication (A to B and B to A). With newer modules, mesh networking is possible, this means you can set up the XBees in a specific way to act as any other network. For example, one XBee can be the base station, a group of modules can be routers and the rest are the end points (In a simplified way). This lets you have a huge number of XBees in a network, covering a much greater area and able to communicate with each other as normal. The manual I linked to before explains it in chapter 3.

Basically as long as the devices are connected to the same network and there is a path between the two (Basically like a computer network) they can communicate. The main requirement is for the destination addresses to be correct like they are in the examples above. Things like the destinations can be changed from the software itself using the API rather than through a XBee Explorer/PuTTY etc

ok but i will need to set it up differently, not like in Jeremys tut. couse that is a one way com-one sender and one receiver only?

No you shouldn't. XBees are transceivers so they are capable of sending and receiving. As long as you have the Rx and Tx pins connected properly you can send and receive.

In terms of programming the arduino you would have something like this (Assuming you are using an LCD as an output)

Arduino 1/XBee 1

int count = 0;

setup()
{
     ...
}

loop()
{
     Serial.write(count);
     //optional delay
     if(Serial.available() > 0)
     {
          count = Serial.read();
     }
     lcd.write(count);
}

Arduino 2/XBee 2

int count = 0;

setup()
{
     ...
}

loop()
{
     if(Serial.available() > 0)
     {
          count = Serial.read();
          count++;
          Serial.write(count);
     }
}

These two programs (Most likely with the odd mistake) basically use Arduino 1 to control the display and Arduino 2 to increment a value. By using the Serial read and write functions you can achieve two way communication. A more real world example would be to implement a remote control for a sensor. Arduino 1 issues the different commands, Arduino 2 takes these commands, performs an action and returns the result.

No you shouldn't. XBees are transceivers so they are capable of sending and receiving. As long as you have the Rx and Tx pins connected properly you can send and receive.

In terms of programming the arduino you would have something like this (Assuming you are using an LCD as an output)

Arduino 1/XBee 1

int count = 0;

setup()
{
     ...
}

loop()
{
     Serial.write(count);
     //optional delay
     if(Serial.available() > 0)
     {
          count = Serial.read();
     }
     lcd.write(count);
}

Arduino 2/XBee 2

int count = 0;

setup()
{
     ...
}

loop()
{
     if(Serial.available() > 0)
     {
          count = Serial.read();
          count++;
          Serial.write(count);
     }
}

These two programs (Most likely with the odd mistake) basically use Arduino 1 to control the display and Arduino 2 to increment a value. By using the Serial read and write functions you can achieve two way communication. A more real world example would be to implement a remote control for a sensor. Arduino 1 issues the different commands, Arduino 2 takes these commands, performs an action and returns the result.