DPRG mailing list archives: [DPRG] Anyone using XBee?

Tue Apr 22 23:07:49 CDT 2008

I have been using what was formerly called an XBee Series 2 module.   
Digi did a disservice when they renamed an existing product.  Aside  
from that, I've been very pleased with the throughput and the range  
for such a little module and 1" wire antenna.  Two modules linked  
even at opposite ends of my house (through 3 walls).  I've only used  
AT mode so far; want to try API mode sometime.

See a description of my setup here:
http://deanandara.com/Argonaut/Sensors/Zigbee/
Especially note that I would have preferred this:
http://www.makingthings.com/products/xbee-board
to the NewMicros carrier board since I don't use the NewMicros bus  
and would prefer access to all of the Xbee's pins.

Also see how I used Python on the desktop to talk to the modules:
http://deanandara.com/Argonaut/Sensors/Zigbee/UsingXbeeModules.html

I have only 2 things negative to say about my setup:
1) The device driver for Mac OS X for the USB-to-Serial chip on the  
NewMicros USB-XBEE-DONGLE-CARRIER can cause kernel panics.
2) Sometimes, in a simple 1-way test where the robot sends a short  
string once every second, a link is never established.  I have not  
found the cause of this.  But I typically fix it by removing and re- 
applying the power to the modules, coordinator node (Mac/PC) first,  
router/end-device node (robot) second.

!!Dean

On Apr 22, 2008, at 22:31 , Dale Wheat wrote:
> Is anyone using XBee for wireless communication with robots?  I'm  
> looking for a simple serial cable replacement to start.
>
> I've been using Bluetooth which is nice when it works.
>
> Any useful information is appreciated.  Either post to the list or  
> respond to me privately, at your convenience.
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> Dale Wheat
>
> (972) 486-1317
> (877) DALE WHEAT
> http://dalewheat.com
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