Skill Badge Requirements: Digi XBee

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by Adam Kemp

published July 17, 2013, last edited July 17, 2013

posted in

Beginner

Skill guide

Overview

For years, Digi's XBee line has provided the Maker World with an easy to use wireless serial/IO bridge. Each XBee shares a common footprint (with exception to the XBee SMT) between series 1 & 2 while offering a wide range of power and antenna options. The user also has the ability to configure the network type to meet the needs of almost any project.

Instructions for completion:

Record the section, item number and requirement before each response on your notepaper. This will assist your instructor when evaluating the completion of the requirements.

Example (from Solar Requirements):

2.1 Measure and calculate the surface area (Aeff) of the solar cell supplied by your instructor.

I calculated the surface area (Aeff) of my solar cell to be 2 square inches, with the dimensions of 2in x 1in.

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Section 1: XBee Hardware

This section focuses on establishing an understanding of the types of XBee modules and their hardware

Do EACH of the following and submit to your instructor:

Describe the general idea behind producing a wireless data connection between two devices
Identify and describe the differences between the series 1 & 2 XBee modules
Identify and describe the differences between the low-power and PRO modules
Identify and describe the available antenna options and their individual benefits
Identify and describe the methods for configuring a module

Be sure to include the use of X-CTU and an explanation of the AT command set

Do EACH of the following and submit to your instructor:

Identify and describe XBee's operating voltage

Describe why this voltage is important to know when interfacing with devices, such as Arduino
Identify and describe a method for interfacing an XBee with a microcontroller, such as Arduino

Identify and describe the issues concerning sharing serial TX/RX lines between your microcontroller and other devices (i.e. the problem with Arduino sharing TX/RX lines with the USB to Serial converter and an XBee)

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Section 2: The Wireless Data Connection

This section focuses on the different methods of producing a wireless data connection

Do EACH of the following and submit to your instructor:

Identify and describe XBee's three primary network topologies

Provide instances where these topologies could be used

Identify and describe the format in which data is sent between XBee modules

How might you optimize your data packets to reduce size and simplify interpretation

Identify and describe the supported baud rates

Provide advantages of using a lower rate over a higher
Provide advantages of using a higher rate over a lower

Identify and describe the different "Function Sets" the XBee can be configured for

How do these differ between the series 1 & 2 modules

Do ONE of the following and submit to your instructor:

Using a pair of XBee series 1 modules, produce a point to point network and demonstrate successful bi-directional communication

Complete a range test inside of a building and record your results
Complete a range test outside with a clear line of sight and record your results
Detail the factors, both hardware and structural, that affect the range of your connection

Using a pair of XBee series 2 modules, produce a point to point network and demonstrate successful bi-directional communication

Complete a range test inside of a building and record your results
Complete a range test outside with a clear line of sight and record your results
Detail the factors, both hardware and structural, that affects the range of your connection

Do ONE of the following and submit to your instructor:

Using a pair of XBee series 1 modules, reconfigure the modules to a higher baud-rate, produce a point to point network, and successfully transfer data

Replicate the previous range test inside of a building and record your results
Replicate the previous range test outside with a clear line of sight and record your results
Detail the effect of baud-rate on range

Using a pair of XBee series 2 modules, reconfigure the modules to a higher baud-rate, produce a point to point network, and successfully transfer data

Replicate the previous range test inside of a building and record your results
Replicate the previous range test outside with a clear line of sight and record your results
Detail the effect of baud-rate on range

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Section 3: Power Options

This section focuses on the production of a simple wireless sensor network

Do EACH of the following and submit to your instructor:

Identify and describe the different sleep options for the series 1 & 2 modules
Identify and describe the difference between hardware controlled and software controlled sleep
Use a multimeter to measure and describe the power consumption of a sleeping XBee

Explain and describe the discrepancy between your measured number and the number provided by Digi

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Section 4: Establishing a Network

This section focuses on the production of a simple wireless sensor network

Do EACH of the following and submit to your instructor:

Identify and describe a method for passing and interpreting a data stream between a remote device and the host
Identify and describe the benefits of data integrity checking and when it should be used

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Section 5: Demonstration

This section focuses on the demonstration of a properly configured XBee network and its interface to a microcontroller of your choice.

Do ONE of the following and submit to your instructor:

Using a microcontroller of your choice, produce a peer to peer XBee network that samples a remote temperature sensor when requested by the operator

Describe the method for passing your request
Describe the method for interpreting the data

Using a microcontroller of your choice, construct a remotely controlled device (i.e. model car, quadcopter, robot) that demonstrated bi-directional communication