20 replies to this topic

[Stefan]

I guess I need a transmitter and receiver. What else do I need to buy? As cheap as possible that is. I'm going to get a mini and want to link two netduinos so one can remote control the other.

[Mario Vernari]

I apologize for the delay, Stefan, because today morning I saw this post and I have told myself: "I must answer to Stefan!"...The problem is that I suppose having less than 100 bytes of memory and every year I lose just one byte. At now I have lost 44 bytes...

Well, I have purchased two XBee modules here, but I hadn't neither extracted from the envelope.
So, I'll be happy to experiment something around, but...I HAVE NO TIME!
This (supposed) Easter weekend, over lunch with parents, I *must* prepare some stuffs for the spring festival (that's off-topic) and I should try to post something concrete on the new Wiki.

...the positive side is that it's been a long time I hadn't so much happy to play with these stuffs!

Cheers

[Stefan]

but no shield to connect it to the netduino? Don't know how to connect the pins and as far as I can see the pins wouldn't fit in my breadboards (or will they? I think the pins are closer to each other then normal?)

[afulki]

I believe there is a board that the xbee can plug into that converts the pin spacing to the default breadboard sizes, pretty sure I saw it on spark fun.

Here

[CW2]

but no shield to connect it to the netduino? Don't know how to connect the pins and as far as I can see the pins wouldn't fit in my breadboards (or will they? I think the pins are closer to each other then normal?)

There are XBee shields (for Arduino, that work on Netduino too), try searching the forum and/or the Internet. XBee pins will not fit into the breadboard, you'd need to use an adapter board or attach the wires directly to the pins (you only need to connect four for the most basic operation: power and serial lines). There are already many posts in the forums, for example this one or this project.

Note: There are two versions of XBee modules: Series 1 and Series 2 (formerly 2.5). Series 1 modules require almost no configuration and can be easily set up as wireless serial port, Series 2 modules require more configuration to work the same way, they are designed for multipoint (peer-to-peer) networks; Series 1 modules cannot communicate with Series 2 modules.

For Netduino Mini, you'd also need 3.3V regulated power for the XBee module, either external or using some kind of regulator IC (e.g. on a board like SparkFun's XBee Explorer Regulated).

[Stefan]

For Netduino Mini, you'd also need 3.3V regulated power for the XBee module, either external or using some kind of regulator IC (e.g. on a board like SparkFun's XBee Explorer Regulated).

Good one!

I was thinking of these: http://www.freeduino...products_id=135
but perhaps for the Mini I must get a http://www.freeduino...products_id=280

[CW2]

I was thinking of these: http://www.freeduino...products_id=135
but perhaps for the Mini I must get a http://www.freeduino...products_id=280

For the first one, don't forget to include a pair of 2mm 10 pin headers (if you don't want to solder the XBee to it). The boards are the SparkFun ones.

[Stefan]

Okay, going to order the following:

2x XBee Series 2 w/Chip
1x XBee Explorer Regulated (for netduino mini)
1x Breakout Board for XBee Module + 2x 2mm 10pin XBee Socket for the normal Netduino

Think that would be enough?

[piwi]

Hi Stefan,

any success/updates on the XBEE adventure ?

I'm on the brick of trying to get a couple of the Pro Series 2B (XBP24-BZ7WIT-004J), any thoughts on that ?

If any, tips on the setup of how to connect to the N+, like regulated boards or not ?

Thx 4 UR help.

Groetjes naar Breda,

Peter.

[Stefan]

Hi piwi, Welcome to the boards! Xbee series 1 are easy, the series 2, not that much. I used the series 1 to remote control my robot

[piwi]

Hi Stefan, Thx 4 the welcome, glad 2 B around. The series 1 does not have support for mesh networking, correct ? Under the believe this is true, I choose to opt for the latest mesh supporting series. No tips or links to more intel on using the Series 2B with the N+ ? Thx, Peter.

[Stefan]

Sorry Peter, no tips. But if you have them, I would love to figure it out together with you over skype or msn or netduino chat I actually never used the series 2, but I got 3 of them for future use.

[piwi]

Hi Stefan, will keep you posted on the progress. first have to get some s2b xbees and some kind of scope etc. Takes some time though, my electronic skills come from the mid-80s, if they still are present somewhere down deep in my left foot. Went over to the soft side. Your site looks good btw. Be in touch, I know now where to find ye Greetz, peter.

[piwi]

Hi Stefan,

after all it (that with Series 2) seems to be very trivial to me. All worked in one go and I had a little confersation between the two of them on a single laptop.

I guess it requires a bit of preps but in the end it seems rather easy ...

Got one pro xbee s2b talking to a standard xbee s2, instantly. Actually during config I timed out on the AT commands and the second one started echoing what I typed in on the first one ...

Using the BWSN book it's a snap ... and two unregulated usb explorers (sparkfun) and X-CTU on a win7-x64 laptop.

Steps done:

1. Installed the drivers for FT232R
2. Connected the pro series 2B
3. Updated firmware
4. Set as coordinator
5. Noted the unique id
6. Set baud to 115200

7. Connected the standard xbee series 2 (Not
8. Updated firmware
9. Set as router
10. Noted the unique id
11. Set baud to 115200

12. Set the coordinator to have id of the router (ATID & ATDH & ATDL & ATWR)
13. Set the router to have id of the coordinator (ATID & ATDH & ATDL & ATWR)

And the chat worked:



Sorry no video with my i-speed @ 180kbs would take forever ...

Hope the picture is good enough. Blue is the send text, red is the received text.

Cheers,

Peter.

[Stefan]

Superb! Will try it out later this weekend!

[loveelectronics]

I have a tutorial on how to configure Series 2 XBees here: https://www.loveelec...t-up-your-xbees

[Stefan]

I have a tutorial on how to configure Series 2 XBees here: https://www.loveelec...t-up-your-xbees

Cool! Would you like to crosspost it on our wiki pages? Would be lovely!

[awaiK]

At DigiKey you can get XBee modules for about ~16€.

[NVDPas]

Hello Stefan,

I also want to remotely control a Netduino with a Netduino Mini by using XBees. I want to make something like a toy car. The only problem is that I don't have the materials yet. You stated the following in one of your posts:

Okay, going to order the following:

2x XBee Series 2 w/Chip
1x XBee Explorer Regulated (for netduino mini)
1x Breakout Board for XBee Module + 2x 2mm 10pin XBee Socket for the normal Netduino


I clicked the links and added everything on this list to my cart. When I added the Netduino and the Netduino Mini and two servo motors, the total price was €147.10. This is quite expensive for me, as I also have to pay for the materials needed for the "car" itself. I'm now getting to my point: can you send me the C# code which you used to contact the Netduino with the Netduino Mini?

P.S. How do you use the Netduino Mini to control the Netduino? Do you use the Netduino Mini as a modem kind of thing (just like a mobile phone connected to a computer enables the computer to send a sms) or have you connected buttons to it and control the Netduino by pushing the buttons etc.?

[Adamos]

aloxa guys i have also buy this modules but i set the baud rate to 9600. is that wrong???