What has been done to get the Xbees working?
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XCTU
XCTU is software that we can use to configure and run the xbees. We first used this software to send some test frames using the zigbee 3.0 protocol.
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Logic Analyzer
We used a logic analyzer to read the signals being sent to and from the xctu software. This is how we know how the zigbee protocol works and what needs to be sent/recieved from the xbees. The xbees are actually quit simple. They use UART to communicate with XCTU/Arduinio/STM32. And they have an easy to follow protocol for constructing frames.
The difficulty with the Xbees is the lack of documentation when it comes to the frames. This is where the logic analyzer was useful. We know how to construct frames for transmitting data and how to decode frames for transmit status and receiving data. Xctu also describes how to construct frames, using their frame builder software.
Ardunio
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Overview
<not written yet>
<comms is kinda cringe sometimes 😕>
Inventory
Name | Address | Freq | Antenna | range (LOS) | range (urban) | data rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Xbee Pro S3B | 0013A20040B47E80 | 928 MHz | dipole | 14 km | 610 m | 160 kbps |
Xbee Pro S1 | 0013A20040B0EC97 | 2.4 GHz | dipole | x | x | |
Xbee Pro s1 | 0013a20040b0ec69 | 2.4 GHz | dipole | x | x | |
xbee pro s3b | 0013a20040b47e6b | 928 MHz | dipole | 14 km | 610 m | 160 kbps |
xbee pro s3b | 0013a20040e47deb | 928 MHz | dipole | 14 km | 610 m | 160 kbps |
xbee pro 900 | 0013a20040674c02 | 900 MHz | integrated wire | x | x | 156 kbps |
xbee pro s3b | 0013a20040e501f1 | 928 MHz | dipole | 14 km | 610 m | 160 kbps |
xbee pro s3b | 0013a20040e501e1 | 928 MHz | dipole | 14 km | 610 m | 160 kbps |
xbee pro 900 | 0013a20040789b2b | 900 MHz | dipole | 14 km | 610 m | 156 kbps |
xbee s2c | 0013a20041c0f315 | 2.4 GHz | small antenna | 90 m | 30 m | |
xbee s2c | 0013a20041c0f209 | 2.4 GHz | small antenna | 90 m | 30 m |
We also have 5 uart to usb xbee boards, and 3 dipole antennas.