Digi’s XBee WiFi segments is an awesome, all-in-one treatment for get the task linked to an invisible system or over to the \ affect\

Digi’s XBee WiFi segments is an awesome, all-in-one treatment for get the task linked to an invisible system or over to the \ affect\

Introduction

Digi’s XBee WiFi segments include a nifty, all-in-one way to get task attached to a radio circle and up into the \ affect\ . These segments looks exactly like “normal” XBee’s — they are perhaps the same pinout — nonetheless they’re developed to seamlessly connect to 802.11b/g/n sites.

Other than talking over a different wireless traditional, these segments function as with any XBee. You can set them up making use of XCTU (which also support have it connected with a network). You are able to toggle I/O pins, review analogue and digital inputs, along with the component to fall asleep. They’re able to manage totally on their own, without the need for an external controlling microcontroller. Nevertheless, if you want to get together an Arduino, or other processor, it could be conveniently done through serial interface.

You can use these modules in the same way you might another XBee — to setup an area cordless serial gateway. One XBee WiFi component can certainly speak with another, so long as it offers the area ip associated with more.

But these modules need another, considerably distinctive application: to create Internet-of-Things works super-easy. Making use of the Etherios(TM) Device affect solution, it is possible to quickly get them connected to the affect, where they may be able write facts and accept directions also.

Covered within this Information

Within this information we’ll supply a fast summary of the XBee WiFi segments. We’re going to next go over some situations. We will show you making use of XCTU to get in touch these to a nearby cordless system — including placing the SSID and encryption protocols.

Within the last few example, we are going to show you how-to hook up the XBee Wi-fi to the unit Cloud. This allows that manage the XBee through an internet software packed upwards inside browser. You could control your XBee from throughout the ocean (or through the dining table across your room).

A Synopsis

The XBee Wi-fi segments all express the same footprint and pinout as most “normal” XBees. They have 20 through-hole pins, each separated by 2mm. The pin functions include power input to GPIO to analog insight to SPI. Here, from the datasheet, will be the desk of pins and their purpose:

XBee WiFi segments can be linked to another microcontroller via her serial slot, exactly what makes them special is because they’ve have an entire host of I/O pins of one’s own. An XBee by yourself can toggle LEDs, or engines, or relays, and it can review digital or analogue inputs and. We’re going to take advantage of the XBee I/O functionality from inside the into the Cloud! web page, linking LEDs and keys directly to the tiny WiFi module.

Picking an Antenna

There are a variety of XBee Wi-fi segments, each with their own antenna firing. Two of the module have actually integrated antennas: the PCB antenna and wire (whip) antenna. These represent the most suitable choice if you’re looking for cheap, however they’ll likewise have decreased assortment.

If you’d like extra number, consider using the modules with a U.FL connector or an RPSMA connector. Either of the will need an compatible external 2.4GHz antenna.

The U.FL variation, the glue 2.4GHz antennas make an excellent, low-profile possibility. Your SMA version, duck antennas (large and routine) making an enjoyable, trendy preference.

Selecting a Breakout Board

The best way to make use of these segments will be connect all of them into a mating breakout panel. For the next content for this tutorial, we advice you will get an XBee Explorer, which will enable you to connect for the XBee from your own computer. The Explorers come in mini-B USB, USB Dongle and RS-232 Serial (if you have a historical computer with a serial slot) variations. Any of the three will continue to work!

As options with the USB and Serial explorers, there are other simple XBee breakout boards. Absolutely the XBee Breakout Board, which simply breaks the actual 2mm-spaced XBee to a breadboard-friendly 0.1″ pitch. Next there is the XBee Explorer Regulated, which breaks from the pins and also onboard voltage regulating to help mesh using 3.3V XBee. Either of the are good for embedding into a project, but is likely to be a little more difficult to interface along with your computer system.

Regarding after that couple of pages we’ll show you strategies for the XBee Wi-fi with XCTU and Digi’s affect provider. This isn’t the only method to use these modules, but it’s the easiest receive them up-and-running rapidly. Any time you stick to along, you are able to quite easily have an XBee communicating with the “cloud”.

Using XCTU

XCTU is actually Digi’s XBee setup applications. It will make chatting with XBees easy, and gives an enjoyable software to modify every one of the component’s configurations. When making use of it together with the XBee Wi-fi’s, it even provides a WiFi network checking and relationship program to create linking to channels very simple.

The current release of XCTU can be acquired on Digi’s websites, regrettably its only available for house windows. For Mac OS X consumers, there’s a beta type of XCTU 6.0.0 offered, which we have tested and discovered working flawlessly utilizing the XBee Wi-fi’s. (Microsoft windows consumers can try it out also, it really is pretty advanced.) Go ahead and download XCTU to check out alongside.

With this part we’re going to in addition believe you have an XBee connected to your pc via a USB Explorer or something close. The Explorer requires specified as a COM slot on your desktop. Here is the slot we’re going to used to keep in touch with the XBee.

FacebookLinkedIn
1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (No Ratings Yet)
Loading ... Loading ...