ZigBee

Erel

Erel

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I've just ordered two of those:

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Anyone has experience with XBee / ZigBee?
 
I have connected Android phone with PIC controller trough WiFly module. I'ts similar to XBee, but it is a standard WiFi.
 
LucaMs said:
That man (Mauro Alfieri) suggest to buy also an adapter (it is necessary due to different signal voltages, 3.3v - 5v - Arduino)
configurare-xbee-adattatore-arduino-400x291.jpg
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I'ts not really needed. You can make a simple resistor network and the module is compatible with 5V.
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Erel said:
Anyone has experience with XBee / ZigBee?
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I worked with them some years ago making some prototypes for an automated irrigation system for large extensions (cable was, and is an expensive and hard to maintain solution). Unfortunatelly, the project went nowhere but it was a nice experience.
It was before Digi acquired it. I think the company was Maxstream...
Easy to configure and work with :)

And with a directional antenna the range can be extended ;)
 
Here in Germany an XBee is about 30€. For 35€ you get a RB Pi 2 so I find it a bit expensive.

Cheaper: ESP8266 for 3€ each (WiFi included and GPIO's).

Basic Language to get the GPIO-Pin values via http-request: http://www.esp8266basic.com/

Will post a tutorial in January :-)
 
KMatle said:
Here in Germany an XBee is about 30€. For 35€ you get a RB Pi 2 so I find it a bit expensive.

Cheaper: ESP8266 for 3€ each (WiFi included and GPIO's).

Basic Language to get the GPIO-Pin values via http-request: http://www.esp8266basic.com/

Will post a tutorial in January :)
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I'm also a big fan of the ESP8266 . +1 for the January tutorial ;)

However, in my opinion the point for the xbee modules is its range and the fact that the 802.X.X protocol stack allows for mesh configurations. I could reach about 2Km (outdoors) or even more with some hacks. Don't know if max RF power has changed (though I think it depends on the version (Pro) and possibly regulatory differences between countries)
 
With ESP8266 you will not have problems. 2 years ago I worked with WiFly from SparkFun,which is similar. Next year i start with ESP8266, huh, wee can then compare our results.
 
XBee, 2km range, interesting but pretty expensive, compared with ESP8266 (but some meters range)
 
outdoor humidity sensor networks for irrigation, but the uses could be many. ;)
KMatle said:
Great, but ... What will you do with it 2km far away? (Hope it's legal :D)
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It was about 2007/2008. We started the project from zero with some friends and made t work. I abandoned the project and others followed but it never reached the end user. Each node in the prototypes was able to read RFID, sensors, GSM (of course not all of them had it), even send alarms and receive commands through SMSs which then they sent to the remote node. So, you could control everything from your mobile with SMSs while you were taking a coffee at the bar
About legality...I think it was in the limit :D
 
Maybe a good idea for free networks in non-free countries like there was this bluetooth app in Hong Kong to communicate via nodes.
 
Yes, that would also be great!

Not sure about bandwidth, but I think it's not too much. Also, regulatory issues: on one side max.power, but also on the other side there is a max percentage of time you can keep the channel "busy"
 
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