Xbee wireless module

Description

XBee is a wireless communication module that Digi built to the 802.15.4/ZigBee standard. The beauty of the 802.15.4/ZigBee wireless standard is that it can form self-healing mesh networks. These are great for making a wireless control network that spans from one corner of your house to the other.

By default, the modules are configured from the factory to be a wireless serial line replacement. It can be programmed to do other functions like behave as a "wireless wire" where a level transition on an input pin of one module is sent out as the same level transition on a different module output pin. There is also a special API mode, where the modules accept bytes of data from the host to transmit into the network.

There are two versions of the Xbee modules; 802.15.4 (DigiMesh 2.4) ) and ZB ZigBee. The difference being that the ZB modules are compatible with normal ZigBee networks, where the DigiMesh is a proprietary mesh solution. Each version comes in 2 flavors: XBee and XBee-Pro. The XBee-Pro modules have a more powerful radio, thus have a longer range.

XBee 802.15.4

• Power output: 1 mW (+0 dBm)
• Indoor/Urban range: Up to 100 ft (30 m)
• Outdoor/RF line-of-sight range: Up to 300 ft (90 m)
• RF data rate: 250 Kbps
• Interface data rate: Up to 115.2 Kbps
• Operating frequency: 2.4 GHz
• Receiver sensitivity: -92 dBm

XBee-PRO 802.15.4

• Power output:

• 63 mW (+18 dBm) North American version
• 10 mW (+10 dBm) International version

• Indoor/Urban range: Up to 300 ft (90 m)
• Outdoor/RF line-of-sight range: Up to 1 mile (1.6 km) RF LOS
• RF data rate: 250 Kbps
• Interface data rate: Up to 115.2 Kbps
• Operating frequency: 2.4 GHz
• Receiver sensitivity: -100 dBm (all variants)

XBee ZB ZigBee

• Power output:

• 2mW (+3 dBm) boost mode
• 1.25 mW (+1 dBm) normal mode

• Indoor/Urban range: Up to 133 ft (40 m)
• Outdoor/RF line-of-sight range: Up to 400 ft (120 m)
• RF data rate: 250 Kbps
• Interface data rate: Up to 1 Mbps software selectable
• Operating frequency: 2.4 GHz
• Receiver sensitivity:

• -96 dBm boost mode
• -95 dBm normal mode

• TX Current: 45 mA (@3.3 V)
• RX Current: 50 mA (@3.3 V)
• Power-down Current: < 10 μA

XBee-Pro ZB ZigBee

• Power output:

• 50 mW (+17 dBm) North American version
• 10 mW (+10 dBm) International version

• Indoor/Urban range: Up to 400 ft (120 m)
• Outdoor/RF line-of-sight range: Up to 1 mile (1.6 km) RF LOS
• RF data rate: 250 Kbps
• Interface data rate: Up to 1 Mbps software selectable
• Operating frequency: 2.4 GHz
• Receiver sensitivity: -102 dBm (all variants)
• TX Current: 215 mA (@3.3 V)
• RX Current: 55 mA (@3.3 V)
• Power-down Current: < 10 μA

Documents

XBee/Xbee-Pro ZB ZigBee PDF
XBee/XBee-Pro 802.15.4 PDF

Where to buy

Sparkfun electronics now makes/sells several items related to XBee: modules themselves, breakout boards, pin headers, USB adapters & Arduino shields.

Cool Components in Europe now sells several items related to XBee: modules themselves, breakout boards, pin headers, USB adapters & Arduino shields.

A new adapter is now available to give a simple interface to the XBee. PIC-BEE

See Wireless Security for home Wireless Home Security Camera

A low-cost multi-mode XBee/USB/RS232 interface module is available from Technological Arts. They also make an XBee-to-solderless breadboard adapter.