Introduction

Digi’s XBee WiFi segments become a great, all-in-one answer to get task attached to an invisible system or more inside \ affect\ . These segments looks just like “normal” XBee’s — they are even exact same size and pinout — nonetheless they’re developed to seamlessly connect to 802.11b/g/n networking sites.

Regardless of talking over a different sort of wireless traditional, these segments function as with any XBee. You’ll set them up utilizing XCTU (which helps get it connected to a system). Possible toggle I/O pins, see analogue and electronic inputs, along with the component to sleep. They can manage totally themselves, without the need for an external controlling microcontroller. That said, if you wish to get together an Arduino, or other processor, it may be quickly complete through serial slot.

You need to use these modules equally you would all other XBee — to set up an area wireless serial gateway. One XBee WiFi module can quickly speak with another, provided it has the area ip for the other.

Nevertheless these modules have another, more distinctive application: to produce Internet-of-Things tasks super-easy. Utilizing the Etherios(TM) product Cloud provider, you are able to rapidly make them attached to the Cloud, where capable submit information and enjoy directions and.

Covered contained in this Guide

In this guide we’re going to provide a fast summary of the XBee Wi-fi segments. We will subsequently review some situations. We’re going to explain to you ways to use XCTU in order to connect these to a nearby cordless community — including placing the SSID and encryption protocols.

In the past example, we are going to demonstrate tips hook the XBee Wi-fi as much as the product affect. This enables you to definitely get a grip on the XBee through a web site software loaded up inside browser. You could potentially control your XBee from throughout the sea (or from desk across your living space).

A Synopsis

The XBee WiFi segments all display equivalent footprint and pinout since many “normal” XBees. They have 20 through-hole pins, each spread by 2mm. The pin performs include electricity feedback to GPIO to analog insight to SPI. Right here, from the datasheet, will be the table of pins in addition to their work:

XBee WiFi modules are linked to another microcontroller via their own serial interface, exactly what means they are unique is because they’ve had gotten a whole host of I/O pins of one’s own. An XBee by yourself can toggle LEDs, or engines, or relays, also it can look over digital or analog inputs also. We’ll use the XBee I/O possibilities in into the Cloud! web page, linking LEDs and buttons straight to the little WiFi component.

Selecting an Antenna

There are various of XBee WiFi modules, each with their own antenna termination. A couple of component have incorporated antennas: the PCB antenna and cable (whip) antenna. They are the most suitable choice if you’re looking for cheap, even so they’ll also have less selection.

If you need additional assortment, think about going with the modules with a U.FL connector or an RPSMA connector. Either of those will require an compatible additional 2.4GHz antenna.

For all the U.FL variation, the glue 2.4GHz antennas generate an enjoyable, low-profile option. When it comes down to SMA version, duck antennas (large and standard) making a good, fashionable selection.

Picking a Breakout Panel

The easiest way to utilize these segments will be put all of them into a mating breakout board. For the next content for this tutorial, I encourage you will get an XBee Explorer, which will enable you to talk to the XBee from your own computer. The Explorers also come in mini-B USB, USB Dongle and RS-232 Serial (if you’ve got a historical pc with a serial port) versions. All three is going to work!

As options to the USB and Serial explorers, there are many more easy XBee breakout panels. There is the XBee Breakout Board, which just breaks out of the 2mm-spaced XBee to a more breadboard-friendly 0.1″ pitch. After that there’s the XBee Explorer Regulated, which breaks out the pins and has onboard current regulating to simply help mesh with all the 3.3V XBee. Either of these are good for embedding into a project, but may be a bit more hard to interface together with your computer.

From the after that few content we will demonstrate ways to use the XBee WiFi with XCTU and Digi’s affect Service. This is simply not pof vs tinder the only way to use these modules, but it’s the easiest receive all of them up-and-running rapidly. In the event that you follow along, it is possible to effortlessly have actually an XBee communicating with the “cloud”.

Making Use Of XCTU

XCTU is actually Digi’s XBee setup computer software. It will make chatting with XBees quite easy, and a nice software to change all component’s settings. When utilizing it using XBee Wi-fi’s, it even supplies a WiFi circle checking and link screen in order to make linking to channels a piece of cake.

Current launch of XCTU is available on Digi’s internet site, unfortuitously it’s limited for screens. For Mac computer OS X consumers, you will find a beta type of XCTU 6.0.0 offered, which we have tried and discovered to the office flawlessly together with the XBee WiFi’s. (Microsoft windows customers can test it as well, it is pretty slick.) Go ahead and download XCTU to adhere to alongside.

Because of this part we’re going to in addition think you have an XBee attached to your computer via a USB Explorer or something like that comparable. The Explorer needs specified as a COM interface on your personal computer. This is the slot we’ll use to talk to the XBee.