Can't program XBee module

Projects Networking, Protocols, and Devices
1

Hello guys! I'm new to all this XBee stuff, and after doing some research, I decided to try it out.

The problem is, I can't get the darn things to do anything. My setup is as follows:

2x Arduino UNO [ https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11021 ]
2x XBee Shield [ https://www.sparkfun.com/products/12847 ]
2x XBee Series 2 Module [ XBee 2mW PCB Antenna - Series 2 (ZigBee Mesh) - WRL-11217 - SparkFun Electronics ]

Also, I am following the guide seen here: http://arduino.cc/en/Guide/ArduinoWirelessShieldS2

My current task is getting the module talking to XCTU; however, everything I have tried had left me at the "Reset your device and try again" screen. I have tried the following things:

  1. Arduino has been
  • Hardwired in reset
  • Programmed with a empty loop
  • Removed the ATMEGA chip from the board
  1. Shield has been placed in both serial positions
  2. XCTU
  • Tried the new fancy looking version and the old version shown in the tutorial
  • Looped through every available baud rate
  • Tried to send commands (+++) to the chip through the terminal

I did upload a program from that tutorial that spit out Hs & Ls and saw them just fine through the terminal in XCTU, but I could never connect. Any ideas?

2

for you information
https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/exploring-xbees-and-xctu

Just tryout process.

Make ensure both arduino working fine . just upload blink program. Once you make ensure properly working . use above tutorial
let me know if you got error.

https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/xbee-shield-hookup-guide
please try to share snapshot of window next time

3

I'm curious why you bought network models to do point to point communication. Why didn't you buy the point to point models?

4

Alright, I followed that tutorial as best as I could. I don't have the explorer chip, but I did a full device discovery sweep [holy 45 minutes batman!] And it still found nothing. Should I try getting one and testing the chip with that?

Edit: I forgot to mention the Arduino's work - I uploaded the blink program and everything checks out fine on each board.

Also, I got the chips for eventually doing mesh things, but I though starting out with a simple point to point project would be best. The point of all this is to see what all these guys can do, but since I'm learning, I need to start small.

5

Also, I got the chips for eventually doing mesh things, but I though starting out with a simple point to point project would be best. The point of all this is to see what all these guys can do, but since I'm learning, I need to start small.

So, you want to create a small network with one coordinator and one router or end device.

I don't have the explorer chip

If you can't even see the devices in X-CTU, you have a basic problem. You need to tell us how you are connecting the XBee to X-CTU.

The "links" you posted do not work, because you did not leave spaces before and after the URL.

You need to fix them, so we can see what kind of shield you are using.

If you put the shield on the UNO, and put the XBee on the shield, and put the switch in the UART position (if I'm assuming the correct shield), then X-CTU is talking to the Arduino, not the XBee, so it's no surprise that X-CTU gets the wrong answers.

You need to (carefully) remove the ATMega328 chip, after noting the current orientation of the notch), from the UNO, so that the 328 chip doesn't intercept communications meant for the XBee.

Once you're done with configuring one as a coordinator and one as a router, you need to put the ATMega328 chip back in the Arduino.

Or, save yourself a lot of grief and get the explorer.

6

Alright, I edited the original post's links.

I was following the tutorial I posted in my original message that details how to connect a XBee on a shield to XCTU. Which is basically the setup you described, but it appears to work for their use case. The gist of that tutorial is to upload a blank sketch, and set the toggle switch. Because I am not familiar with these, I tried this method first - I also tried removing the chip, and hard wiring the chip in reset [All other suggestions I've found here in this forum and other places.]

I would like to get an explorer, but I cannot for a while - so, for now, I was hoping to get this working with the shield only.