Problem communicating one-way between XBee’s and then the PC

Projects Programming
1

How to write scripts that communicate one-way from one XBee to another and then to the PC without sending traffic back to the first XBee. I have no problem with one-way communication between the XBees. What I do not know how to do is then send the received data via Serial.print()’s to only the PC, thereby avoiding talking back to the sending XBee.

My setup includes: 2 arduino uno, 2 arduino wireless proto, 2 XBee pro
I am writing my sketches using only the standard library which seems to be sufficient for traffic between the two XBees.

2

If the second Arduino receives data from the first Arduino over xbee isn't it simple for the second Arduino to pass that data on to the PC (over USB) with Serial.print() ?

...R

3

Yes Robin2, but what I'm trying to avoid is sending anything back to the coordinating unit. I want only the PC to receive the data.

4

You nees the XBee to be on seperate pins than the Serial UART.

5

Arrch:
You nees the XBee to be on seperate pins than the Serial UART.

+1

With an UNO leave Serial (pins 0 and 1) for the USB to PC connect.

Connect XBEE to 2 other pins using the SoftwareSerial library:
http://arduino.cc/en/Reference/SoftwareSerial

Here's the reference libraries page:

And the standard libraries page:
http://www.nongnu.org/avr-libc/user-manual/modules.html

6

Sorry but I still don't understand.

In your original post you said

communicate one-way from one XBee to another and then to the PC without sending traffic back to the first XBee.

and I suggested something like this:

xbee1 ---> xbee2 ---> PC

which seems to meet your specification, including your response to my post.

...R

ChrisRR:
Yes Robin2, but what I'm trying to avoid is sending anything back to the coordinating unit. I want only the PC to receive the data.

7

This won't work unless you want UNO2 to broadcast:

(UNO1 pins 0 & 1) to xbee1 <---> xbee2 to (pins 0 & 1 UNO2 pins 0 & 1) to USB cable <---> PC

because UNO2 to PC will also send xbee2 to xbee1.

This will work if you want discreet communications:

(UNO1 pins 2 & 3) to xbee1 <---> xbee2 to (pins 2 & 3 UNO2 pins 0 & 1) to USB cable <---> PC

because xbee2 is using a different serial channel than the USB to PC connection.

Wiring the xbees to pins 2 & 3 allows connecting both UNO's to the same or different PC's. That's right, you can run 2 IDE windows to 2 USB channels with 2 serial monitors. I've done it to test UNO Software Serial to UNO Software Serial... best reliable speed I can do is 57600.

8

Thanks GoForSmoke. I'll try your recommendations.