I would like to send sensor data wireless back and forth inside/outside. The signal coming from the outside will have to transmit through about four rooms until it finally reaches the other Xbee hooked up to a computer. I was looking at http://www.mouser.com/Search/ProductDetail.aspx?qs=d7g9p1yFhWYJOjXhnEEcZg%3D%3D Will that have enough power to push the signal through the obstacles I explained above?
That depends very much on the building materials of the walls between the two endpoints. In the US houses often are mostly wooden where western european constructions are mostly concrete and bricks usually with steel armouring. The 900MHz variant is better in percolating solid obstacles than the standard 2.4GHz version but a grounded steel grid in between can ruin the communication.
So in most cases (especially in the US) the answer to your question will be yes, but you have to try to be sure.
Distance is also a factor. You don't mention how far apart the 2 XBees will be. There are Pro versions of each XBee that broadcast farther than the regular versions.
PaulS:
Distance is also a factor. You don't mention how far apart the 2 XBees will be. There are Pro versions of each XBee that broadcast farther than the regular versions.
The distance at its best is approximately 200ft(ball park figure). That distance is probably a bit more; however, I rather leave more distance for the future. Also, after reading a little bit more about XBee, I noticed it is required to program which one will be transmit and which one will be the receiver. Is it possible to program each one to be a transmit and receiver?
Is it possible to program each one to be a transmit and receiver?
Xbee can work in two modes, you will need to use the mesh mode for two way communication. You will need an arduino at each end.
Grumpy_Mike:
Is it possible to program each one to be a transmit and receiver?
Xbee can work in two modes, you will need to use the mesh mode for two way communication. You will need an arduino at each end.
I was wanting to hook up an ATtiny85 which will be controlling the temp sensor and commands via serial to one Xbee. The other Xbee will be attached to a breakout board such as the sparkfun xbee explorer.
Xbee can work in two modes, you will need to use the mesh mode for two way communication.
Mesh mode and point to point are the two KINDS of XBees. Either type is a transceiver - transmitter and receiver. The point to point models are easier to get set up for bidirectional communication, but the mesh models can be configured that way, too.
PaulS:
Xbee can work in two modes, you will need to use the mesh mode for two way communication.
Mesh mode and point to point are the two KINDS of XBees. Either type is a transceiver - transmitter and receiver. The point to point models are easier to get set up for bidirectional communication, but the mesh models can be configured that way, too.
I spoke to a sales representative at digi's website about which xbee I should purchase. The y recommended the xbee digimesh 900 for my project.