I'm new to arduino (just ordered uno). I need to create a wireless sensor network for home automation project of 5-20 sensors. I figured on using XBee 2.4 chips attached to the temperature sensors (analog or digital) directly without use of arduino and one arduino board for logging the data coming from the sensors and deciding upon it (basically acting as thermostat). As it is a home automation project Xbee chips will need to be in mesh network config as some of them will be out of range of coordinating chip on arduino board. Has someone ever attempted to do something like this? Would i need an analog or digital thermistors for sensors? Are there any better solutions than XBee?
I m basically starting from ground zero. Any tips or advise will be appreciated.
I m basically starting from ground zero. Any tips or advise will be appreciated.
in that case if you are starting on ground zero just acquaint your self with the arduino and try some rather simpler projects then you can move onto more serious thingy's like home automation
There is a big assumption in your question, that the Xbees will out of range. I think you should first investigate if this is true.
Note with a range up to 100 feet you can in theory have a sphere with a diameter of 200 feet. So you might think about the strategic location of the Master / Arduino.
To increase the range be aware that the Xbee and the sensor can also be a some feet apart, this enables to place a temp sensor in a room and the xbee outside it. These kind of small optimizations could give an overall improvement.
Check Serial Port Temperature Sensors for some interesting reading
@newbie I have few years in home automation as installer and basic level programmer. I am also EEE student so I work with Xilinx boards a lot... But i have never done anything with arduino.
The thing is I will start the basic things first but i have this project as an outstanding goal (not for school). I need to know how to start approaching it... at least an idea...
I would start just with an arduino board and afew onewire DS18B20 sensors (use dallas temp lib) and a (serial) display to get a felling about Arduino and temp sensing.
second step is to do Xbee experiments, range, range in relation to baudrate, optimal locations, reflections etc
third step do one sensor over XBEE
fourth step increase # sensors
@robtillaart in my experience installing zigbee/zwave control systems, issues of range would be present in 1 out of 5 installs (big homes, lots of concrete walls, basements - you never know where the location of the coordinating Xbee chip or controll unit will be ). So i have to have the mesh type of network as it eases some range issues, although even with mesh i will have range issues, because nothing is perfect. Now, i know that i can increase my range by using more powerful chips but then cost comes into equation. In relation to the cost i m trying to minimize the distance of wire pulled. in a way, it will have to be - one sensor for one chip (in one enclosure) for every room.