XBee + Arduino UNO Timeout problem

Forum 2005-2010 (read only) Hardware Interfacing
1

I'm having an issue communicating between 2 Xbee's I've recently purchased. One Xbee is mounted on a Sparkfun Xbee Explorer attached to my PC via USB, the other is mounted on a Sparkfun Xbee Shield which is attached to an Arduino UNO. The XBee's are Series 2.5.

I have configured both XBee's using x-ctu. I flashed the one attached to the PC as the coordinator and the one attached to the UNO as a router. Both were also updated to their latest firmwares and they're running with default settings at 9600 baud.

The issue I'm having is communication between the Xbee's is extremely flaky. I created a simple loop-back sketch on the Arduino which simply prints back what it receives. When I run the range test through x-ctu it occasionally works but times out just as often.

If anyone has any suggestions I would appreciate it.

2

I flashed the one attached to the PC as the coordinator and the one attached to the UNO as a router.

The XBees are typically configured as coordinator and end device, not router.

Is there anything that is interfering with the XBee communication? Electrical noise? Excessive distance?

3

Hmmm... Assuming that is true it should still work regardless of being a router or end device right? I thought a router IS an end device with added functionality.

I've tried with the XBee's right next to each other and also far apart (across a room), no difference. I can't think of anything that could cause noise.

4

Assuming that is true it should still work regardless of being a router or end device right?

How long would it take to test? Then, you'd KNOW.