XBee as standalone sensor/actuator

Forum 2005-2010 (read only) Hardware Interfacing
1

I got the impression that stand-alone XBee modules can be used as sensors (transmitting Analog/Digital input values to another XBee) and actuators (driving digital out HIGH/LOW according to commands it receives from another XBee). I am planning to use several standalone XBee modules as sensor/actuator slaves and one master XBee connected to an Arduino. Stand-alone means here that XBees are not phycially connected to MCUs. Analog/Digital inputs are connected to sensors and digital outs drive relays

Do all Xbee modules support this kind of sensor/actuator functionality, or should I pick up some spesific models?

2

The Series 1 radios support this.

Actually, the XBee module is not a sensor, but, if a sensor supplies it a value, the Xbee can transmit it. Similarly, if a Xbee receives a value, it can set an output pin HIGH or LOW.

The Series 2 radios were designed for some different purpose. Exactly what that purpose was, or how to accomplish that goal, escapes me.

3

Thanks a lot for replying! Now I am not going to waste money for buying wrong kind of XBees.

Actually, the XBee module is not a sensor, but, if a sensor supplies it a value, the Xbee can transmit it.

Yes, I understood that. I am going to plug a current sensor in it in order to find out if some electrical device is on or off.

4

On the sparkfun xbee breakout the pins are stated. I have not tried connecting sensors etc to mine but you have all these pins:

I presume you can PWM things as well as input analog sensors...

Mowcius

5

Both series 1 and 2 radios support I/O samples (receive i/o data from standalone xbee) and remote at (turn off/on pins on remote standalone xbee) but series 1 would be a better choice.