XBee Pro S2C range problem. (Datasheet max. 3.2km - Test Result(opened area) max 500m)
I am living in Turkey.About 2 months ago I bought the XBee Pro S2C (original) module due to its maximum distance range of 3.2 km.I was able to transfer the GPS data I received from GY-NEO 6MV2 to the XBee Pro S2C.The reason I chose this RF module was for the drone(autopilot).I wanted my drone to go 2 kilometers away.As a result of my trials, I found that GPS data did not come after 500 meters.Weather conditions were good when I tested.Moreover, I am very surprised that a module that range of 3.2 kilometers away in the best weather conditions cannot send data after 500 meters in a sunny and open area.
My module:
https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/digi/XBP24CDMWIT-001/602-1968-ND/6226956
(Internal Wire Antenna)
Receiver Arduino Code (with Coordinator XBee) (Arduino MEGA)
#include "SoftwareSerial.h"
// RX: Arduino pin 10, XBee pin DOUT. TX: Arduino pin 11, XBee pin DIN
SoftwareSerial XBee(10, 11);
float DO_float=0;
void setup()
{Serial.begin(9600);
// Baud rate MUST match XBee settings (as set in XCTU)
XBee.begin(9600);
}
void loop()
{
if (XBee.available()) { // If data comes in from XBee, send it out to serial monitor
char DO, buf[100];
DO = XBee.read();
DO_float = atof((char *)buf);
Serial.print(DO);
//Serial.println(DO_float); //uncomment to print floating point result
}
Transmitter Arduino Code (with Router XBee)
#include "SoftwareSerial.h"
#include <TinyGPS.h>
//long lat,lon; // create variable for latitude and longitude object
float lat,lon;
TinyGPS gps; // create gps object
SoftwareSerial XBee(10, 11);
void setup(){
Serial.begin(9600);
XBee.begin(9600);
Serial.println("The GPS Received Signal:");
Serial3.begin(9600); // connect gps sensor
}
void loop(){
while(Serial3.available()>0){ // check for gps data
if(gps.encode(Serial3.read()))// encode gps data
{
gps.f_get_position(&lat,&lon); // get latitude and longitude
Serial.print("Position: ");
//Latitude
Serial.print("Latitude: ");
Serial.print(lat,8);
Serial.print(",");
//Longitude
Serial.print("Longitude: ");
Serial.println(lon,8);
XBee.write("NA"); // latitude
XBee.print(lat,6);
delay(100);
XBee.write("EA"); // longtitude
XBee.print(lon,6);
delay(100);
}
}
}
XBEE CONFIGURATION
IN 802.15.4 TH PRO FUNCTION
Router (Transmits GPS data)
CH - C
ID PAN ID - 2018
DH - 0
DL - 1
MY 16 bit Source Adress - 2
CE - END DEVICE
API DISABLED (AT MODE)
Coordinator (Receives GPS Data)
CH - C
ID PAN ID - 2018
DH - 0
DL - 2
MY 16 bit Source Adress - 1
CE - Coordinator
API DISABLED (AT MODE)
other settings are default in both of modules
The distance has to be extended and this is very important to me.
Please help me solve the problem.
How can I get over it?
I don't want to buy a XBee Pro XSC S3B module. It's very expensive.