Hi there. writing this as a noob just to refresh what Im currently try to understand.
Xbee boards contains a transmitter and receiver, which makes them able to transmit informations wireless on the frequency 2.4GHz
If You want to communicate , You'll need 2 pcs Xbee.
You need to initialize networkadressess and item adresses for the respective xbees. This can be done in several ways. Search on internet using keywords: J.Blum Xbee and arduino
Theres also a X-ctu application from www.digi.com thats of great help.
Generally to be able to speak and listen between two parts, You have a mouth and an ear.
The mouth is the Dout signalpin on Your Xbee. The ear is the Din on the Xbee.
Person a speaks and person b listen or vvs. To be able to do this electronically, You cross-connect the Din and Dout pins. Using a microcontroller, connnect theese pins to the input/output pins of X-bee's. Pinnumbers are usually given in the informations of the library ure using.
This and supply power is all You need in a simple point to point or point to many network ,as You indicate in your text.
Then You go and find a library (unless You want to make serial functions Yourself) to make programming easy for Yourself.
Much is done then in using serial communication functions from that library.
Most of the informations you seek is available by searching the internet.
Good luck with Your project.
DrogoNevets:
So I have 4 xBee units,
a xBee sheild
a xBee board
and 2 xBee to USB boards (ie they plug into computer)
I don't know how to use them, i was hoping it would be a simple case of stick the board on to my arduino (the new mega) plug in the USB and viola it works. But soon as i plug the board in the LED saying "associate" flashes, and I cant seem to find drivers for the USB parts.
my mega has a backpack so power isnt the issue.
Cans ome one write me a quick how-to guide?
all i want/need is to send/receive serial commands wirelessly.