XBee Shield Version 2

Forum 2005-2010 (read only) Hardware Development
1

Hi, I completed the design of XBee Shield Version 2. It is based on the libelium v1.0 and has the following features:

  • All Digital and Analog pins exposed using long legged female headers.
  • Jumpers to upgrade the XBee module firmware directly from the Shield
  • XBee module reset switch
  • 3-LED RSSI (Receiver Signal Strength Indicator). Can be left unassembled if visual RSSI is not needed.
  • All through-hole components for easy assembly
  • Kits and PCBs available end of April

Here is a simulated 3D drawing (some headers will be female instead of male, Xbee module will be inserted in 2mm female headers, etc):

2

what program did you model that in?

3

what program did you model that in?

I used eagle for the schematics and board design, then EAGLE3D and POV-ray to create the 3D model from the board.

4

I like the long leg female headers, saves some assembly time and preserves the "standard" Arduino header spacing.
I am assembling the fourth XBee shield I bought from you using long leg female headers.

Nice work!
-Bill

5

I like the long leg female headers, saves some assembly time and preserves the "standard" Arduino header spacing.
I am assembling the fourth XBee shield I bought from you using long leg female headers.

Nice work!
-Bill

And the long leg female headers can be used also to stack shields (not this one with the XBee module inserted). It also saves some PCB space for some other stuff.

6

Real board pictures:


XBee shield v1 talking to an XBee shield v2 (v2 has the blue associate LED and the 3-LED RSSI indicator)

7

Man, I wish I had these!

My Xbees haven't ever talked properly together, so the 2 shields that I purchased from you are still sitting on my shelf because I can't get them to work :frowning:

8

Man, I wish I had these!

My Xbees haven't ever talked properly together, so the 2 shields that I purchased from you are still sitting on my shelf because I can't get them to work :frowning:

You should download X-CTU from Maxstream (now Digi) and run the test program (range test). You need to install the shields on brainless Arduino boards (without the ATMEGA168), connect one of them to the PC, the other one to an external power supply and short RX-TX pins.

9

How would I use this shield to be able to remotely program my arduino?

10

Erm... sory for this, but where can you get this kind od female headers?? Would realy be nice to use in differend projects, but I haven't seen them in any shop...

11

We have customized some long pin female headers for whoever wants to make shields. :wink:

http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/female-shield-stacking-headers-6-pin-100pcs-pack-p-222.html

http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/female-shield-stacking-headers-8-pin-100pcs-pack-p-223.html