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Home Product Categories ZigBee & 802.15.4 WRL-10414
XBee 2mW Wire Antenna - Series 2 (ZigBee Mesh)
sku: WRL-10414
Description: This is the XBee XB24-Z7WIT-004 module from Digi. Series 2 improves on the power output and data protocol. Series 2 modules allow you to create complex mesh networks based on the XBee ZB ZigBee mesh firmware. These modules allow a very reliable and simple communication between microcontrollers, computers, systems, really anything with a serial port! Point to point and multi-point networks are supported.
These are essentially the same hardware as the older Series 2.5, but have updated firmware. They will work with Series 2.5 modules if you update the firmware through X-CTU.
Note: If you are looking for a simple point-to-point configuration, you might want to try the Series 1 instead. The Series 2 requires considerable setup and configuration. We highly recommend Building Wireless Sensor Networks as a guide for setting up mesh networks.
Note: Series 1 and Series 2 XBee modules have the same pin-out. However, Series 1 modules cannot communicate with Series 2 modules.
Note: If you are using these outside of the United States, please check with your local laws regarding radio communication.
Note: Due to recent flooding in Thailand and the subsequent damage to the Digi factories, there may be long lead times on all XBee products and shortages until they recover from the damage.
Features:
- 3.3V @ 40mA
- 250kbps Max data rate
- 2mW output (+3dBm)
- 400ft (120m) range
- Built-in antenna
- Fully FCC certified
- 6 10-bit ADC input pins
- 8 digital IO pins
- 128-bit encryption
- Local or over-air configuration
- AT or API command set
Documents:
Replaces: WRL-08695
Pricing
images are 
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Comments 27 comments
Does this work with the Xbee Explorer Regulated and the Xbee Explorer Dongle?
And why does the ‘datasheet’ refer to series 1?
Is there a real datasheet available about this chip, with the functions of each pin (ADC/PWM….)
edit: found this:
http://docs-europe.electrocomponents.com/webdocs/0d0a/0900766b80d0a897.pdf
Yes, it works with the XBee explorer regulated and dongle, listed below. I’ll fix the datasheet.
Hi, if this is supported by the XBee Explorer Regulated also you should fix the list of supported XBee modules due is not there any Serie 2.
The obvious progression in radios is 900Mhz, diversity, longer range, & more bandwidth. It’s a mystery why digi keeps investing in this strange mesh networking fascination while doing nothing in the obvious.
Pretty sure the XBees are still designed in Utah at the Maxstream location & we know the economy in Utah tends to run in isolation from the rest of the world, so you get these really offbeat designs. There are so many government links on digi.com, there must be 1 large government customer in Utah using 2.4Ghz mesh networking.
They have a lot of foreign clients, like the company I’m currently working in, which find it easier to use 2.4GHz because of legal issues. That must be one of the reasons why they keep investing in 2.4GHz.
I find mesh to be as weird as TCP/IP and Ethernet I.e. Not at all. I believe utility companies and other people with distributed systems are moving to the weird mesh because they can deploy a large number of small nodes cheaply without deploying a huge infrastructure like a pair of fiber to each house. Each meter can send in it’s billing information when requested by letting the data be free
If you look you’ll find other major companies like making zigbee based products, so I expect them to be around for a while. I don’t think other companies would spend money to license the patents or develop the technology if there weren’t money in it.
By the way, I bought two 900mhz modules which can be programmed as dedicated or mesh and was able to get them working in less than 30 minutes without ever touching an xbee before. I do have network experience so I understood some of the concepts with out having a google implant, but you don’t need to fear the xbee if you have a brain and can read.
Just got my modules today. To get it to talk to a series 2 module I had, I had to use X-CTU to program the module as an XB24-B device instead of the XB24-ZB, which is how it came.
I have
1. Arduino UNO
2.this model of xbee
3.and xbee breakout board
I tried to load firmwares in my xbee with the above equipement but I failed.
XCTU is not able to communicate with my xbee.
So can anyone guide me how to load firmwares in my xbee nw?
Try using the XBee explorer board. There are a lot of tutorials around on the series 2. You might also want to look at the book ‘building wireless sensor networks’ which deals exclusively with XBee configuration and such.
I am building a network of temperature sensors to go around my house. I want to know what Xbee module I should get so that it will transmit data through walls. I want to be able to transmit to the basement from the second floor.
I would go with the 60mW Wire Antenna Version.
Since you’re building a network of them, you could use mesh networking. Then you just have to ask yourself what the largest distance between 2 devices are. If you decide on mesh networking, make sure to get series 2 devices. IMO, this is the way to go. Something like the coordinator on your main machine in the basement, a router on each floor, and the rest can be end devices. (The routers can be sensors too)
Thanks,
I think I should go with the 50mW series 2 xbee pro. But what kind of antenna should I get?
Unless space is an issue, go with the wire antenna or the U.FL version combined with an external antenna.
Can I do what I want to do with series 1 xbee modules? I thought the only way to network them is through series 2
Series 1 doesn’t support mesh networking. They are designed for peer-to-peer. So you would only get one temp sensor.
Read here and here for information on that.
We’ve also got a tutorial here
Ok, to sum it up…
I will get 4, series 2, 50mw Xbee modules, one xbee usb explorer, 3 arduino pro minis, 3 xbee explorers regulated, and 3 LM335A temperature sensors. I will setup the xbee connected to the usb explorer as the cordinator. I will set the other 2 up as routers and place them both on each floor along with the arduinos and temperature sensors. The arduino will send temperature data along with the serial number programmed into it, via serial, to the cordinator. The cordinator will then send the data to the computer.
One more question…
If I want to add extra sensors on each floor, can I just buy lower power versions of the series 2 modules and set them up as endpoints, or do they have to be the same power?
I will post a link to a video and maybe a tutorial once I am done. Thank you all for the help.
Pretty much, yeah. I suggest you try get to read the recommended “Building Wireless Sensor Networks” book. It deals exactly with what you’re trying to do!
To be more precise, you will find that you don’t need the arduino’s if you’re just temp sensing, since the modules have analog inputs. You can send an analog read request to them directly without any additional microcontroller. They also have a few outputs you can control. Microcontrollers are handy for when you need to do more sophisticated things on an end point (eg: transmit an infra-red code to your television or airconditioner). The mentioned book has examples for remote analog sensing. It also shows you how to use processing as a tool to request the info and display it. There is also a good python library available! :)
The end points don’t have to be the same power. You just have to ask yourself what the distance is between them and the closest router, and if your house is concrete or wood…
Personally I suggest getting a few modules and experimenting a bit first. Say, 2x50mw + 2x2mw + usb explorer etc.. It will take you some time to get familiar and all your code going. Expanding from there will be easy and you will probably want other things by then anyway so the shipping is irrelevant..
Have you got a bunch of old phone chargers around? They’re good power sources! Otherwise, pick up some 5v chargers..
What range are people getting between these Xbees in reality? I have a pair on my kitchen table which only communicate reliably over a distance of less than two feet!
I have power-level 4 enabled with boost mode on both of them. One is flashed with firmware 218c and the other 288c.
Thanks,
Steve
I’m using one sitting behind my computer in my home office and then the other is enclosed in a metal cylinder about 40 feet away, between 3 walls and it works flawlessly.
They should be able to go WELL over 2 feet, especially without obstacles. Are you enclosing them in shielded enclosures?!
I have one connected to a USB explorer and the other is mounted on a breadboard using an explorer regulated. Neither is enclosed. Could it be the breadboard?
I doubt it. maybe it’s not getting enough power. Contact techsupport@sparkfun.com and they should be able to help you out, it sounds like something else is happening. It should work like that.
Do I need to include a voltage regulator to power this with a 3.7 Volt single cell LiPo battery such as http://www.sparkfun.com/products/341 ?
3.7 volts is only “nominal” and is misleading. A freshly charged Lithium Ion or Lithium Ion Polymer cell is 4.2 volts, XBee spec is 3.6 V, so yeah if it was me I wouldn’t try to run them directly off the cell.