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Home Product Categories Arduino RTL-09897
XBee Wireless Kit Retail
sku: RTL-09897
Description: This is the same product as the XBee Shield with a multitude of extra parts including 2 XBee modules, the popular XBee Explorer, and headers for the shield. All these parts comes in fancy clamshell packaging meant for our distributors that need it. Regular customers are welcome to order, but we want to limit the amount of extra packaging finding its way into the trash heap.
Our entire goal for the XBee Kit was to make wireless communication simple. Connect one XBee to the shield and your Arduino, connect the other XBee to the Explorer board and your computer, and you'll be able to seamlessly pass serial data to and from your Arduino wirelessly! Using this connection, you can transmit remote sensor data, or send data from your computer to update a scoreboard, or drive a robot from your keyboard!
The XBee Shield mates directly with an Arduino Pro or USB board, and equips it with wireless communication capabilities using the popular XBee module. This is SparkFun's own design and is a distant relative to the official XBee Shield from Arduino.
The serial pins (DIN and DOUT) of the XBee are connected through an SPDT switch, which allows you to select a connection to either the UART pins (D0, D1) or any digital pins on the Arduino (D2 and D3 default). Power is taken from the 5V pin of the Arduino and regulated on-board to 3.3VDC before being supplied to the XBee. The shield also takes care of level shifting on the DIN pin of the XBee.
The board also includes LEDs to indicate power and activity on DIN, DOUT, RSSI, and DIO5 pins of the XBee. The Arduino's reset button is brought out on the shield, and a 12x11 grid of 0.1" holes are available for prototyping.
Note: This kit does not include a USB to Mini-B cable. We seem to magically grow two of these a week with all the electronic gadgets we have around. So if you don't have one already, pick one up.
Features:
- Kit allows for simple serial cable replacement
- Modules support data rates up to 115200bps
- DIN and DOUT pins of XBee can be connected to either the UART pins or any digital pin on the Arduino (D2 and D3 default)
- 3.3V power regulation and level shifting on-board
- 12 x 11 grid of 0.1" spaced prototyping holes
- Reset button
- Power, DIN, DOUT, RSSI and DIO5 indicator LEDs
Kit Includes:
- 1 x XBee Shield
- 1 x XBee Explorer
- 2 x XBee Modules
- 2 x Stackable Headers 6-pin
- 2 x Stackable Headers 8-pin
Documents:
Pricing
images are 
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Comments 31 comments
I hear you both. Of the 7 packaged products, the XBee is the last one we’re hammering on the examples for. We should have a good assembly guide and quickstart guide available in a few weeks. Sorry for the delay.
So are you going to provide some working code samples that make this all work? And also sample applications. This is not as simple as you guys like to make it seem. At least not for a new guy.
I am retired and this micro processor stuff is a new hobby for me. All new. I am doing okay but struggle at every new project to write or find code that actually works. It ain’t as easy as just doing a Google search. It takes a lot of work to build up a knowledge base.
You will be greatly rewarded if you provide working software with your retail packaged items. You, as the vendor should provide working code. Then we the user can get started sooner and then do the code modifications and post them on the Internet. It is not easy for a new comer to sort all of the bad code from the good code examples out there.
All in all what you have done so far for us amateurs is amazing and I thank you. tadd
Try “Building Wireless Sensor Networks” published by O'Reilly and written by Faludi. It is listed under related products on this page, and is widely available elsewhere as well. Pretty much the reference on XBee.
(I know this is an old question, but others who come along may have this same question.)
I totally agree with Tadd. It would be very helpful, for new guys like me, if you had some detailed instructions for the configuration of the Xbee as well as some working code samples. Anyway, apart from the above, the kit seams really great.
This package is a great starting point to learn about XBee. I bought one and have written a tutorial on how to get started with Arduino and XBee – I hope you all enjoy it. Please visit: http://wp.me/pQmjR-Hf
This thing is great!
I got a serial connection just by using the arduino IDE’s serial monitor, just select the serial port of the explorer module first.
From opening the box to working test, it took <30 minutes to make a wirelessly controlled led that was controlled by sending 0’s and 1’s.
Hi I just got this package and it works great when arduino is connected with USB cable but when I plug power source it doesn’t work at all! I use power supply 12VDC 500mA. Any help will be appreciated!
That should work. Please contact techsupport@sparkfun.com if you need further help.
I used a different arduino and now it works! Obviously the previous arduino had some problems.
How easy would it be to take this to a star topology?
Is there (or will there be) a non-retail version of this kit? The kit is a few dollars cheaper than buying the parts individually, but the description notes that you “want to limit the amount of extra packaging finding its way into the trash heap.”
We don’t sell this as a non-retail packaged kit. You can just add everything to your cart separately though. It’s all listed above.
XBee is cool. Some think it´s just a wireless serial link, but a powerful feature is to be able to distribute IO ports out to remote nodes. Check out the AT command set, it can be enlightening.
Is this compatible with the Netduino?
I am looking at getting one of these (got me some free day funding!) and I noticed that the XBee shields have been retired from the catalog. Does that mean the only way to get one is in this kit?
The sheild here was retired because it was replaced by a newer version. I’m actually thinking about getting this, but was wondering if it now came with the newer sheild. Does anybody know?
I had to purchase the components in this retail kit as it was out of stock -
are the instructions that come with the retail version online somewhere?
All of the instructions that come with the retail version consist of a website with all the information you should need: www.sparkfun.com/xbeeshield
Sparkfun! Any news on when this’ll be in stock again? I’m leaning towards buying the components but this package saves me a few bucks that I’d gladly spend on other geek gear.
(You write “Regular customers are welcome to order, but we want to limit the amount of extra packaging finding its way into the trash heap.” – shouldn’t the components be cheaper individually?)
Is the XBee shield stackable? Would I have to add extra headers? Can I put a motor shield on top of it while there is an xbee on it?
Here is a blog post I did on the using the Xbee explorer with an Arduino with the SparkFun Xbee Shield. I use this setup for controlling my pan tilt antenna for my UAV.
http://fisherinnovation.com/i/2011/06/12/simple-xbee-communication-with-arduino/
For Arduino to Arduino (ie no pc) do I just need 2 XBees and 2 shields? Will they work straight out of the box? I plan to use a humidity and temp sensor at one end tx-ing to a lcd (and maybe SD-card) at the other. And I guess I can stack an lcd shield on top of an XBee?
Lots of questions here.
Yes, two xbees and two shields.
they will work straight out of the box, IF you use series 1, which is what you would want to use anyway.
they will work with other shields as long as pins aren’t being shared.
This kit is great!
With minimal effort (at least in my case) these can act just like a physical usb connection to your computer. I think the ease of use for this (i.e. serial comm with an arduino is the same as with connecting a usb cable, but wireless) makes up for the higher price over other cheaper wireless options.
This package should really include Series 2 XBees instead of the now defunct S1 XBees.
Actually the Series 1 XBees are still fully supported and quite useful. They typically support basic 802.15.4 while the Series 2 typically supports ZigBee.
See the Demystifying 802.15.4 and ZigBee white paper for more info. (registration optional)
You guys should make more of these! I want one really bad.
Curious about Netduino compatibility. Any insight?
del
Forget it