XBee Pro 63mW RPSMA - Series 2B (ZigBee Mesh)

This is the XBee XBP24BZ7SIT-004 module from Digi. The new Series 2B improves upon the power output and data protocol of the Pro Series2. Series 2B 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.

Series 2B modules use a different hardware configuration from the earlier models and while they will communicate with Series 2 XBee modules, they are not compatible with the outdated Series 2.5 Modules.

Not sure which XBee module or accessory is right for you? Check out our XBee Buying Guide!

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 2B XBee modules have the same pin-out. However, Series 1 modules cannot communicate with Series 2B modules.

Note: If you are using these outside of the United States, please check with your local laws regarding radio communication.

Replaces:WRL-08768

  • 3.3V @ 295mA
  • 250kbps Max data rate
  • 63mW output (+17dBm)
  • 1 mile (1600m) range
  • RPSMA connector
  • 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
  • External Antenna Required

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XBee Pro 63mW RPSMA - Series 2B (ZigBee Mesh) Product Help and Resources

Core Skill: Programming

If a board needs code or communicates somehow, you're going to need to know how to program or interface with it. The programming skill is all about communication and code.

3 Programming

Skill Level: Competent - The toolchain for programming is a bit more complex and will examples may not be explicitly provided for you. You will be required to have a fundamental knowledge of programming and be required to provide your own code. You may need to modify existing libraries or code to work with your specific hardware. Sensor and hardware interfaces will be SPI or I2C.
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Comments

Looking for answers to technical questions?

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  • narpat / about 12 years ago / 2

    If you are looking for two way telemetry using a pair of this module "XBee XBP24BZ7", then better do not buy it at all, I purchased one pair and suggesting, based on my findings.

    For transparent serial communication between the airplane and the ground station, you need to configure one of the mudule as XBEE COORDINATOR AT" and the other one as "XBEE ROUTER AT".

    The the X-Bee configured as "COORDINATOR AT" will be at the ground station and the other one which is configured as "ROUTER AT" will be in the airplane.

    My findings are; 1. The speed of data flow from Rouert AT X-Bee to Coordinator AT X-Bee is very fast and have no issue.

    1. the speed of data flow from the Coordinator AT X-Bee to Router AT X-Bee is very very slow and not acceptable.

    When I tried to use with APM, I was very very difficult to read and write waypoints from the ground station.

    First I suspected if there could be any hardware issue in one of the X-Bee but it was clear when the problem got shifted when I swapped the configuration of the two X-Bees "XBee XBP24BZ7"

    I tried on different bauds and even newer and older firmwares of this X-Bee "XBee XBP24BZ7" but same problem.

    There is no such issue in "XBee Pro 60mW Wire Antenna - Series 1 (802.15.4)" http://www.sparkfun.com/products/8742

    Digi needs to take care of this issue promptly if they really want to keep this product selling.

    Recorded video, describing this problem: https://vimeo.com/41900865

    Regards

    Rana

    • Member #294085 / about 10 years ago / 1

      (1) The AT firmware is used to be human readable and not for performance. Once you have debugged your communication, you need to update the firmware to API. (2) For better performance, the XBee in your plane needs to be configured as an end point.

    • I know it has been a year but I figured I would respond to this. So many people I know buy a Zigbee (series 2) XBee thinking it will be better, but the Zigbee protocol is really designed for a certain special niche where you need low low power end nodes and very few broadcast transmissions. To get a series 2 to talk like you want you would need to change the DL and DH on each radio to match the SL and SH of the radio you want it to send to. (you could also use API mode to send a DL and DH with each packet if your controller has the smarts to do so.). Sending with no destination is a broadcast and every time you try to broadcast the network will wait and wait for any possible responses. If it instead knows the destination it is a nice fast simple send and reply.

      Or you could get a series 1 radio like you mention, they run point to point (802.15.4) or Digimesh either of which would run a ton faster in this situation.

      • GiladKap / about 11 years ago / 1

        like narpat, I too want to use this for telemetry. Did you actually try what you wrote or is it theoretical. I also think it is bad configuration as two identical devices should generally RX/TX the same way.

  • johnxzhao / about 9 years ago / 1

    I don't understand why they have 2.5, 2, 2B and what ever in random orders.

  • xxyeiroxx / about 11 years ago / 1

    Not blaming at sparkfun or anything bad, but on digikey they cost $29 (http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/XBP24BZ7SIT-004/602-1180-ND/2344900)

  • hi,

    Can I do point to point communication using this module ? In addition what is the antenna that you ll be recommending for this module ?

    Thanks and Regards

  • Member #114028 / about 12 years ago / 1

    Is there a reason that the features section specifies a 1 mile range, and the datasheet specifies a 2 mile range?

  • Mike N. / about 12 years ago / 1

    Does this Xbee support simultaneous TX and RX?

  • When will be available again this product? Are there problems with the manufacturer?

  • pjwerneck / about 13 years ago / 1

    Is this one compatible with the retired sku WRL-08768?

  • SlyVixsky / about 13 years ago / 1

    If this is series S2B, then according to the data sheet the transmit power should read "205mA" not "295mA" of the origional S2 series

  • BrandonB / about 13 years ago / 1

    Does this module have the same range as a 60mW module with the same antenna setup?

  • Greggie / about 13 years ago /

    I think you mean this is the XBP24BZ7SIT-004, not PIT. PIT is PCB antenna. SIT is the RPSMA connector.

Customer Reviews

4 out of 5

Based on 2 ratings:

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0 of 1 found this helpful:

Good

Works as I expected. Communication range not that bad. I'm using antenna with 9dbi. I didn't test the max range though. The price for this module is too high anyway!

Works great and is easy to setup with the XCTU software. Managed to get two of these to communicate with shields alone which is good. My only complaint is they're a little pricey compared to the price I saw on Digi.