XBee 865/868LP Development Kit

Getting Started Guide

90002127_A
2/6/2012

2012DigiInternationalInc.
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limitedto,theimpliedwarrantiesoffitnessormerchantabilityforaparticularpurpose.Digimaymake
improvementsand/orchangesinthismanualorintheproduct(s)and/ortheprogram(s)describedinthismanual
atanytime.
Thisdocumentcouldincludetechnicalinaccuraciesortypographicalerrors.Changesareperiodicallymadetothe
informationherein;thesechangesmaybeincorporatedinneweditionsofthepublication.

2012DigiInternational,Inc.

Table of Contents
Using this Guide............................................................................................................ 4
Conventions used in this Guide .............................................................................. 4
Contact Information................................................................................................. 4

Introduction .................................................................................................................... 5
Goals of the Kit ....................................................................................................... 5
Requirements of the Kit .......................................................................................... 5

..........................................................................................5
Additional Documentation .....................................................................................5
System Requirements

Part 1: Set up your XBee 865/868LP Development Kit ....................................... 6

Identify Kit Components.......................................................................................... 6
Assemble your Development Kit ............................................................................ 7

Part 2: Download and Install X-CTU Software....................................................... 8

Installing USB Drivers ............................................................................................. 8
Installing X-CTU Software ...................................................................................... 8

Part 3: Test Communications Link and Establish a Mesh Network................. 9

Perform a Range Test ............................................................................................ 9
Establish a Mesh Network .................................................................................... 13

Part 4: Configure the Radios ................................................................................... 14

Configure Remote Modules .................................................................................. 14
Change from Mesh to Point-to-Multipoint Mode................................................... 16
Change Firmware Versions .................................................................................. 17

Appendix A: Troubleshooting .................................................................................18

Resetting the XBee 865/868LP Module ............................................................... 18
Why are the Radios no longer communicating with one another? ...................... 18

2012DigiInternational,Inc.

Using this Guide

Conventions used in this Guide
Thisiconindicatesastepthathasthepotentialtobetroublesome.
Furtherinformationregardingitemsmarkedwiththissymbolcanbe
foundinAppendixA:Troubleshootingonpage18.

Thisiconindicatesahint,orconceptthatislearned.

Thisiconindicatesthatagoalofthekithasbeencompleted.

Thisiconindicatesawarningofthepotentialforconfusionordanger.

Contact Information
FormoreinformationaboutyourDigiproducts,orforcustomerserviceandtechnicalsupport,contact
DigiInternational.
ToContactDigiInternational

Use
DigiInternational

Mail

WorldHeadquarters
11001BrenRoadEast
Minnetonka,MN55343

Phone
8:00AM5:00PM(U.S.MountainTime)

18667659885tollfreeUSAandCanada

OnlineSupport

http://www.digi.com/support/eservice/login.jsp

Email

rfexperts@digi.com

2012DigiInternational,Inc.

18017659885Worldwide

Introduction
ThankyouforpurchasinganXBee865/868LPDevelopmentKit.Thiskitisdesignedtomakeiteasytoset
upanXBeemeshnetwork,senddatafromoneXBeetoanother,andadjusttheXBeesettings.Beforeyou
startworkingwiththekit,let'scoversomebasics.

Goals of the Kit

Asyougothroughthestepsinthiskit,youwill:
1.SetupyourXBee865/868LPDevelopmentKit.
2.DownloadandinstallXCTUconfigurationsoftware.
3.Performarangetest.
4.Establishameshnetwork.
5.Configuretheradios.

Requirements of the Kit

System Requirements
Toinstallthesoftwarementionedinthisguide,youwillneedaPCrunningMicrosoftWindows
2000,XP,VistaorWindows7.

Additional Documentation
Formoreinformationaboutthesoftware,APIoperations,ATcommandmodes,ortheform
factorpleaserefertotheXBee865/868LPProductManualavailableontheDigiSupportwebsite.
FormoreinformationonconfiguringandusingtheXCTUutility,pleaserefertotheXCTU
Configuration&TestUtilitySoftwareUsersGuide.

2012DigiInternational,Inc.

Part 1: Set up your XBee 865/868LP

Development Kit
Identify Kit Components
Carefullyunpackandverifythecontentsofyourkit.Yourkitshouldincludethefollowing:

XBee Interface Board (3)

XBee U.FL
Module (3)

Antenna (3)
USB Cable (2)

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Power Supply (2)

Power Supply
Adapters (2)

XBee865/868LPDevelopmentKitGettingStartedGuide

Assemble your Development Kit

ToassembleyourDevelopmentKit,performthefollowingsteps:
1.InstallthemodulesontheXBeeInterfaceBoards(XBIB)byliningthepinsupwiththeheadersand
pressingthemoduleintoplace.
2.Attachthedipoleantennastothemodules.
3.ConnectthefirstXBIBtoyourcomputerusingaUSBcable.Thisfirstdevicewillbedesignatedas
yourbaseradio.
4.Connecttheremainingmodulesandinterfaceboards,andsetthemasidefornow.
YouarenowreadytoruntheXCTUsoftwareandtobeginconfiguringyourXBeeMeshNetwork.

YouhavejustcompletedGoal#1settingupyour
XBee865/868LPDevelopmentKit.

2012DigiInternational,Inc.

Part 2: Download and Install X-CTU Software

ForproperkitconfigurationandoperationXCTUsoftware(version5.15orlater)mustbedownloaded
andinstalled.AcopyofXCTUsoftwareandUSBdriverswillneedtobeinstalledoneachcomputerused
inconjunctionwiththisguide.

Installing USB Drivers

TheXBeeUSBinterfaceboardisa"plugandplay"devicethatshouldbedetectedbythePC
automatically.IfyouareusingWindows7orVista,theUSBdriversshouldautomaticallyinstallanda
notificationwillappearinthelowerrightportionofyourscreenindicatingsuccessorfailure.
IftheUSBdriversfailtoinstall,pleasefollowtheUSBdriverinstallationinstructionsfoundhere:
http://www.digi.com/support/kbase/kbaseresultdetl.jsp?id=3214.
IfyouareusingWindows2000orXP,downloadandinstallthedriverasperthefollowingdirections.
ToinstalltheUSBdriver:
1.Downloadthedriversetupfileat:
http://ftp1.digi.com/support/driver/FTDI_Windows_Driver_Setup.exe.
2.Doubleclickonthesetupfile.Awindowwillpopupduringinstallationandautomaticallyclose
whentheprocessiscomplete.

Installing X-CTU Software

1.DownloadXCTUatwww.digi.com/xctu.
2.Browsetothefoldertowhichyousavedtheaboveinstallfile.
3.DoubleclickontheinstallerfileandfollowtheXCTUSetupWizard.
4.WhenaskedifyouwouldliketocheckDigi'swebsiteforfirmwareupdates,clickYes.
5.Afterthefirmwareupdatesarecomplete,clickClose.Updatesmaytakeafewminutes,pleasebe
patient.
6.StartXCTUbydoubleclickingontheXCTUicononyourdesktop,orbyselectingStart>Programs
>Digi>XCTU.
TheXCTUsoftwareisnowreadytobeused.

YouhavejustcompletedGoal#2downloadingandinstalling
theXCTUconfigurationsoftware.

2012DigiInternational,Inc.

Part 3: Test Communications Link and

Establish a Mesh Network
Perform a Range Test
Beforerunningarangetest,youwillneedtoestablishaconnectionwiththeXCTUsoftware:
1.DoubleclicktheXCTUshortcutonyourdesktop.
2.UnderthePCSettingstab,selecttheserialCOMportassociatedwiththedevelopmentboardsyou
havejustattachedtoyourcomputer.

3.Verifythatthebaudrateanddatasettingsmatchtheinternalsettingsofthedevices:

BaudRate:9600
FlowControl:NONE
DataBits:8
Parity:NONE
StopBits:1
4.ClicktheTest/Querybuttontoverifycommunicationwiththeradio.Apopupwillbedisplayed
showingstatusandsomebasicinformation.

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XBee865/868LPDevelopmentKitGettingStartedGuide

5.Applypowertothesecondradiousingapowersupplyinafixedlocation.Thiswillbedesignatedas
yourremoteradio.
Note:YouwillneedtohaveajumperatP8ontheloopbackheaderontheXBIB
fortheremoteradio.
EnsurethattheP8jumperisnotbridgingthetwopinstogetheronthebase
radio.ThiscouldcauseXCTUtostallifthejumperispopulatedandrequests
aresenttotheradio.

6.SelecttheRangeTesttab.
7.(Optional)ChecktheRSSIcheckboxtoenableReceivedSignalStrengthIndicator.
8.ClickStarttobegintherangetest.

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XBee865/868LPDevelopmentKitGettingStartedGuide

9.MonitorthelinkqualitybyreadingthePercentsectionontheRangeTesttab.Thissectiondisplays
therunningpercentageofgoodpacketssenttothereceivingradioandloopedbacktothebase.

Asyourdistanceincreasesbeyondthemaximumrangeoftheradios,youwill
startseeinggreaterpacketloss.
10.ClickStoptoendtherangetest.

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XBee865/868LPDevelopmentKitGettingStartedGuide

TheAdvancedtabprovidesyouwithmoreoptions.Ifyouarerunningtherangetestwithseveralmesh
radiosactingasintermediaries,increasetheDatareceivetimeoutvaluetocompensateforadditional
latency.

YouhavejustcompletedGoal#3performingarangetest.

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XBee865/868LPDevelopmentKitGettingStartedGuide

Establish a Mesh Network

Afteryouhaveperformedtherangetestusingthefirstdevices,itistimetoextendyournetworkby
addingathirddeviceandestablishingameshnetwork.
1.Restarttherangetest.
2.Movetheremotedevicefurtherawayfromthebasedeviceuntilthesignalislost.
3.Assembleanothermoduleandinterfaceboard.
Note:DonotputajumperontheJ8connectorofthisXBIB.
4.Connectwithapowersupplyandplacethisdevicehalfwaybetweenthebaseandremoteradios.
Theintermediateradiobridgesthegapbetweentheremoteandthebaseandreestablishes
communication.Thenetwork"selfhealed"byredirectingcommunicationsassoonasapathwaybecame
available.Theradiosareconfiguredforbroadcastmode,sotheycanrouteinformationandcommunicate
withoneanotherautomatically.

YouhavejustcompletedGoal#4establishingamesh
network.

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Part 4: Configure the Radios

Configure Remote Modules
YoucanconfiguretheXBeemodulesovertheairusingXCTU.Tousethisfeature,thebasedevicemust
beconfiguredforAPImode.
1.Onyourbaseradio,gototheModemConfigurationtabinXCTU.
2.ClickReadandtheparametertypeswillappearinthewindow.

3.SetAP=1onyourbaseradiobyclickingontheAPcommandintheSerialInterfacingfolderinthe
ModemConfigurationwindow.FormoreinformationaboutthedifferentAPIsettings,seetheAPI
sectionintheusermanual.
4.ClicktheWritebutton.
5.Next,clickRemoteConfigurationinthetoplefthandcorneroftheXCTUwindow.TheNetwork
windowwillappear.

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XBee865/868LPDevelopmentKitGettingStartedGuide

6.ClickOpenComPortandDiscover;alistofnetworknodeswillappearonthescreen.

Byselectingaparticularnodefromthelist,youcaninteractwithitasifitwereconnectedtothePC
directly.NowyoucanRead,Write,andRestoreparametersonthemainXCTUwindow,andthose
changeswilloccurovertheairontheremotemoduleselectedintheNetworkwindow.Closethe
Networkwindowwhenyouhavefinishedwithremoteconfiguration.

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XBee865/868LPDevelopmentKitGettingStartedGuide

Change from Mesh to Point-to-Multipoint Mode

Bydefault,yourmodulescomeconfiguredtooperateinmeshmode.Ifyouneedtoworkapointto
multipointtopology,changingyoursettingsissimple.
1.ClickontheTransmitOptions(TO)commandintheNetworkingfolderinyournetwork
parameters.
2.ChangethesettingfromC0to40.TOisabitmaskthatcontrolsseveraloptionsincluding
acknowledgementsandnetworktopology.ThetoptwobitsoftheTOparametercontrolhowyour
networktransmitsdata.MeshmodewithACKSisC0andpointtomultipointmodeis40.Formore
information,seetheATcommandsectionintheproductmanual.

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XBee865/868LPDevelopmentKitGettingStartedGuide

Change Firmware Versions

ThesemodulescanbeconfiguredforanRFdatarateof80Kbpsor10Kbpswithasimplefirmware
change.Somecustomersprefertosendinformationatalowerdataratetoimprovetheirreceiver
sensitivitywhichincreasesrange.
1.ClickontheModemConfigurationtabinXCTU.
2.SelectthemodemtypefromtheModemdropdownboxthatcorrespondswiththeRFdatarate
desired,XB8DMforthe80KbpsversionorXB8DPforthe10Kbpsversion.

DigiMeshisnotavailableatthe10Kdatarate.

3.Thefunctionsetwillautopopulatewiththeversionassociatedwiththeselectedmodemtype.
4.SelectthefirmwareversiondesiredfromtheVersiondropdownbox.Thedefaultselectedisthe
newestversionofthefirmware.
5.Checkthealwaysupdatefirmwarebox.
6.ClicktheWritebutton.

YouhavejustcompletedGoal#5configuringtheradios.

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Appendix A: Troubleshooting
Resetting the XBee 865/868LP Module
EachXBeeUSBDevelopmentBoardhasaresetbutton(locatedasshownbelow):

Pressingthisbuttonpowercyclesthemodule,butwillnotclearanychangeswrittentothemodule.This
isusefulifyouarehavingissuesaccessingtheCOMport.Thiswillalsoresetanyparametersthatwere
changedbutnotwrittenintomemory.
Note:TheremainingbuttonsareconnectedtovariousI/Olinesandarenot
usedinthiskit.Seetheproductmanualformoredetailsrelatingtothis
functionality.

Why are the Radios no longer communicating with one another?

NetworksettingsthatcancauselossofcommunicationincludeBaudRate(BD),Parity(NB),and
EncryptionEnable(EE)amongothers.Checktoseeiftheseparametersaresetappropriately.Ifyouare
unsureifyoursettingsareaffectingyourcommunication,youmightwanttotrysettingyourmodules
backtotheirdefaultsettings.Todoso,gototheModemConfigurationtabinXCTUandclickRestore.

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