XBee/XBee Pro Wireless Communicate with Microcontroller

1.0

Introduction

The XBee and XBee Pro radio is made by Digi (formerly Maxstream) which is shipped with
firmware implementing the IEEE 802.15.4 protocol. These modules use the IEEE 802.15.4
networking protocol for fast point-to-multipoint or peer-to-peer networking. However, the
most different part between XBee and XBee Pro is they have different cover distance range
for communicate with own module. XBee can be covers around 30m at indoor and 100m at
outdoor. Inversely, XBee Pro can cover higher distance range than XBee which is 100m at
indoor and 1500m at outdoor. Both devices that has a UART interface can connect directly
from microcontroller to pins of RF Module (XBee/XBee Pro). Using UART interface, we can
use this wireless devices to communicate between microcontroller to microcontroller (two
PICs) or between PC to microcontroller. Here, we will discuss how to use two XBee/XBee
Pros to interface with microcontroller and how to send command for configuration
XBee/XBee Pro Module.
2.0

Xbee/XBeePro hardware interface with microcontroller

Bear in mind, XBee is designed for 3.3V system, those use system will require extra work
and component before XBee module could be embedded in the system. So that, we
used SKXBEE (XBee Pro Starter Kit) as our example in this article. SKXBee can be used to
interface for 5V microcontroller board (SK40C+PIC16F877A). Any microcontroller with UART
peripheral can be used to interface with SKXBee. In this case, we have to connected XB_RX
pin to PIC Transmitter pin TxD (RC6) and XB_TX pin to PIC Receiver pin RxD (RC7). However,
the RESET button of SKXBee is optional case depend of user who would like the
microcontroller to reset SKXBee during run time.

The below figure has been shown as example hardware connection of SKXBee with
SK40C+16F877A:

The configuration of UART is complete, SKXBee is ready for embedded wireless

development. Trasmitting and receiving data require software or firmware development on
particular microcontroller. Before develop software programming, we should know how to
setting XBee Module Source address and Destination address, it is very important for us to
transfer data by transparently from one XBee module (Source) to another XBee module
(Destination).Two ways to setting ID address which is using X-CTU software or using
programming code to send specified command for XBee ID address setting. We will discuss
both ways in this article. In fact, user only need select one of both ways to do it.
3.0

Using X-CTU software to setting Source address or Destination address.

X-CTU which is a computer based software to communicate with Xbee, to change

configuration or Transmit/Receive data. Double click the setup_x-ctu.exe file to install this
software.

NOTE: Using X-CTU for address setting, SKXBee is no necessary connect to microcontroller
before the setting process is done.

Launch the X-CTU Software and connect the USB cable from SKXBee to computer USB port
(without connect to microcontroller). Select PC Setting tab> select serial COM Port
>click TEST/QUERY:

The box will show as figure below, click OK for close this box:

Basically, Xbee/XBee Pro has two command mode options which is AT Command Mode and
API Command Mode. Here, we only use AT Command Mode. The figure below AT Command
table is provided some commonly used for setting address:

All parameter are in Hexadecimal format. For more detail of Xbee/XBee Pro command,
please refer to User Manual of XBee/XBee-Pro OEM RF Module.To send AT command and
parameter, use syntax shown below:

NOTE: The failure to enter AT Command Mode is most commonly due to baud rate unmatch. Ensure the Baud setting on the PC Settings tab matches the interface data rate
of the Xbee Module. By default, the baud rate should be 9600bps.
The below example shown how to check the previous Destination ID address of Xbee
module and how to change a new Destination ID address using WRITE command. To store
the new value to non-volite (long term) memory, ATWR or atwr should be used in AT
Command Mode.

For modified parameter values to persist in the modules registry after a reset, changes
must be saved to non-volatile memory using the WR (Write) command. Otherwise,
parameters will be restored to previously saved values after reset. When a command is send
to a module, the module will parse and execute the command.
Upon successful execution of a command, the module return an OK message. If execution
of a command results in an error, module will return ERROR message. For setting two
SKXbee Source address and Destination address for communicate each other, the command
sending should same (parameter 1111 and 2222 can be change) as below figure:

Now, we can write the coding to send command for setting SKXBee Source address and
Destination address. However, we have to refer the AT Command Mode table. The main
reason is the command code exactly same with the code we have using X-CTU software for
setting the parameter.
4.0

Using programming source code to setting Source address or Destination address.

If we want to use coding to send the command to SKXBee, we have to ensure the hardware
connection between SKXBee to microcontroller is complete. It can refer back to the previous
sub topic on 2.0 Xbee/XBee Pro hardware interface with microcontroller.
Due to this case, we are using SK40C and 40 pins PIC16877A to interface with SKXBee. UART
data flow will be use for them to communicate each other. So that, we will initialize the
UART configuration in programming code. This figure below has been shown as an example
code:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

void uart_init(void)
{
SPBRG=129; //set baud rate as 9600 baud
BRGH=1; //baud rate high speed option
TXEN=1; //enable transmission
TX9 =0; //8-bit transmission
RX9 =0; //8-bit reception
CREN=1; //enable reception
SPEN=1; //enable serial port
}

UART Transmit and Receive coding configuration:

1
2
3
4
5

unsigned char uart_rec(void) //receive uart value

{
unsigned int rec_data;
while(RCIF==0); //wait for data
rec_data = RCREG;

6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18

return rec_data; //return the data received

}
void uart_send(unsigned char data)
{
while(TXIF==0); //only send the new data after
TXREG=data; //the previous data finish sent
}
void uart_str(const char *s)
{
while(*s)uart_send(*s++); // UART sending string
}

Now, we can write the coding to send command for setting SKXBee Source address and
Destination address. However, we have to refer the AT Command Mode table. The main
reason is the command code exactly same with the code we have using X-CTU software for
setting the parameter.
For initialize the Source address and Destination address to SKXBee1 module, we can write
the coding in void main() code as:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25

void xbee_init(void)
{
uart_str("+++");//send command to enter XBee Pro command mode
delay_ms(200);// waiting for finish sending and XBee respond
uart_str("atmy1111");//send command to setting Source address
uart_send(0xD);// 0XD is hexa code of "Enter"key
delay_ms(200);
uart_str("atwr");// send "WR" (write)command to SKXBee
uart_send(0xD);//0XD is hexa code of "Enter" key
delay_ms(200);
uart_str("atdl2222");// send command to setting Destination address
uart_send(0xD);//0XD is hexa code of "Enter" key
delay_ms(200);
uart_str("atwr");//send "WR" (write)command to SKXBee
uart_send(0xD);//0XD is hexa code of "Enter" key
delay_ms(200);
uart_str("atcn");// send command for Exit AT Command Mode
uart_send(0xD);//0XD is hexa code of "Enter" key
delay_ms(200);
}

For initialize the Source address and Destination address to SKXBee2 module, we can write
the coding in another microcontroller PIC source code void main() as:
void xbee_init(void)
{
uart_str("+++");//send command to enter XBee Pro command mode
delay_ms(200);// waiting for finish sending and XBee respond
uart_str("atmy2222");//send command to setting Source address
uart_send(0xD);// 0XD is hexa code of "Enter" key
delay_ms(200);
uart_str("atwr");// send "WR" (write)command to SKXBee

uart_send(0xD);//0XD is hexa code of "Enter" key

delay_ms(200);
uart_str("atdl1111");// send command to setting Destination address
uart_send(0xD);//0XD is hexa code of "Enter" key
delay_ms(200);
uart_str("atwr");//send "WR" (write)command to SKXBee
uart_send(0xD);//0XD is hexa code of "Enter" key
delay_ms(200);</span>
uart_str("atcn");// send command for Exit AT Command Mode
uart_send(0xD);//0XD is hexa code of "Enter" key
delay_ms(200);</span>
}

Using UIC00B programmer to loading source code into PIC16F877A SK40C:

When we have finished load the coding into PIC, we should press RESET button to ensure
the address will store in Xbee/XBee Pro module. Otherwise, the Xbee/XBee Pro will store
with previously address value.
NOTE: Please remember the Source Address and Destination address only need one time
setting process for ID address, the Xbee/XBee Pro module will store the address in module.
User no need to setting it every time when using Xbee/XBee module, except that user want
to change a new Source address or Destination address to these RF module.
7.0 Conclusion:
XBee/XBee Pro is a user friendly RF module for wireless communication between two PICs
or between a PIC and a computer. When we know how to use it with wisely, we can use this
wireless device to control a robot or equipment, data collection, security system and etc. By
the way, we have to know the command protocol for this RF module, then we can used and
handle it easily with microcontroller or computer.