Exciting XBees Series 2 - July 24th, 2011

Product Description

Description: Veteran wireless teachers including the author of Building Wireless Sensor Networks will lead you through the basics of radio mesh networking, using powerful XBee Series 2 ZB radios. The class begins with an introduction to all the required components, serial terminals, AT commands and the basics of mesh networking. The first project will be a Basic Chat session that demonstrates how to configure and connect coordinator and router ZigBee radios together. We'll follow that with a simple sensor project, using the embedded I/O features of the XBee radio create a remote Arduino sensor. Finally we'll develop a full Processing-based wireless simple sensor network using ZigBee radio connections to collect temperature data from numerous remotely-placed sensors.

This class is one of a two part series on building wireless sensor networks, if you're interested in learning about creating point-to-point networks using Series 1 XBee radios, check out the first class in the series: Exciting XBees Series 1

Concepts covered in this class: During this class we will talk about radio protocols, PAN IDs, API mode, I/O features, power management, hexadecimals, ZigBee network topologies and data while having plenty of fun.

Materials Included in this class:

• 
  2 XBee Series 2ZB radios


• 
  XBee USB Serial adapter


• 
  6 ft. USB Mini-B Cable


• 
  2 Clear, Self-Adhesive Breadboards


• 
  Bag of LEDs


• 
  2 AA batteries/battery holder with cover and switch


• 
  Mini Photocell


• 
  Temperature Sensor


• 
  2 XBee Module Breakout Boards

Prerequisites: Prior experience with basic electronics and physical computing is helpful but adventurous beginners are welcome.

Note: Please install the Arduino software on your computer before the class. Click here for instructions on installing the Arduino software.

Also, please install CoolTerm on your computer before the class. Click here for CoolTerm download. If you are a windows user then you will also need to install X-CTU. Click here for X-CTU download.

Finally you will also need the FTDI chip driver for use with our XBee Explorer. Click here for FTDI chip driver download.

What to bring: Students are asked to provide their own laptop and Arduino board and should bring both along with them. Arduino boards can be purchased separately before the class if needed.

Date: Sunday, July 24th 2011

Time: 1 pm - 6 pm (Please eat lunch before hand)

Location: SparkFun

Instructors: Rob Faludi, Tim, Ben & Lindsay