Digi XBee DigiMesh User manual

XBee DigiMesh 2.4
Radio Frequency (RF) Modules
Getting Started Guide

Revision history—90001110-88
Revision Date Description
D October
2015
Updated content to reflect new version of XCTU software, and added several
new topics.
E February
2016
Updated screenshots and UI terminology to reflect the changes in XCTU v.
6.3.
F February
2016
Changed title of first topic and changed link type for cross-references so that
they don't open in new windows.
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XBee DigiMesh 2.4 Getting Started Guide 2

Contents
XBee/XBee PRO DigiMesh 2.4 Getting Started Guide
DigiMesh networks 5
Synchronous sleeping network 5
Mesh networking 6
Do more with your XBee devices
Update the firmware of your XBee modules 8
Configure remote XBee modules 8
Set up and perform a range test 9
Configure the XBee modules for a range test 9
Perform a range test 10
Set up basic encryption for your XBee network 13
Troubleshooting
Cannot install device driver 16
Potential cause 16
Resolution 16
Use LEDs to identify XBee modules 16
Resolution 16
No remote devices to select for a range test 16
Check cables 16
Check that the XBee module is fully seated in the XBee development board 16
Check the XBee module orientation 17
Check that the XBee modules are in the same network 17
Restore default settings 17
Port in use 17
Potential cause 17
Resolution 17
XCTU can't discover devices 17
Check the configuration of your USB serial converter 17
Check cables 18
Check that the XBee module is fully seated in the XBee development board 18
Check the XBee module orientation 18
Check driver installation 18
Check if the modules are sleeping 18
XCTUcannot discover remote devices 18
Potential cause 18
Resolution 19
XBee DigiMesh 2.4 Getting Started Guide 3

XBee DigiMesh 2.4 Getting Started Guide 4
XCTUcannot discover remote devices for a range test 19
Potential cause 19
Resolution 19
XCTU installation error 19
Potential cause 19
Resolution 19

XBee/XBee PRO DigiMesh 2.4 Getting Started Guide
The XBee/XBee PRO DigiMesh 2.4 modules support low-cost, low-power, peer-to-peer or wireless
mesh networks. The XBee modules provide reliable delivery of data between remote devices.
This guide shows you how to set up an XBee mesh network using the DigiMesh protocol, send data
between your XBee modules, and adjust your XBee module settings.
DigiMesh networks
DigiMesh is a proprietary networking topology for use in wireless end-point connectivity solutions. It
supports advanced networking features including sleeping routers and dense mesh networks.
DigiMesh supports multiple network topologies such as point-to-point, point-to-multipoint, and mesh
networks. With support for sleeping routers, DigiMesh is ideal for power-sensitive applications that
rely upon batteries or power-harvesting technology.
DigiMesh contains the following features:
nSelf-healing: Any node may enter or leave the network at any time without causing the
network as a whole to fail.
nPeer-to-peer architecture: No hierarchy and no parent-child relationships are needed.
nEasy to use: Mesh networking is simplified because it does not require hierarchy or parent-child
relationships.
nQuiet: Routing overhead is reduced by using a reactive protocol similar to Ad-hoc On Demand
Distance Vector routing (AODV).
nRoute discovery: Routes are discovered and created only when needed, eliminating the need to
maintain a network map.
nSelective acknowledgments: Only the destination node will reply to route requests.
nReliable: Acknowledgments confirm successful delivery of data.
nSleep modes: Supports low-power sleep modes with synchronized wake up as well as variable
sleep and wake times.
Synchronous sleeping network
One advantage of DigiMesh is that it allows all nodes in the network to both route data and enter low-
power states. The synchronous sleep feature makes it possible for all nodes in the network to
XBee DigiMesh 2.4 Getting Started Guide 5

XBee/XBee PRO DigiMesh 2.4 Getting Started Guide Mesh networking
XBee DigiMesh 2.4 Getting Started Guide 6
synchronize their sleep and wake times. This allows some or all XBee modules in the network to be
battery powered.
All modules go to sleep at the same time. This forms a cyclic sleeping network where we can define
two different device types: sleeping router and sleep coordinator.
For more information on the synchronous sleep feature, see Low power and battery life.
Mesh networking
A mesh network is a topology in which each node in the network is connected to other nodes around
it. Each node cooperates in the transmission of information. Mesh networking provides three
important benefits:
nRouting. With this technique, the message is propagated along a path by hopping from node to
node until it reaches its final destination.
nAd-hoc network creation. This is an automated process that creates an entire network of
nodes on the fly, without any human intervention.
nSelf-healing. This process automatically figures out if one or more nodes on the network is
missing and reconfigures the network to repair any broken routes.
With mesh networking, the distance between two nodes does not matter as long as there are enough
nodes in between to pass the message along. When one node wants to communicate with another,
the network automatically calculates the best path.
A mesh network is also reliable and offers redundancy. If a node can no longer operate, for example
because it has been removed from the network or because a barrier blocks its ability to communicate,
the rest of the nodes can still communicate with each other, either directly or through intermediate
nodes.
Note Mesh networks use more bandwidth for administration and therefore have less available for
payloads. They can also be more complex to configure and debug in some cases.

Do more with your XBee devices
Update the firmware of your XBee modules 8
Configure remote XBee modules 8
Set up and perform a range test 9
Set up basic encryption for your XBee network 13
XBee DigiMesh 2.4 Getting Started Guide 7

Do more with your XBee devices Update the firmware of your XBee modules
XBee DigiMesh 2.4 Getting Started Guide 8
Update the firmware of your XBee modules
Radio firmware is the program code stored in the device's persistent memory that provides the
control program for the device. Use XCTU to update the firmware.
1. Click the Configuration working modes button .
2. Add local and remote XBee modules to your computer. See Add XBee modules to XCTU and
Configure remote XBee modules.
3. Select a local or remote XBee module from the Radio Modules list.
4. Click the Update firmware button .
The Update firmware dialog displays the available and compatible firmware for the selected
XBee module.
5. Select the product family of the XBee module, the function set, and the latest firmware version.
6. Click Update. A dialog displays update progress.
Configure remote XBee modules
You can communicate with remote devices over the air through a corresponding local device.
Configure the local device in API mode because remote commands work only in API mode. Configure
remote radio modules in either API or transparent mode.
These instructions show you how to configure the LT (Associate LED blink times) parameter on a
remote module.
1. Add two XBee modules to XCTU. See Add XBee modules to XCTU.
2. Configure the first XBee module in APImode and name it XBEE_A. See Configure an XBee
module in APImode.
3. Configure the second XBee module in either API or transparent mode, and name it XBEE_B.
See Configure the first two XBee modules in transparent mode.
4. Disconnect XBEE_B from your computer and remove it from XCTU by clicking the Remove the
list of remote modules button .
5. Connect XBEE_B to a power supply (or laptop or portable battery).
Your Radio Modules area should look something like this.
6. Select XBEE_A and click the Discover radio nodes in the same network button .
7. Click Add selected devices in the Discovering remote devices dialog. The discovered remote
device appears below XBEE_A.
8. Select the remote device XBEE_B, and configure the following parameter:
LT: FF (hexidecimal representation for 2550 ms)

Do more with your XBee devices Set up and perform a range test
XBee DigiMesh 2.4 Getting Started Guide 9
9. Click the Write radio settings button .
The remote XBee module now has a different LED blink time.
10. To return to the default LED blink times, change the LT parameter back to 0 for XBEE_B.
Set up and perform a range test
This section shows you how to set up two XBee modules to perform a range test, which demonstrates
the real-world RF range and link quality between two XBee modules in the same network. Performing
a range test gives an initial indication of the expected communication performance of the kit
components. When deploying an actual network, perform multiple range tests to analyze varying
conditions in your application.
Configure the XBee modules for a range test
For XBee modules to communicate with each other, you configure them so they are in the same
network. You also set the local device to API mode to obtain all possible data of the remote XBee
module.
1. Add two XBee modules to XCTU. See Step 3: Add the XBee modules to XCTU.
2. Select the first XBee module and click the Load default firmware settings button .
3. Configure the following parameters:
ID: 2015
NI: XBEE_A
AP: API enabled [1]
4. Click the Write radio settings button .
5. Select the other XBee module and click .
6. Configure the following parameters:
NI: XBEE_B
AP: API disabled [0]
7. Click the Write radio settings button .
After you write the radio settings for each XBee module, their names appear in the Radio
Modules area. The Port indicates XBEE_A is in API mode.
8. Disconnect XBEE_B from your computer and remove it from XCTU by clicking the Remove the
list of remote modules button .
9. Connect XBEE_B to a power supply (or laptop or portable battery) and move it away from
XBEE_A to the desired location for your range test.
XBee module Indoor range (approximate) Outdoor range (approximate)

Do more with your XBee devices Set up and perform a range test
XBee DigiMesh 2.4 Getting Started Guide 10
Perform a range test
These instructions show you how to use the loopback cluster (0x12) when performing a range test.
The benefit of using this type of range test is you do not have to close the loopback jumper of the
remote module and the module can work in any operating mode.
1. In XCTU, open the Tools menu and select the Range Test option.
The Radio Range Test window opens. Your local device appears on the left side of the Device
Selection area.