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Using Xbee for wireless program uploads and debugging with picaxe

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By OddBot

June 18, 2009
OddBot's picture

Xbee_attempt_1.jpg

I have recently tried to use my Xbee modules to perform wireless downloads and debugging for Mr. Tidy but have had no luck.

The Xbee is a 3.3V device so I have translated the voltages ok. The Xbee manual states that by default the modules work transparently. BUT it also states that the idle state should be high, picaxe wants a low idle state so perhaps I just need to invert the signals. The next problem then is do I invert on the PC side as well??

I also wonder if there is some configuration that needs to be done as far as baudrate is concerned but I did not see anything in the manual.

Any ideas or suggestions?

 

AttachmentSize
manual_xb_oem-rf-modules_802.15.4_v1.xAx_.pdf1.09 MB
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By RSK1206
@ Wed, 2010-04-21 04:21

none

By glena
@ Wed, 2009-12-23 20:22
glena's picture
Yes.  Its works great!  I will be announcing a new controller board for sale soon that has this built in along with xBee and MicroSD card support.  See http://bahbots.com for details.

 -Glen
By vince086
@ Wed, 2009-12-23 21:12
vince086's picture
Thanks for the reply but I was wondering about Oddbots attempts with a Picaxe. Or did you talking bout a picaxe version as well ?   
By OddBot
@ Thu, 2009-12-24 06:30
OddBot's picture

The Picaxe requires the serial in pin to be held high by the PC when initiating a program upload until the Picaxe responds at which point normal serial communications begins. The XBEE despite it's claim of being completely transparent is not capable of this function and therefore cannot be used for wireless program uploads.

The debug function just uses normal serial protocols so this works fine with XBEE. Although it is very annoying having to plug your robot in for re-programming I found the ability to wirelessly debug was very usefull when debugging robot navigation in real time.

Since debug can slow down your robot significantly I found using the sertxd or serout commands to output specific values to the data terminal was far more efficient.

By vince086
@ Fri, 2009-12-25 18:18
vince086's picture

Thanks! 

Too bad that both functions don't work... I wont try and build one myself since it only works for debugging(would turn out to be too expensive for just that one function).  

By vince086
@ Wed, 2009-12-23 20:04
vince086's picture
So at the end did you get the download and debug working using the Xbees?
By Refugio
@ Wed, 2009-12-02 21:41
and to communicate xbee you used picaxe? you have the program?
By glena
@ Wed, 2009-12-02 22:19
glena's picture

No, not picaxe.  AVR Mega644P...

 -Glen

By Refugio
@ Wed, 2009-12-02 20:33
You have the Program for picaxe and to activate xbee transmitting and programming for picaxe to activate xbee receiving? I have not been able to do those that communicate podrias to help me?
By OddBot
@ Thu, 2009-12-24 08:03
OddBot's picture
As long as you have your XBEE configured correctly and uses suitable voltage translation circuitry as shown above then it is just a matter of using the sertxd and serrxd for debug and serial comms.
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