Configuring Xbees

Xbees are possibly the coolest little wireless units since bluetooth. These things work right out of the box, talking to one another with ease. If you haven't worked with Xbees yet, it's ok, I will be discussing them in a later instructable. For now this is meant for people that have worked with the Xbee at least a little bit. Changing settings in your Xbee is vital when working in certain environments, and with specific projects. In this Instructable we will be discussing Changing the baud rate. This is important if certain components of your project require a different baud rate than 9600. We will also go over changing channels so that you can make a completely separate communication channel.

Step 1 Welcome to XCTU

To get started we need to download a program directly from Digi, the manufacture of Xbee modules. The program is called XCTU, and can be downloaded here.

XCTU Download Site

Once you have downloaded, and installed XCTU open it up, and plug in your Xbee explorer.

For this Instructable I will be working with the up coming Sparkfun release, the Xbee dongle.

Comments

[mattsargent]

To un-Brick:

OK, I tried your UNBRICK technique and it worked once for me, but I did my mistake again and I could not get it back. I looked for a good long time and found the following. It even worked with my non-Digi usb board from Parallax...

It uses the X-CTU program and signals the module using break on the terminal window - you have to use the wire-to-reset trick, but it works!

http://www.digi.com/wiki/developer/index.php/Bootloader_to_force_XBee_reflash

[gceselin]

Hi,
I've bought two Xbee-PRO XSC with two XBee Explorer Regulated boards and a FTDI cable from sparkfun store.
I've tried to use them many times, but they don't work.

I've tried to manage them by X-CTU, Xbee module has been connect using sparkfun XBee Explorer Regulated board and FTDI usb cable. Parameters has been set to 9600 8-N-1 FLOW:NONE, API enabled, no baud change.
The test result has been "Comunication with modem..OK Modem type = Name unknown (ID = 42949672481228316) Modem firmware version= "
I've tried to disconnect the module or change it and the result has been always the same!
I've tried to update firmware by following your instruction, but X-CTU returned always the same sentence "Getting modem type....OK
Programming modem...Lost communication with modem
Write Parameters...Failed".
If I disable the API function and update, the Action Required windows appeared. I followed the instruction by resetting the module (pin5+ground) and the following sentence appeared: "Getting modem type....OK
Programming modem...Detected baud rate difference.
Make sure PC and modem baud rate is set correctly
Lost communication with modem
Write Parameters...Failed".
I've tried also by using "GUI serial Xbee3" for MAC OS, but neither it worked.
I've tried all the solution I found in internet, but they did not work. What I have to do?
Have I to use a XBee Explorer USB board instead of XBee Explorer Regulated board? Is it a problem of Vcc?
Thanks, Giuseppe.

[kolment2003]

Fixing Bricked Xbee 2.5 while using a usb explorer 1- solder some headers into the usb explorer to be able to attach on a breadboard 2- short out GND and RST with a switch ( just like the one for reset on arduino) 3- when asked to reset the xbee , short out GND and RST with the switch PS: i was never able to properly reset by just shorting the pins with a wire, but with a breadboard n a switch it works like a charm!!!!!!!

[thebadfrank]

Hi, Thanks so much for the input! That is valuable information. I will make some modifications to the Instructable to reflect this. Credit given of course. ;) Thanks for reading, and again thanks for the input.

[wmoore6924]

I had a bricked XBee module. I "bricked" it the first day that I received it!! The same day that I started working with XBee's!!! This tutorial helped me fix my problem!!!! Thank you sooooo much. It's wonderful to have "people in the know" like your self ,that will try to help beginners!!! Thanks again!!!

[YAWN]

I dun have the USB explorer board! can I use the rs232 module to unbrick my xbee??!!??

[saman.rohani]

hi, I can sent data but still can't receive it (Minimum connections: VCC, GND, DOUT & DIN with micro contololer) my xbee doesn't receive, led of dout doesn't any act.

[vanick0818]

have you tried using the dongle with an xbee pro? the way i understood your tutorial, u simply used the dongle to program the xbee right?

[mman1506]

thanks for the help i couldnt get either of the xbee to connect

[sboy9869]

I tried everything but still can't "communicate with modem". I have a pair of Xbee 24s and I've tried resetting, connecting piggyback to an arduino to give me the reset ability. I changed usb cables and swapped between the explorer module and the prototyping unit. Nothing seems to work.
It also comes up with a message saying the baud rate is different between modem and pc and then looses connection to the modem. I've triple checked the baude rates and retried but no luck.
Next?????

Stephen