Xbee's Refuse To Communicate

I have my ArduPilot (running ArduPilot_EasyStar_V23) setup with an Xbee Series 2 on the Adafruit adapter board, with RX going to TX on the ArduPilot, 5v going to the special 5v Pin on the ArduPilot, and Gnd to Gnd.

On the other end, I have my ArduStation (running ArduStationV12) with a congruent (< :/ ) Xbee Series 2. They do not communicate, how can i start transmitting data? My Ardustation remains with 0's and both end's ASC LED's light up, but not the RSS LED's

Thanks
-Austin

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ModeratorPermalink Reply by Chris Anderson on September 15, 2009 at 8:21pm
You need to set up both Xbees to run at the same baud rate and the same Network ID. The ArduPilot manual walks you through the necessary steps.
Permalink Reply by Austin Duff on September 18, 2009 at 3:34pm
Yes the Manual was not very specific, i tried what it said in the manual with no results. Could you give me more details? I have the X-CTU software. For example what numbers exactly should i be editing. And how are the Xbee's supposed to connect, is it automatic?

ModeratorPermalink Reply by Thomas J Coyle III on September 18, 2009 at 5:56pm
Austin,

If you really have the Series 2 Xbees then I assume that you do not have the 900 MHz Xbees that are suggested in the Ardupilot manual. Is that correct?

If you have the Series 2 modules, then they are of the "mesh" varity and are not 'point to point" modules like the 900 MHz modules are. The mesh varity modules are programmed differently than the point to point modules. One Xbee will have to be programmed as a coordinator (they usually come programmed as coordinators) and the other will have to be programmed as a router or end user. This chart will help you to see what each Xbee version is capable of: http://ladyada.net/make/xbee/modules.html

Since you have the Series 2 modules they must be 2.4 GHz modules. Is that correct? If they are, you may have problems with your RC receiver if you are not using 72 MHz.

Hope this helps.

Regards TCIII
Permalink Reply by Austin Duff on September 19, 2009 at 11:08am
Thank you so much for all this information. It's very helpful. Here are some pictures of what I have. I have 2 of the exact same. It clearly says "Series 2" on the front of the board.

I will probably end up ordering 2 900MHz modules in that case. Could you point me in the right direction for ordering exactly what i need for the ardupilot?

Thank you.
-Austin
Attachments:

ModeratorPermalink Reply by Chris Anderson on September 19, 2009 at 11:36am
Austin,

It's all in the manual and in the "everything you need" link above. We've tried to make this as clear as possible. What are we doing wrong?

ModeratorPermalink Reply by Thomas J Coyle III on September 19, 2009 at 1:57pm
@Chris,

Austin has the Xbee Series 2 which is a 2.4 GHz module and juding by his pictures it is probably a 2 mw version. Two mw is not going to get him much range. Also, as I stated above the Series 2 Xbees are designed for a mesh and not point to point operation. The instructions in the Ardupilot Manual are for point to point Xbees and do not apply to Austin's Series 2 Xbees.

@Austin,

Where did you get your Series 2 Xbees from? The Xbees that you want are here at Sparkfun: http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=9099
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=9097

Regards,
TCIII

ModeratorPermalink Reply by Chris Anderson on September 19, 2009 at 2:45pm
I was just curious as to why he chose not to get the ones we recommended.
Permalink Reply by Austin Duff on September 19, 2009 at 6:23pm
I had these Xbee's long before i bought the ArduPilot board. I was not aware of the different types that were available. I thought all Xbee modules were the same. I just bought 2 Xbee Pro 900's that were recommended on the site. 1 with the wire antenna, the other with the RPSMA and the Duck Antenna.

So Chris I apologize. I'm very new to alot of this. Again I'm 16 years old.

And thank you both for the information, it's helped alot.

ModeratorPermalink Reply by Chris Anderson on September 19, 2009 at 6:36pm
Got it ;-) My apologies for jumping to the wrong conclusion. You're an amazing 16-year-old! When I was 16 I couldn't spell Xbee, much less use one.
Permalink Reply by Austin Duff on September 19, 2009 at 6:37pm
Haha thanks i appreciate it.
Permalink Reply by Austin Duff on September 20, 2009 at 12:23pm
My Xbee's are being shipped, but in the mean time, is there any way I can transmit the data from my ArduPilot to my ArduStation via Jumper cables for testing purposes?

ModeratorPermalink Reply by Chris Anderson on September 20, 2009 at 8:44pm
Yes, I think you can. Try connecting the Tx pin on ArduPilot FTDI row with the Rx pin on the ArduStation FTDI row and make sure they share a ground.

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