Comments on: XBee Solenoid Controller http://www.eightlines.com/blog/2008/07/xbee-solenoid-controller/ Experiments in Physical Computing Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:40:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Brent http://www.eightlines.com/blog/2008/07/xbee-solenoid-controller/comment-page-1/#comment-27 Brent Tue, 16 Sep 2008 01:22:00 +0000 http://www.eightlines.com/blog/?p=17#comment-27 Hi Lawrence, The minimum you can get away with on an XBee project is 2 XBee's ($30 each -- non-pro version), and 1 USB-TTL converter ($10). I also have an XBee-breakout board adapter ($6) that allows me to quickly swap out the XBee's when I need to program them. Add in a 3.3V regulator and power supply for the remote XBee. - http://arduino.cc/en/Main/MiniUSB - http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=8276 This wasn't available when I got going, but it looks promising: - http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=8687 An Arduino could substitute for the USB-TTL converted but you have to remove the ATMega168 IC to enable direct access to the TX/RX pins. You can also use the Wire.h library through Processing to bypass the IC removal, but I ended never trying it. The XBee has 8 digital I/O pins on board, and a couple PWMs (I don't recall off the top of my head exactly how many), the API mode allows you to configure them according to your needs. Hi Lawrence,

The minimum you can get away with on an XBee project is 2 XBee’s ($30 each — non-pro version), and 1 USB-TTL converter ($10). I also have an XBee-breakout board adapter ($6) that allows me to quickly swap out the XBee’s when I need to program them. Add in a 3.3V regulator and power supply for the remote XBee.

- http://arduino.cc/en/Main/MiniUSB
- http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=8276

This wasn’t available when I got going, but it looks promising:
- http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=8687

An Arduino could substitute for the USB-TTL converted but you have to remove the ATMega168 IC to enable direct access to the TX/RX pins. You can also use the Wire.h library through Processing to bypass the IC removal, but I ended never trying it.

The XBee has 8 digital I/O pins on board, and a couple PWMs (I don’t recall off the top of my head exactly how many), the API mode allows you to configure them according to your needs.

]]> By: Lawrence http://www.eightlines.com/blog/2008/07/xbee-solenoid-controller/comment-page-1/#comment-26 Lawrence Mon, 15 Sep 2008 23:52:41 +0000 http://www.eightlines.com/blog/?p=17#comment-26 Hey Brent, I have seen what you did here with the XBee Modules and am impressed with your work. I myself am trying to use XBee to establish a two-way communcation system between an RF-scanner controlled by a microcontroller and the computer. I still have no idea which components I need to get the wireless portion working. Which parts do you recommend? We have a budget (it's a course project so we're looking at under 100 bucks) Thanks! Lawrence Hey Brent, I have seen what you did here with the XBee Modules and am impressed with your work. I myself am trying to use XBee to establish a two-way communcation system between an RF-scanner controlled by a microcontroller and the computer. I still have no idea which components I need to get the wireless portion working. Which parts do you recommend? We have a budget (it’s a course project so we’re looking at under 100 bucks)

Thanks! Lawrence

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