Serial Communication with ZigBEE modules

[Gjoraas]

Hi,

 I am currently working on setting up a wireless network by talking to these Digi Internation Zigbee RF modules that communicate via the UART (com port).  I am able to write data to one of the devices and then have that module transmit that data to the other module successfully through the LabVIEW VISA functions, but what I am not able to do is have the receiving module then read the data in its DO buffer and sent it to the computer.  

I have a serial port monitor to look at what is happening and it looks like it is talking to the com port right by sending IRP_MJ_READ and then sending a IOCTL_SERIAL_WAIT_ON_MASK. The CTS, however, doesn't seem to get deasserted successfully for the device to read out the data, and I am having trouble to make LabVIEW do it with the VISA read function.  

 It seems like my port is configured correctly?

Right now, when I use the VISA read function in LabVIEW, it gives a timeout error waiting for the device which I don't understand.  

Any help would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks. 

[Gjoraas]

Here is the VI that I am working with to read from the Zigbee module.  During the VISA read function, it is giving me the "timeout expired before operation completed" error. 

[Gjoraas]

To clarify my connection with the Zigbee module, it actually plugs in to the USB port and then I configure it as a virtual com port through the drivers that Digi Zigbee offers.  That is why I said, in my first post, that it should communicate via the UART. 

I am not sure, however, if this setup as a virtual com port explains the problems that I am having when reading from the device.

[JÞB]

Gjoraas,

The Digi Xbee pro is a new API so few of us have any experience with the device.  Coincidentally, mine arrived last week but I haven't started working with it yet so you are a step ahead of me.  There's nothing wrong with being on the (b)leeding edge but it can get frustrating. 

I understand your system is Machine, USB, USB-RS-232, Xbee.  This leaves a lot of room for errors to show up.  From my past experiences the USB-RS232 Plug-n-Play driver is the most likely trouble spot.  Can you try moving to a native com port?  this would give you some good info on whether the root problem is in the Xbee API or related to a bad serial link.

If that doesn't help I have a few more tricks up my sleeve including the telephone number to the Digi experts.

Message Edited by Jeff Bohrer on 06-12-2009 09:24 AM

[Gjoraas]

I am now in the process of ordering the RS232 XBee PR0 802.15.4 Adapters so I can connect them to the com ports directly to see if that will work.  

I was just wondering, though, why, with the modules plugging into the USB right now, that I am able to write to the devices and transmit that information to the other device with VISA WRITE but I can't read from the device with VISA READ without having a timeout error?

 Shouldn't both VISA functions not work at the same time?

[JÞB]

---

Gjoraas wrote:

I am now in the process of ordering the RS232 XBee PR0 802.15.4 Adapters so I can connect them to the com ports directly to see if that will work.  

I was just wondering, though, why, with the modules plugging into the USB right now, that I am able to write to the devices and transmit that information to the other device with VISA WRITE but I can't read from the device with VISA READ without having a timeout error?

 Shouldn't both VISA functions not work at the same time?

---

Not all adapers, unlike men (ref. Decaration of Independance signed July 4, 1776) are created equal.  The XXXpro has been developed with the understanding that RTS and CTS will be properly asserted IAW RS-232.

by the way (and right on point) did you know the the "RS" in "RS-232" is an acronym for "Recommended Standard"?   Plug and Pray  (AKA plug and play) USB to RS-232 drivers are not required to deal with the physical handshaking lines, CTS and RTS.  That knowledge is what is of value to the forum and will make this post benificial to you, myself, and the other members.

Good Luck on the bleeding edge! 

[Sundar...]

HI Jeff,

I have got a TI CC2530 zigbee eval kit.

Was wondering if I could get some assistance on the 

Zigbee communication protocol  .

I tried Mr.Google but all in vain.

was looking at cluster formation for verfication of profiles on 

Zigbee stack.

Sundar.

[JÞB]

---

SUNDAR.N wrote:

HI Jeff,

I have got a TI CC2530 zigbee eval kit.

Was wondering if I could get some assistance on the 

Zigbee communication protocol  .

I tried Mr.Google but all in vain.

was looking at cluster formation for verfication of profiles on Zigbee stack.

Sundar.

---

I'm afraid I can't help you much.  Profile verification is performed IAW standards written by the ZigBee Alliance.  There are several "standards" for certification for targeted applications (e.g. "smart Energy" or "Home Automation")  not to mention the Phy. MAC and Network layer protocol testing required for certification as a ZigBee device.  A brief discription of these layers as they relate to Zigbee is available in this White Paper.  Good Luck.

[cawanEEE]

Hi,

I'm using the ProBee ZS10 modules by Sena to establish serial communication between these two modules.

I've managed to establish the serial communication between these two modules, using AT command on TeraTerm as platform but not when I used LabVIEW, it did not work.
Can LabVIEW be implemented on these modules?

Thanks. Looking forward for your reply.

p/s: i used the Write and Read through serial code to communicate between those modules. got it from here. http://zone.ni.com/devzone/cda/epd/p/id/2669

[_Tim]

Do you have information about the standards the device is using? You'll most likely need this if you're going to attempt to implement the device in LabVIEW.