Clarification questions on digi products

XBee & XBee Gateway XBee - DigiMesh
1

Hi all,

I’m starting a project and just wanted to clarify a few things.

The requirements that i do have are:

  • Require about 50 - 100 nodes
  • All nodes require internet access
  • relative position / distance between nodes is required

I’m new to the hardware scene, but what I’m thinking is this will be a arduino project, so I will need:

As for the node module, if i go for a DigiMesh project, I will require a Digi XBee® DigiMesh® 2.4, but what is the difference between the PRO / non Pro versions:

If i go for the DigiMesh product and as all nodes require internet access, is it correct that I will need a gateway?

i.e. https://www.digi.com/products/xbee-rf-solutions/gateways/xbee-gateway

  • Since the DigiMesh protocol forms a network mesh, all nodes will be able to access this gateway, correct?

Also, for the relative position / distance between nodes requirement, the XCTU application documentation says under “View your radio network -> Network working mode”:

  • Each node is connected to its neighbors with solid lines (active connections) or dotted lines (undiscovered connections), with arrows indicating the direction of communication. Selected nodes are blue, and connections are black. Nodes discovered in previous scans that have not been found in the current scan are delineated via lighter-colored lines; they will “turn on” as they are discovered.
  • The quality of the connection between two nodes is displayed next to the line that connects them.

So, to clarify:

  • I can get the signal direction?
  • I can get the signal quality / strength?
  • Can i get these details via the API, on the modules themselves?

Thanks.

2

The difference between a PRO and non PRO module is the total number of channels supported and the maximum output power the module can provide. That’s it.

No, you can’t get signal direction. The radio does not have that ability.

Yes, you can get signal quality or strength for the last hop only.

You can get that data either from the API or local AT command.

3

Hi and thanks for those answers.

Although, I just wanted to clarify that the below snippet from the documentation says:

Each node is connected to its neighbors with solid lines (active connections) or dotted lines (undiscovered connections), with arrows indicating the direction of communication. Selected nodes are blue, and connections are black. Nodes discovered in previous scans that have not been found in the current scan are delineated via lighter-colored lines; they will “turn on” as they are discovered.

I’m just wondering about the statement :

"with arrows indicating the direction of communication. "

How does the XCTU application calculate this?

I ask this as I would like to calculate this relative position between each node.

Or, If this documentation is incorrect, do have you any other suggestions / products that could help?

Or, will I have to investigate looking into triangulation?

Thanks again.

4

What is the link and page numbers for the document you are referring to?

5

goto the following link:

https://www.digi.com/resources/documentation/digidocs/90001458-13/default.htm#reference/r_network_working_mode.htm%3FTocPath%3DView%2520your%2520radio%2520network|_____1

and search for: “with arrows indicating the direction of communication”

Cheers.

6

That is XCTU running a reliability test between modules. Basically a Range test between them. It has no idea where the modules are located or in relation to each other.