I would be very grateful if somebody can put some light on the following question,
I have a ZigBee network composed by several XBee Pro S2 modules with the role of end-devices (XBP24-ZB with firmware 29A7 ) or routers (XBP24-ZB, firmware 23A7) . The coordinator of the network is a XBee s2 module (XB24-ZB with 21A7 Firmware) and it is plugged on a Gateway to the PC. The network works and I can receive frames on the computer correctly. I use the API mode, not the AT.
When I analyze on the air ZigBee frames by means of a sniffer, I can see that the coordinator transmits a superframe with BO=SO=15. From my understanding, and assuming these values, it seems that the coordinator does not use the superframe to synchronize the network periodically, etc. It just transmits a beacon when requested.
Question: Is there any way to program the XBeeZB devices to work as a Beacon slotted enabled mode using the superframe to synchronize the transmissions? How can I change the BO, SO, GTS fields, etc, of the superframe? Using the XCT-U Tool, these fields do not appear anywhere.
The XBee Zigbee products do not support Beaconing networks. They only support Non Beaconing networks. You need to look at the Digi Mesh products for Beaconing networks.
Many thanks for your prompt answer. I suspected that the answer was this, but could not find any information about the subject, mentioning this fact. Again, thanks for your response.
In theory, Coordinators broadcast beacons, if that if that is turned of they use CSMA/CA. Not sure about the other firmware versions, but 802.10.4 firmware should definitely allow for it. Set the coordinator, and the routers on active scan, this will listen out for a beacon (In theory)
Also Mesh networks do NOT use beaconing, it would be pointless, they would use CSMA/CA as there is no coordinator. Xbee does support both, as its based on 802.15.4, both are handled by the MAC sublayer, which is no part of the Zigbee stack.
In theory, Coordinators broadcast beacons, if that is turned off they use CSMA/CA. Not sure about the other firmware versions, but 802.10.4 firmware should allow for it. If you put the routers on active scan they should receive the beacon.
Also Mesh networks do NOT use beaconing, it would be pointless, they would use CSMA/CA Xbee does support both, as its based on 802.15.4, both are handled by the MAC sublayer, which is not part of the Zigbee stack.