XBee programing problem

XBee & XBee Gateway XBee - Zigbee
1

My company recently bougth several Zigbee modules XBP24-Z7WIT-004.

Now we are trying to program them and we are having some problems:

To program them we are using a XBIB-U-DEV REV. 3 board.

The procedure is:
(with the XBIB connected to a windows 7 machine running in windows xp mode by the USB cable)

Take a brand new one form the plastic case
connect the xBee modules to XBIB
open X-CTU
try to read
load the firmware
write with the Always Update Firmware
close X-CTU
remove the xBee module

But the problem is that in half of the xBee modules we cannot read them.
The X-CTU pops up the Action Required message and we press reset (On the XBIB) but nothing changes.
There for if we cannot read the device we cannot write to it.

What is happening? Is there any solution for the ones that cannot be programmed?

2

Don’t use XP mode. You are probably suffering sutle timing issues on the USB port.

I know Digi claims XCTU isn’t Win7 compatible, but I’d guess that is just because it hasn’t rewritten XCTU to make use of the new 64-bit Windows APIs, thus cannot be ‘certified’ for Win7.

I use XCTU v 5.2.7.5 on both Win7 32-bit and 64-bit. Once in a while I need to stop and restart it, but otherwise it works fine.

Remember, in order to download new firmware via the ‘WEB’ or “FILE” button within XCTU, you will need to start it in Admin mode, otherwise it will look as if the load works, but XCTU won’t be able to save the new file in your Program Files directory. So the updates won’t be there.

3

I alredy tryed with a native xp machine and it also did not work.

HOw can I reset the xBee module to a state were I can write to it, using the XBIB -U-DEV REV.3?

4

This should allow you to reflash the Xbee to a known default:
http://www.digi.com/wiki/developer/index.php/Bootloader_to_force_XBee_reflash

Be aware that XCTU only tries so hard to detect an Xbee if you are not using 9600 baud. So the more correct details (baud rate, API or not, etc) you preset within XCTU greatly improves your probability of seeing the Xbee.

5

The Xbess are brand new never been used.

I have tried that link and it did not work.
Is There anything else I can do?

6

Which firmware are you trying to load?

7

If this is the programmable, you’ll need to go in bypass mode.

8

The USB board can have issues when trying to reflash as the power supply and the data line are both on the same physical port. X-CTU is a 32 bit app, but it runs fine in the 32 bit mode of a 64 bit processor. I.E. Win 7. The part number you quoted is not a Programmable so you do not have a go to bypass mode. I’d try the suggestions here: http://todigi.blogspot.com/2010/05/xbee-obituaries-xbee-returns-from-grave.html if not call support and get a RMA you should not be seeing that many failures. Also always use the most recent Firmware, as typically more bugs are killed than are introduced :wink:

9

My company recently bougth several Zigbee modules XBP24-Z7WIT-004.
Now we are trying to program them and we are having some problems:
To program them we are using a XBIB-U-DEV REV. 3 board.