RFbee V1.1 - Wireless Arduino compatible node

The RFBee is a RF module providing easy and flexible wireless data transmission between devices. It is based on a AVR Atmega168 working as a fully functional Arduino connected via SPI to a TI CC1101 RF transceiver.


http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/images/rfbee1.jpg


Features

Note:

Only the Rx,Tx, VCC, GND pins are identical to the Xbee. RFbee’s will not communicate with Xbee’s, so RFbee’s need to be used on both ends of the wireless connection.

Application Ideas


Specification

Specification Value
Microprocessor Atmega168(Version < V1.2), Atmega328(Version >= 1.2)
PCB size 24.38mmx32.94mmx0.8mm
Indicators No
Power supply 3.3V
IO counts 9
ADC input 7(6 multiplexing with IO)
Program interface USB
Connectivity Socket compatible with XBee
Communication Protocol Uart(TTL)
Operating Frequency Band ISM 868MHz & 915MHz
Outline Dimension 24.38mmx32.94mmx15mm

Electrical Characteristics

Specification Min Typ Max Unit
Input voltage 3.0 3.3 3.6 VDC
Transmit Current 34.5 mA
Receive Current 18.1 mA
Idle Current 5.2 mA
Power-down Current <0.3 mA
Operating Temperature -50 125 °C

Pin definition and Rating

Pin # Pad Type Description Arduino Pin Number
3V3 1 Supply input VCC, +3.3V -
TX 2 Output Uart Tx port 1(DIO)
RX 3 Input Uart Rx port 0(DIO)
PD4 4 Input/Output ATmega168 PD4 4(DIO)
 !RESET 5 Input ATmega168 Reset port
PB1 6 Input/Output ATmega168 PB1 9(DIO)
PB0 7 Input/Output ATmega168 PB0 8(DIO)
PD7 8 Input/Output ATmega168 PD7 7(DIO)
 !DTR 9 Input Used for programming the ATmega168 -
GND 10 GND GND -
PC3 11 Input/Output ATmega168 PC3 3(Analog input)/17(DIO)
PC2 12 Input/Output ATmega168 PC2 2(Analog input)/16(DIO)
PC1 13 Input/Output ATmega168 PC1 1(Analog input)/15(DIO)
VREF 14 Input ATmega168 AREF port -
PC0 15 Input/Output ATmega168 PC0 0(Analog input)/14(DIO)
ADC7 16 Input ATmega168 ADC7 7(Analog input)
PD5 17 Input/Output ATmega168 PD5 5(DIO)
PD6 18 Input/Output ATmega168 PD6 6(DIO)
PC5 19 Input/Output ATmega168 PC5 5(Analog input)/19(DIO)
PC4 20 Input/Output ATmega168 PC4 4(Analog input)/18(DIO)

Usage

Hardware Installation

The RFBee can be connected in various ways, e.g.:

Note: the UartSBee device and the XbeeShield are sold separately.

Figure 1:USB using UartSBee (The following picture's demonstrated with older version UartSBee)

Figure 2:Seeduino via XbeeShield (Version 1)

Any device using a Uart

Example

Here is a tutorial on how to use a RFBee transceiver from www.SeeedStudio.com with a RF Explorer Spectrum Analyzer from www.rf-explorer.com.

RFBee monitored by RF Explorer

The RFBee is a nice device which accepts some simple AT ASCII command strings to do some basic configuration. An ideal tool to experiment with digital RF transmission.

This example code is in the public domain and available here and tested in Arduino IDE v0022.

Requirements

You may use a Seeeduino Stalker v02b to host the RFBee. Just plug the RFBee into the XBee slot. You also need a way to connect your Stalker to your PC to upload the sketch, I personally used a CP2102 USB bridge, you can use other USB bridges including the UartSBee recommended by Seeed.

Alternatively, you can do the same with an Arduino compatible board but will have to connect the RFBee with RX/TX of the CPU using a XBee 2mm connector, which may not be easy to get at your local shop.

Finally, you will need two jumper cables to connect Stalker port 2 to GND and port 3 and GND. We will use them as simple switches to configure the RFBee in different ways. Feel free to check the trivial sketch code to better understand how it works, and make your own changes.

Some familiarity with RFExplorer and RFBee user manual is required, otherwise some steps may not be obvious to you.

Set RFBee to work

After you upload the script in the Stalker, power off the unit completely so both ATMegas (Stalker's and RFBee's) resets at the same time and you start from a clean state.

Power the unit back, it will start transmission after Stalker led blinks 6 times.

RFExplorer will show received power and frequency. Play with antenna orientation till you get the best power response. In this tutorial we will use RFBee in 915Mhz, but equivalent results will be obtained in the 868Mhz. Take a look in the sketch code and uncomment the couple of lines coded for 868Mhz if your RF Explorer is in that band.

More details, please visit micro.arocholl.com.

Support

How to update firmware

You can update the RFbee firmware using the Arduino IDE using the procedure below. This procedure assumes the use of UartSB as this is the easiest way to connect a RFBee to a PC, see the section on Hardware installation for different ways to connect.

  1. Connect your RFBee to UartSB, move switches to XBee and 3.3v, then connect it to your computer through a USB cable.
  2. Download the source code of the RFBee firmware into your Arduino sketch folder
  3. Open the Arduino IDE and open the RFBee_vx_x project. Then select Tools->Board->Arduino Pro or Pro Mini (3.3v, 8MHz) w/ATmega168(Atmega328 when version >= V1.2). Choose the correct serial port from the Tools menu. You can now upload your RFBee firmware.
  4. Reapply the configuration changes in the RFBee if they got lost during the update.
  5. You could add or modify the firmware upon your demands, as the RFBee is able to work standalone as an Arduino.

>>RFBee firmware: http://code.google.com/p/rfbee/downloads/list


If you have other questions or other better design ideas, you can go to our forum or wish to discuss.

Version Tracker

Revision Descriptions Release
v1.0 Initial release Mar 05, 2010
v1.1 revise release Aug 27, 2010
v1.2 Change MCU to Atmega328 Oct 10, 2015

Resources

Copyright (c) 2008-2016 Seeed Development Limited (www.seeedstudio.com / www.seeed.cc)
This static html page was created from http://www.seeedstudio.com/wiki