What is the difference between xbee and xbee pro

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Support Services Get the help you need to keep your Digi solutions running smoothly. The Major Differences in the XBee Product comparison specification Quick Facts for the non-pro variant of the three products: XBee Listed below are some of the more defining differences in the firmware: This configuration makes it easier for you to bring a new device into the market, because if the form factor is the same, the host interface is the same.

In other words, if a ZigBee mesh is appropriate for one application but you need an extended range, non-mesh protocol for another, you can use the same software to interface between the device and modem. The host interface API is another important part of Xbee. Digi also produces a proprietary mesh protocol called DigiMesh.

Unlike ZigBee, DigiMesh has only one node type. All nodes can route data and are interchangeable. Questions about the two? ZigBee Vs. ZigBee ZigBee is a wireless 2. The greater power means longer range 1 mile instead of ft so if you need the range or like to spend more money, then use the Pros, otherwise stick with the regular models.

You can mix and match these on the same network. Basically MHz can go a lot farther with a high gain antenna up to 15miles for the Pro modules and a high gain antenna. Also the lower the frequency the greater penetration the signal has. You can NOT mix and match these on the same network. XBee 3 Module - U. FL Antenna. XBee 3 Pro Module - U. XBee 1mW U. FL Connection - Series 1. XBee 2mW U. FL Connection - Series 2 retired. XBee Pro 50mW U. XBee Pro 60mW U. XBee Pro U. FL Connection retired.

XBee Pro Wire Antenna retired. FL retired. Breakout Board for XBee Module. XBee Shield. XBee Explorer Regulated. XBee Explorer Dongle. LilyPad XBee. Range: The range of an XBee device is affected by several factors including the transmit power of the device, the type of antenna connected and the surrounding obstacles or conditions. The range listed here reflects the maximum range of the device in ideal conditions and in open air, line-of-sight.

Expect this distance to be smaller if you're trying to communicate indoors or through walls, trees or other barriers. Power Consumption: This represents the amount of power that the device will typically consume during transmission, your system should be capable of sourcing at least this much current and then some to avoid erratic behavior or brown-out conditions.

Frequency: The operating frequency of the device will affect its range and penetrative force as well as its tendency for interference. Lower frequencies require larger antennas to be effective but they also have greater penetrating power when it comes to transmitting through walls and barriers. Protocol: This is the language that the device "speaks" when transmitting and receiving data. XBee modules are designed to communicate using a specific protocol, although certain devices can be made to use a different protocol by changing the firmware.

Series 1 modules are designed to use This is great for networks which contain only a transmitter and a receiver or multiple receivers.

The Series 2 modules are set up for the ZigBee Mesh protocol which is a mesh network standard, this is great if you have a lot of 'nodes' that need to all talk to each other. Series 1 modules aren't capable of mesh networking and can't communicate with other devices running the ZigBee Mesh firmware, however, Series 2 modules are backwards compatible and can be firmware configured for point-to-point networking.

While this is closely tied to range, it isn't the only factor. This number is important to keep in mind when selecting an antenna for a device to ensure that you comply with your local radio communication laws. The power listed on this chart is the maximum output power and it can be adjusted in firmware in case you need to dial it back. Data Rate: The speed at which the device can communicate over the air will effect not only how much data you can push over the network at once, but also how reliably the device will communicate at long distance.

Slower transmission rates can be beneficial if your network spans a large distance, a fact exploited by the XSC line of devices. The speeds listed here are maximums and can be adjusted in firmware for several of these devices. Antenna: The type of antenna, if any, that the module comes equipped with. There are several things to keep in mind when it comes to selecting the proper antenna or antenna connector for your project. A chip antenna is small and easy to enclose, but it doesn't give the best gain.

A wire antenna is simple and effective but it's also not as small as the chip antenna and can be more difficult to incorporate into your design; For that reason, most new XBee modules feature a trace antenna instead. Trace or PCB antennas are made from conductive traces on the module itself and have performance comparable to wire antennas while taking up less space. If you're building your wireless device into an enclosure it can be beneficial to attach an external antenna, this can be achieved either by U.

FL is the type of connector often found on the wireless adapters in laptop computers and other small devices, routers and larger devices often have RPSMA connectors. Remember that whenever you add an external antenna to a device you change the gain of the transmitter, so be sure you stay in compliance with your local radio communication regulations.

Need some inspiration for your next project? Check out some of these related tutorials with the XBee tag.