SparkFun
XBee 3 Module - U.FL Antenna
After years of popularity with the XBee Series 1 and XBee Series 2, we now have the XBee Series 3 which brings the best of both worlds. XBee 3 not only handl...
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After years of popularity with the XBee Series 1 and XBee Series 2, we now have the XBee Series 3 which brings the best of both worlds. XBee 3 not only handles 802.15.4, and ZigBee, but also BLE protocols and you can now talk to the modules over UART or SPI as well. With a 200ft indoor range, or 4000ft outdoor/line-of-sight range, you can set up a mesh network to talk to or communicate with various devices around your house, work, or other area.
This module has the familiar XBee package while sporting a U.FL connector to add an Antenna. You also get a build in microcontroller so you can also configure and program the modules using MicroPython as well as Digi’s XCTU software. With a HCS08 CPU running at up to 50.33MHz, 15x digital I/O pins, and 4x 10-bit ADC pins these modules can even hold their own as a microcontroller.
Note: While these are backwards compatible in many ways with the XBee 1s and 2s, they are not completely compatible. Please see documentation for differences if you plan on adding these to an existing project.
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- ADC
- An analogue-to-digital converter reads a changing voltage and turns it into a number the microcontroller can use. It matters when connecting analogue sensors such as light, sound, or variable-resistor sensors.
- BLE
- BLE stands for Bluetooth Low Energy, a Bluetooth mode designed for low power use and broad compatibility with modern phones and computers. It connects well to battery-powered and mobile devices, including Apple hardware, though it behaves differently from Bluetooth Classic and its serial-style profiles.
- microcontroller
- A microcontroller is a small computer on a single chip that runs a stored program and controls connected inputs and outputs such as buttons, sensors, displays and communication interfaces. In a device built around one, it is the part that executes the code and coordinates the device's behaviour.
- MicroPython
- A version of the Python programming language made to run on microcontrollers. It matters because it lets beginners write readable code to control LEDs, sensors, motors and displays without needing to start with lower-level languages.
- SPI
- A fast serial communication bus often used for displays, memory cards, and sensors. It matters because SPI devices need specific pins for clock and data, plus a separate chip-select line for each device.
- u.FL
- u.FL is a tiny snap-on antenna connector often used on compact wireless boards. A board with u.FL usually needs an external antenna, which matters if the product will be inside an enclosure or needs better antenna placement.
- UART
- UART is a simple asynchronous serial interface that sends data over separate transmit and receive wires, usually labelled TX and RX, with both ends set to the same baud rate. It is a common way for microcontrollers and other serial devices to exchange data.
- Zigbee
- A low-power wireless standard commonly used by smart home sensors, switches, and lights. It matters if you want the board to communicate with Zigbee devices or act as part of a home automation network.
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XBee 3 Module Datasheet
Datasheet · 8.6 MB · Click any page to view full size
XBee 3 802.15.4 User Guide
User Guide · 9.9 MB · Click any page to view full size
XBee 3 DigiMesh User Guide
User Guide · 10.0 MB · Click any page to view full size
XBee 3 Zigbee User Guide
User Guide · 3.9 MB · Click any page to view full size
XBee 3 Migration Guide
User Guide · 383.8 KB · Click any page to view full size
XBee 3 MicroPython Programming Guide
User Guide · 1.1 MB · Click any page to view full size
Supplier page — sparkfun.com
Supplier Description · 483.6 KB · Click any page to view full size
Related Tutorials
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