SparkFun
XBee 3 Pro Module - PCB Antenna
After years of popularity with the XBee Series 1 and XBee Series 2 Pro Modules, we now have the XBee Series 3 Pro which brings the best of both worlds. XBee ...
After years of popularity with the XBee Series 1 and XBee Series 2 Pro Modules, we now have the XBee Series 3 Pro 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 300ft indoor range, or 2mile 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 PCB Antenna. You also get a built 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 lower power use and modern phone compatibility. It matters because BLE support can make the module easier to use with Apple devices and battery-powered projects, though it may behave differently from classic serial Bluetooth.
- microcontroller
- A microcontroller is a small computer on a chip that runs your program and controls connected inputs and outputs. For this product, it is the part that reads buttons and sensors, drives the display and speaker, and communicates over Bluetooth.
- 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.
- PCB antenna
- A PCB antenna is an antenna pattern built directly into the circuit board rather than a separate metal antenna. It matters because placement, nearby metal and enclosure design can affect wireless range.
- 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.
- UART
- UART is a simple serial connection that sends data over separate transmit and receive wires, often labelled TX and RX. It matters because this module is designed to replace a wired UART cable with a wireless link while keeping the same serial data format.
- 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 Pro Module Datasheet
Datasheet · 8.6 MB · Click any page to view full size
XBee 3 Pro 802.15.4 User Guide
User Guide · 9.9 MB · Click any page to view full size
XBee 3 Pro DigiMesh User Guide
User Guide · 10.0 MB · Click any page to view full size
XBee 3 Pro Zigbee User Guide
User Guide · 3.9 MB · Click any page to view full size
XBee 3 Pro 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 · 454.4 KB · Click any page to view full size
Related Tutorials
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