XBee RF Module Comparison
The Digi corporation manufactures over 70 different varieties of XBee modules with different antennas, power type, and capabilities. Parallax has evaluated and chosen the most useful of these XBee modules. Many of the XBee modules' functions such as addressing, power output, and baud rate for communication with a microprocessor can be configured through the free Digi X-CTU software utility or directly from your microcontroller through a terminal program. Parallax documentation demonstrates these features.
It’s easy to get started with Series 1 XBee modules, as they arrive configured to communicate right out of the box; Series 2 modules will require minor configuration before use. XBee modules sold by Parallax are compatible within their series; Series 1 will communicate with other Series 1 modules but not with a Series 2 module, and vice versa: XBee Series 1 and Series 2 are not cross-compatible. Major differences between Series 1 and Series 2 have been listed on Digi's site.
The range of the modules is determined largely by the power output (regular vs. Pro) and by the type of antenna mounted on the module. Digi provides a document summarizing the results of range tests for various modules: - XBee & XBee‐PRO OEM RF Module Antenna Considerations (.pdf)
Parallax offers the XBee modules at Digi recommended distributor prices, lower than you will find from most resellers. Parallax also offers different XBee Adapter Boards.
NOTE: Series 1 and
Series 2 Modules are
not Cross-Compatible |
XBee 1mW
802.15.4
Chip Antenna
Wire Antenna
|
XBee PRO 63mW
802.15.4
Chip Antenna
Wire Antenna
|
XBee Series 2
1.25 mW ZigBee
Wire Antenna
|
XBee Series 2 PRO
63 mW ZigBee
Wire Antenna
|
| General |
| Compatibility |
Series 1
|
Series 2
|
| Digi Part # |
XB24-ACI-001
XB24-AWI-001
|
XBP24-ACI-001
XBP24-AWI-001
|
XB24-Z7WIT-004
|
XBP24-Z7WIT-004
|
| Parallax Part # |
32404
32405
|
32406
32407
|
32409
|
32408
|
| Price |
$19.00
|
$32.00
|
$21.99
|
$32.99
|
| Antenna |
Chip
Wire
|
Chip
Wire
|
Wire
|
Wire
|
Adapter Board
Compatibility |
  (32400) XBee USB Adapter Board,
(32401) 5V/3.3V Adapter Board
(32402) XBee SIP Adapter and
(32403) XBee Adapter Board
|
| Performance |
| RF Data Rate |
250 kbps/up to 115 kbps (1)
|
250 kbps/up to 115 kbps (1)
|
250 kbps/up to 1 Mbps (1)
|
250 kbps/up to 1 Mbps (1)
|
| Interface Data Rate |
Up to 115.2 kbps
|
1200 bps - 1 Mbps
|
| Indoor Range |
100 ft (30 m) (2)
|
300 ft (90 m) (2)
|
133 ft (40 m) (2)
|
300 ft (90 m) (2)
|
Outdoor Range
(Line Of Sight) |
300 ft (100 m) (2)
|
1 mile (1.6 km) (2)
|
400 ft (120 m) (2)
|
2 miles (3.2 km) (2)
|
| Transmit Power |
1 mW (+0 dBm)
|
63 mW (+18 dBm)
|
1.25 mW (+1 dBm)
|
63 mW (+18 dBm)
|
| Receiver Sensitivity (1% PER) |
-92 dBm
|
-100 dBm
|
-98 dBm
|
-102 dBm
|
| Features |
| Adjustable Power |
Yes
|
No
|
Yes
|
| Serial Data Interface |
3.3V CMOS UART (no configuration needed)
|
| Configuration Method |
API or AT Commands, local or over the air
|
| Frequency Band |
2.4 GHz
|
| ADC Inputs |
(7) 10-bit ADC Inputs
|
(4) 10-bit ADC Inputs
|
| Digital I/O |
(8) digital I/O
|
(10) digital I/O
|
| Networking and Security |
| Spread Spectrum Type |
DSSS (Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum)
|
| Topology |
Peer-to-Peer, Point-to-Point, Point-to-Multipoint
|
| Encryption |
128-bit AES
|
| Reliable Packet Delivery |
Retries/Acknowledgements
|
| Channels |
16 Direct Sequence Channels
|
12 Direct Sequence Channels
|
16 Direct Sequence Channels
|
15 Direct Sequence Channels
|
| ID |
PAN ID, 64-bit IEEE MAC
|
| Power Requirements |
| Supply Voltage |
2.8 - 3.4 VDC (Absolute) / 3.0 - 3.4 (Recommended)
|
2.1 - 3.6 VDC
|
2.7 - 3.6 VDC
|
| Transmit Current |
45 mA
|
215 mA
|
35 mA
|
205 mA
|
| Receive Current |
50 mA
|
55 mA
|
38 mA
|
47 mA
|
| Power-down Current |
< 10 uA
|
< 1 uA
|
< 3.5 uA
|
| Regulatory Approvals |
| FCC (USA) |
OUR-XBEE
|
OUR-XBEEPRO
|
OUR-XBEE2
|
MCQ-XBEEPRO2
|
| IC (Canada) |
4214A-XBEE
|
4214A-XBEEPRO
|
YES
|
| ETSI (Europe) |
Yes (3)
|
| C-TICK (Australia) |
Yes
|
| Telec (Japan) |
Yes
|
(1) According to Digi comparisons, Mesh Throughput is a product of Network Attributes and will therefore vary greatly from one application to another. Applications requiring predictable throughput should instead consider a point-to-multipoint Network.
(2) The wire antenna versions will provide 20-30% more distance than the chip antenna in the same environment.
(3) CE regulations require that the customer limit the XBee PRO version output power to 10 mW through the API/AT command interface.