[Paparazzi-devel] Possible Solution: No serial communication between PC & XBee?

[David Conger]

Not sure if the other reply was sent. I apologize if this is a double  
post:
Actually,

I had an XBee Pro series 2 I thought was DOA. The Digi Rep walked me  
through a process that brought it back to life:
1) Connect the USB device that holds the XBee to your laptop/desktop  
(without the XBee)
2) Open X-CTU
3) manually in the tab you use to program the device select the proper  
modem (normally you could do a READ to get the values)
4) select the option you want to program (i.e. like END DEVICE or  
COORDINATOR ... ) like if you were programming
5) now with the XBee NOT in the device click WRITE ... yes it will  
hang and timeout and bring up a dialogue ..
6) now before you click OK to the dialogue plug in the XBee module  
(carefully)
7) click OK to clear the message and .... it should start programming  
it automatically.

Worked for me and it programmed and responded normal afterwards. He  
explained static or other conditions can kill the code in it so you  
need to force it back in this way.

Hope it helps in your case give it a try.

-David Conger

On Jun 19, 2009, at 12:21 PM, Alston Pike wrote:

> I'll post a PDF file to my website later this weekend and get the  
> link posted.
>
> As far as power is concerned, I think the XBee modems are 3.3V, but
> are 5V tolerant (that is, if I remember correctly).  The cables
> included with the PPZUAV kits drive the modems off the 5V bus to keep
> radio interference off the 3.3V line shared with the processor.  That
> said, according the specs on Digi's website, the XBee Pro only draws
> 294mA and the LM317 should be good for 1.5A.
>
> Which FTDI cable are you using?
>
> Alston Pike
> BSME 2009
> The University of Alabama
> address@hidden
> (706) 594-2812