Zigbee vs. Bluetooth

Hi all,

For one of our project, we want to transmit data to a PC by using wireless technology. However, we don't know which one we should use, Zigbee or bluetooth. We don't need high data rate and it must be cheap. Thus, it seems that Zigbee has an advantage, but what can be the disadvantages of it and what are the positive sides of bluetooth?

Thank you.

Google is a good way to find relevant material. Pay attention to range.

Yes, i know and i learnt a lot about this subject from google. but what I need is advice of people who used this protocols before.

I have another question. I couldn't figure out how I can set up the communication between a laptop and a mc by using zigbee, since laptop isn't compatible. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

I have another question. I couldn't figure out how I can set up the communication between a laptop and a mc by using zigbee, since laptop isn't compatible. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Click to expand...

Zigbee is a protocol. What hardware are you planning on using? How many nodes?

Since you are new to Zigbee I would suggest getting a Zigbee device like the
MaxStream XBee. To attach an XBee to a computer requires two wires Rx and Tx.
You will need to level shift the Rx to Tx if you use an RS232 port. What most people
do is to add a USB interface using an FTDI USB to RS232 serial chip (or cable).

I have designed some boards that integrate a USB + XBee and another board that
integrates an uC + XBee (http://tinyurl.com/5rfmrz). Also I have a number of
software examples in the "Application Hints" section.

(* jcl *)

John Luciani said:

Zigbee is a protocol. What hardware are you planning on using? How many nodes?

Click to expand...

Our project is something like that: we are going to make some measurements and data obtained from this measurement will be sent to a mc and it will be sent to CC2430 (product of texas instruments), which we want to use for sending the data to a laptop by using Zigbee protocol. I am not sure that it means we have two nodes.

Here is the main problem. As I know, a laptop uses bluetooth and wifi. What should we do in order to connect CC2430 and the computer without using any wires?

Here is the main problem. As I know, a laptop uses bluetooth and wifi.

Click to expand...

And neither one of them is zigbee.

What should we do in order to connect CC2430 and the computer without using any wires?

Click to expand...

You can buy TI's development kit if you want to use the CC2430 or you can buy John Luciani's system for a bit less

Our project is something like that: we are going to make some measurements and data obtained from this measurement will be sent to a mc and it will be sent to CC2430 (product of texas instruments), which we want to use for sending the data to a laptop by using Zigbee protocol. I am not sure that it means we have two nodes.

Click to expand...

If you are already using one CC2430 what makes the most sense would be to use
a second one on the laptop. There is most likely an unused UART on the CC2430 that
can be connected to the laptop. Since most laptops don't have RS-232 ports use an
FTDI FT232RL between the CC2430 and the laptop. If you look at the datasheet
for my ZB1 (http://tinyurl.com/5lnhtj) there is a schematic that shows how to
wire the FTDI to a **3.3V** system (which I believe the CC2430 is). FTDI also
makes a USB to serial cable that you could use (TTL-232RL-3.3V).

Since you will already have code for the radio you just need to program the second CC2430 to send and receive strings using the UART.

(* jcl *)