I run across several posts and articles about ZigBee in the last weeks, so I started to read about it.

Started to consider implementing a basic application to gain some familiarity.

I would like to hear any comments, even if brief about actual usage of ZigBee.

Simply put: is it worth?

 

only if you have something that can use it

 

I did a bit of background research on zigbee for a project I was planning a while ago (it's on the very back burner at the moment). The conclusion I came to was that zigbee modules in small quantities are expensive so it is only worthwhile if you really need mesh networking and secure comms. There are plenty of other low cost options if you want point-to-point and don't care about security.

 

I second sirch2 ... depends on the application. I use Zigbees for some of my industrial sensor network kind of requirements, but then those projects are well funded and very critical

 

I would have to agree about the expense for just a few and there being less expensive options available if security is not critical.

 

I would have to agree about the expense for just a few and there being less expensive options available if security is not critical.

Could you give an example?

 

Have a look at

http://shop.ciseco.co.uk/xrf-wirele...erial-data-module-xbee-shape-arduino-pic-etc/

or

www.rfsolutions.co.uk

 

The DIY Christmas guys use these for one-way transmission. The pro version is used strictly as a transmitter (higher power) and the non-pro versions as relievers (they’re cheaper). Supposedly these can go for about a mile. They’ll do 57.6Kb without any buffering, 8-bit, no parity and 2 stop bits.

Some people have used these to successfully control the lights of houses on a street several blocks long.

There’s a project in the works to add buffering to allow the full 115Kb rate, because the maximum over the air rate is 60Kb. There may be a possibly to go up to 250Kb and allow some DMX light control.

 

Have a look at

http://shop.ciseco.co.uk/xrf-wirele...erial-data-module-xbee-shape-arduino-pic-etc/

thse are not Zigbee modules, are they? Look like XBee pin compatible RF transceivers, but not Zigbee