ZigBee Operator support “Explicit Addressing ZigBee Command”. We can use Explicit Addressing ZigBee Command for link testing with API firmware.
Steps for Link Testing
Prepare the mesh network. The minimum requirement for a mesh network is a coordinator and an end device. We use a end device with API firmware.
Power on both coordinator and end devices. Connect the coordinator to the computer.
Open the ZigBee Operator and connect with serial port of XBee modules.
Go to “Tools-XBee Devices Properties” or “
” icon to open Properties window and check “API” check box. Click “Read” button to make sure the computer can talk to device correctly.
Go to “Tools->Search XBee Devices” or click “
”icon to open “Search Device” window and check “API Mode”. Click “Search Network” button to search the network to make sure the end device are connected with Coordinator.
Click “Add To Database” button to add all XBee modules’ information to database.
Close the search window.
Click “View->XBee & XBee Pro ZB ZigBee” or “
” icon to switch to “Mesh Network” panel.
Select “Explicit Addressing ZigBee Command” in type
Select Coordinator’s address in Address
Set “Cluster ID” to 12 and “Source Endpoint” to E8 and “Destination Endpoint” to E8.
Set “Profile ID” to C105
Select “TEXT” in format and input “Echo” in RF Data. It can be any text as long as it is not empty.
Click “Send” button.
It will send the data to coordinator endpoint E8 from source endpoint using cluster ID 12. This is setting for Loopback data. When coordinator received data from end point E8, it will send the data back.
Here is the data in log window.
Send:(09:03:46) 7E 00 18 11 01 00 13 A2 00 40 0A 2A 94 FF FE E8 E8 00 12 C1 05 00 00 45 63 68 6F 0C
Data Parsed: 7E 00 18 11 01 00 13 A2 00 40 0A 2A 94 FF FE E8 E8 00 12 C1 05 00 00 45 63 68 6F 0C
Explicit Addressing ZigBee Command
Frame ID: 0x01
64 Bits Address: 0013:A200-400A:2A94
16 Bits Network Address: FFFE
Source Endpoint: 0xE8
Destination Endpoint: 0xE8
Cluster ID: 0x0012
Profile ID: 0xC105
Broadcast Radius: 0x00
Options: 0x00
Data(Hex):45 63 68 6F
Data(Text):EchoRec:(09:03:47)7E 00 07 8B 01 85 BB 00 00 00 33 7E 00 10 90 00 13 A2 00 40 0A 2A 94 85 BB 41
Data Parsed: 7E 00 07 8B 01 85 BB 00 00 00 33
Transmit Status
Frame ID: 1
Network Address :0x85BB
Retries: 0x00
Delivery Status: 0x0 = Success
Discovery Status: 0x0 = No Discovery Overhead45 63 68 6F B2
Data Parsed: 7E 00 10 90 00 13 A2 00 40 0A 2A 94 85 BB 41 45 63 68 6F B2
ZigBee Receive Packet
64 Bits Address: 0013:A200-400A:2A94
16 Bits Network Address: 85BB
Options: 0x41
Packet Acknowledged
Data(Hex):45 63 68 6F
Data(Text):Echo
Sometimes, the data send won’t be echo back. Please keep sending until you get the data back. Some times you need reset the end devices.
To check the signal strength on the remote module.
Switch to “Remote AT Command”, and select the address of the remote module and send “DB” Command. It will return the signal strength of last hop.
Here is the data in log window.
Send:(09:04:51) 7E 00 0F 17 01 00 13 A2 00 40 0A 2A 94 FF FE 00 64 62 67
Data Parsed: 7E 00 0F 17 01 00 13 A2 00 40 0A 2A 94 FF FE 00 64 62 67
Remote AT Command
Frame ID: 0x01
64Bits Destination Address: 0013:A200-400A:2A94
16Bits Destination Network Address: FFFE
Command Options: 0x00
Command: db
Para(Hex):
Para(Text):Rec:(09:04:51)7E 00 10 97 01 00 13 A2 00 40 0A 2A 94 85 BB 64 62 00 24 80
Data Parsed: 7E 00 10 97 01 00 13 A2 00 40 0A 2A 94 85 BB 64 62 00 24 80
Remote AT Command Response
Frame ID: 0x01
64Bits Remote Module Address: 0013:A200-400A:2A94
16Bits Remote Module Network Address: 85BB
Command: db
Status: 0x00 = OK
Para: 24
The signal strength on remote module is 24.
To Check the signal strength on the local module.
Switch to “AT Command” and send “DB” command. It will return the strength of the last hop.
Here is the data in log window.
Send:(09:09:55) 7E 00 04 08 01 64 62 30
Data Parsed: 7E 00 04 08 01 64 62 30
AT Command
Frame ID: 0x01
Command: db
Para(Hex):
Para(Text):Rec:(09:09:55)7E 00 06 88 01 64 62 00 25 8B
Data Parsed: 7E 00 06 88 01 64 62 00 25 8B
AT Command Response
Frame ID: 1
Command: db
Status: 0 = OK
Para: 25
The signal strength of local module for last hop is 25.