Zigbee modules for small network

[pashok84]

I need to deploy small mesh network. my requirements are

* Minimum 802.15.4 MAC should be there.
* Board should have Many GPIO for users.
* Good to have have USB( or UART) interface. (Minimum PAN coordinator should have host interface, remaining can be without host interface)
* Good to have few sensors on board (Not must)
* Low cost
* debugger
* IDE (gcc compiler)
Can anyone suggest any modules?

 

[horace1]

the XBee modules are easy to use, have a UART interface and have some IO but are a bit expensive (approx £20)
XBee® ZB ZigBee® RF Modules - Digi International

these days I tend to use MiWi which is simpler
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for a cheap development board Microchip's microstick is very good (we use it as a basis for lots of student projects)
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it has an on board programmer and header to fit a breadboard - free IDE and compiler

 

[N_Arm]

Hi Can you suggest me to get ZigBee sample development kit?

 

[horace1]

The XBee dev kit are on (the X-CTU configuration software is free from the digi web site)
XBee® ZB ZigBee® RF Modules - Digi International

the one I have (about £250 in UK)
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I have also used the Microchip Zigbee dev kits
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as I mentioned in my last post I have given up on Zigbee - too complex and expensive - now use Microchip MiWi or the Nordic RF modules

 

[N_Arm]

can you suggest me any free dev board one.

 

[horace1]

our students using XBee tend to use Microchips' microstick dev kit (about £16 in UK)
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which plugs into a breadbaord with CXBee connected to a UART

 

[pashok84]

...
as I mentioned in my last post I have given up on Zigbee - too complex and expensive - now use Microchip MiWi or the Nordic RF modules

What is specification used by Nordic RF modules, did they follow IEEE 802.15.4 spec. i have check their products they didn't mentioned IEEE 802.15.4 complaint RF.
if they they are following a different specification, Can you please share more details about this Nordic

 

[horace1]

As far as I am aware the Nordic ultra low power RF units don't support IEEE 802.15.4
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I tend to use Nordic devices for local communications where Zigbee etc is overkill.

take a look at Microchip's MiWi which is IEEE 802.15.4 and simpler than Zigbee
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see the MRF24J40MA
MRF24J40

more discussion on
IEEE 802.15.4-2006 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[shanemiller]

Zigbee is the great technology i have ever seen.They actually replace bluetooth these days.They have all the modified features.