Pixl.js with XBee Shield V03

[AndySmee]

I'm getting a little further with the pixl with this off-brand eBay xbee shield. It has no documentation but I've managed to power it by connecting 5V to VIn.

Then after resetting an XBee to run on defaults I can talk to it on 9600 baud.

But I can't get the XBee API code module to work, so require a little help. So far, I can communicate with this code:

function onInit() {
  Bluetooth.setConsole(true);
}

Serial1.setup(9600,{rx:D0,tx:D1,bytesize:8,parity:'none',stopbits:1});

var cmd="";
Serial1.on('data', function (data) {
  cmd+=data;
  var idx = cmd.indexOf("\r");
  while (idx>=0) {
    var line = cmd.substr(0,idx);
    cmd = cmd.substr(idx+1);
    console.log(line);
    idx = cmd.indexOf("\r");
  }
});

// Try to enter command mode: send '+++' with no newline
// Note: You must wait 1 second BEFORE and AFTER sending this
setTimeout(function() {
  Serial1.print("+++");
  console.log("XBEE: +++");

  setTimeout(function() {
    console.log("XBEE: ATID");
    Serial1.println('ATID');
  }, 1100);
  
  setTimeout(function() {
    Serial1.println('ATSH');
    console.log("XBEE: ATSH");
  }, 2100);
  
  setTimeout(function() {
    console.log("XBEE: ATSL");
    Serial1.println('ATSL');
  }, 4100);
}, 1100);

Output is:

XBEE: +++
OK
XBEE: ATID
3332
XBEE: ATSH
13A200
XBEE: ATSL
40A93D6A

[AndySmee]

Do I need to configure the xbee into api mode to use https://www.espruino.com/XBee-API1, or does it send the control word +++?

I only ever get "false" reported in the console no matter what I do to use https://www.espruino.com/XBee-API1

[gfwilliams]

I just took a look at the XBee API module you linked, and it seems to be sending all the data in a binary form, not text - so it needs the API mode. As far as I can tell from the datasheet, the API mode it the default, and it's the +++ you need to send AT commands.

Could it be that because you've sent +++ for your example code, the module is already in AT command mode, and not API mode? You could try power cycling the whole thing and see if that helps.

Or the examples for https://www.espruino.com/XBee-API1 use 38400 baud, but the module appears to be working fine on 9600 so I imagine you'll have to use that:

Serial1.setup(9600,{rx:D0,tx:D1,bytesize:8,parity:'none',stopbits:1});
myxbee=require('XBee-API1').connect(Serial1);

Otherwise if you did have to use the text-based protocol it's not the end of the world. There's a module in Espruino (https://www.espruino.com/AT) that makes it pretty easy to send a command and wait for a response:

var at = require("AT").connect(Serial1);  
at.cmd("ATSL\r\n", 1000/*millseconds*/, function(d) {
  if (d===undefined) ; // we timed out!
  // or d is now the result we got
});