Contents
- Project Components
- Step 1 – Sign up and Link your Web Gateway
- Step 2 – Install XBee radio and XBee Adapter Board
- Step 3 – Automatically configure the XBee Radios
- Step 5 – Configure the DIP switches on the Endpoints
- Step 4 – Monitor temperature and humidity
- Step 5 – Display temperature and humidity on your dashboard or Smart Phone (Optional)
Endpoints provide a way to wirelessly extend the inputs and outputs of compatible ioBridge gateways such as the Gamma. Up to 16 Endpoints can be used with one compatible ioBridge web gateway.
This tutorial describes how to initially configure wireless Endpoints to work with a Gamma web gateway and shows you how to monitor temperature and humidity using the built-in sensors inside the Endpoint.
Project Components
-
ioBridge Gamma web gateway
- ioBridge Gamma XBee Adapter board for the Gamma
- One or more ioBridge Wireless Endpoints with two AA batteries or other power source
- Two compatible XBee radio modules
Step 1 – Sign up and Link your Web Gateway
The first step is to sign up for a free ioBridge User Account and link your Gamma web gateway as described in the Tutorial Sign Up and Link your Module. (This only needs to be done once and you can skip this step if you have done so already.)
Step 2 – Install XBee radio and XBee Adapter Board
Power off your Gamma web gateway, open the enclosure (if one is being used) and insert the XBee radio into the XBee Adapter Board and then insert the XBee Adapter Board into the Gamma as shown in the image below. Note that the image shows the XBee radio with optional external antenna option but the process is the same regardless of the antenna type.
Step 3 – Automatically configure the XBee Radios
Using the Gamma, each XBee is automatically configured and programmed so that each XBee in the Endpoint/s can communicate securely with the XBee in the Gamma. The following steps must be performed on each XBee that will go into an Endpoint as well as the XBee that will stay in the Gamma.
- Apply power to the Gamma. (But do not attach the network cable!)
- Press the Gamma’s Link button twice within one second.
- The Gamma’s LED display should slowly begin to count from 1 to 6 as it is configuring the XBee. Don’t worry if it skips some numbers.
- The LED display should reach 6 and then go blank when the process is finished. If this does not happen the first time, power cycle the Gamma and try again.
- Open the Endpoint enclosure using the four screws on the back, remove the configured XBee from the Gamma and install it in an unpowered Endpoint as shown in the figure below. Make sure that the pins on the XBee align nicely before pressing down the XBee. Replace the Endpoint lid and the screws.
- Repeat Steps 1 through 5 until all the XBees have been configured.
- Don’t forget to configure the XBee that will stay in the Gamma.
- Replace the Gamma’s cover, apply power and reconnect the Ethernet cable.
Step 5 – Configure the DIP switches on the Endpoints
The DIP switch selector on the side of the Endpoints shown below are used to configure which set of four Gamma variables a particular Endpoint communicates with.
The mapping of these variables is described in greater detail in the Endpoint documentation.
For this tutorial we are going to assume that all of the DIP setting are in “off” or “up” position. This sets the Endpoint to work as Endpoint A (see below) sending temperature and humidity readings to the Gamma.
(Additional Endpoints can be set up using the DIP switches as described in the documentation. Note that if you are using more than one Endpoint, then the Variable Map settings should be unique for each Endpoint.)
Apply power to the Endpoint using AA batteries or other power sources. Note that the Power Switch inside the battery compartment must be switch to the appropriate power source.
Listen to the beeping power up sequence. It should sound similar to this:
- “Happy Beep”
- “count of one 0.5 second beeps for each mode (i.e. one beep for Mode 1, audio sample below has 6 beeps)”
- “Happy Beep”
- “Ten short double beeps (allowing XBees to settle)”
- “3 second delay”
- “Happy Beep (if able to successful communicate with the onboard XBee. This verifies that the XBee baud setting is correct but does not verify communication with the gateway. Use Range Testing for that.)”
Endpoint mode 6 startup sequence (mp3 audio file)
Step 4 – Monitor temperature and humidity
Power on your Gamma, connect your Ethernet cable, and Sign in to your account at iobridge.com. Since you have already linked your Gamma in step on you should see your Gamma listed with your own serial number under the Modules tab as shown below:
Click on the Wireless Endpoints link under your module and Enable Wireless. Your display should look similar to this.
Note that the Status is connected and that the temperature and humidity readings are available. The temperature is sent by the Endpoint to the Gamma as a value in Kelvin multiplied by 10. This is done to provide adequate resolution and to ensure that the RAW temperature readings are always positive (only positive numbers may be used in variables).
To display the temperature in other scales click on Variable 1 Scale and, depending on your preference, select and save either Endpoint Temp F, Endpoint Temp C, or Endpoint Kelvin.
Step 5 – Display temperature and humidity on your dashboard or Smart Phone (Optional)
Following steps similar to those described in the Tutorial Remote Temperature Monitoring and Display and the Tutorial Sign Up, Create Widgets, and Setup ioApp for iPhone you may display temperature and humidity readings on your computer or smart phone. Choose “Variable Value Display” in the Widgets setup to display the appropriate variable.
In addition to displaying temperature and humidity one can log and chart the values. The steps to do include:
1. Set up Onboard Rules and Actions to periodically push the variable values that you wish to log to the server. You rules will look like this to push Variable 1 and 2.
2. Create a data log (Data Log>>Add Data Log)
3. Create a Chart Widget (Widgets>>Create Widget>>Chart>>(Select Log)) and place the Chart on your web dashboard or view it on your Smartphone using IoApp.
