Renard-WC Wireless Controller

[dirknerkle]

This thread previously was "XBee Wireless Modules" in the Development forum. Now that the gizmo is almost in finished form, I thought it would be helpful to move it here. I'm sure the mods will correct me if I'm wrong!

The Ren-WC works very well, but I haven't yet tested in-the-field performance when everything is mounted inside the protective cases, etc. I also will be testing effective range for both the regular XBee module and the higher-powered XBee Pro.

So right now I'm looking for feedback on the documentation -- it's not 100% complete yet, but it's only missing the final BOM and circuit board tracing. I believe the PDF will give readers a pretty solid understanding of how it works, how to build and configure it, costs, and hopefully I've already answered most of the important questions via the Q&A at the end.

Specifically I'm looking for suggestions, comments, criticisms, or items that are just plain oversights. It's always better to catch them now before the project is released.

Thanks in advance for everybody's help!!!

[thuddman]

Hey, nice job! Now I can control my neighbor's lights across the street!

Looking forward to hearing how it works in practice...

[Wayne J]

Originally Posted by thuddman

Hey, nice job! Now I can control my neighbor's lights across the street!

Looking forward to hearing how it works in practice...

Same here. My neighbor said I could decorate the trees lining his yard, I just haven't wanted to run the cable.

[oldcqr]

Sweet!

My only suggestion would be to change the silk screen for C3. Add that nifty little wider boarder on the - side. I know the + side is marked (silkscreen and square pad), but that wide mark has saved me a couple of times

[FireGod]

I am currently running an Xbee Pro in my rotating Christmas tree on the FGII board. It works perfectly so far even while rotating.

[Wombat]

That looks great. very simple design and modular and flexable. Well done

Wombat

[FireGod]

I am using Mouser# 888-XBP24-ACI-001J

I do not recommend the model with the whip antenna. I have already broken one off and it increases the height.

[dirknerkle]

Originally Posted by FireGod

I am using Mouser# 888-XBP24-ACI-001J

I do not recommend the model with the whip antenna. I have already broken one off and it increases the height.

Are you using the Japan version because of its 10mw power rating instead of the 50mw version? (Do you have to program it in Kanji? ... just kidding...)

I have a few mixed feelings about the 1" whip antenna too -- it's just "out there" and seems a bit easy to bend or, as has happened to you, break off if you're not careful. And I'm not sure how the height will work with the boxes we generally use -- perhaps I'll mount it on the TOP cover and let the antenna point down toward the SS controller. Whether the upside-down orientation will matter is part of my testing, too.

I'll have to order out a couple on-chip antenna units to see how they fare.

Good luck on your mini! Wish I could be there.

[budude]

I have my Helix with the XBee mounted in a CG-1000 box and I bent the antenna "up" (with respect to the box) and it seems to fit/work pretty well. I've bent it back and forth a few times through a couple removes/installs and it's stayed on so far but have to agree that it probably can't take a lot of punishment...

[sjwilson122]

WOW! This looks sweet. Looks very simple, documentation is outstanding so far! This would save people alot of cat5 runs and make decorating things much easier. Great job!