SparkFun Digi XBee® Explorer USB-C
SKU: WRL-22043
Unleash the power of XBee modules with the next-gen SparkFun Digi XBee® Explorer USB-C! This compact, easy-to-use adapter is the perfect bridge between your computer and any Digi XBee module, making prototyping and development a breeze. Whether you're a seasoned IoT architect or just starting your wireless journey, the XBee Explorer USB-C empowers you to bring your ideas to life. The XBee Explorer USB-C makes it possible to build sensor networks for remote monitoring, control devices wirelessly from your PC, prototype real-time data acquisition systems, and more! This board gives you access to the pin functionality of the XBee, including a single USB-C connector for UART communication, a Qwiic connector for I²C-capable sensors and peripheries, and Reset and D0 buttons.

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Required Materials

To follow along with this tutorial, you will need the following materials. You may not need everything though depending on what you have. Add it to your cart, read through the guide, and adjust the cart as necessary.

Hardware Overview

Digi XBee Smart Modem Socket

We've kept the Digi XBee socket consistent with the Digi XBee pinout, so this breakout board is backwards compatible. In order to take full advantage of this board, we recommend one of the newer Digi XBee boards. The Digi XBee 3 Low-Power LTE-M/NB-IoT, GNSS, no SIM is a great bet.

Power

The USB-C connector on the board provides power and is used to communicate with the Digi XBee board via UART. Input VCC range is between 3.3V-5.5V.

Buck Converter - AP63203

The AP63203 is a 2A, synchronous buck converter with a wide input voltage range that fully integrates a 125mΩ high-side power MOSFET and a 68mΩ lowside power MOSFET to provide high-efficiency step-down DC/DC conversion. VIN range is 3.8V-5.5V. Output is 2A max.

USB to UART Bridge

The FT231XS translates data between your computer and the Digi XBee. This is one of our favorite chips because it supports all computer platforms and it's easy to work with. If this is the first FTDI chip you've ever connected to your computer (it probably won't be your last), there is some driver installation to get out of the way. We've written a tutorial detailing How to Install FTDI Drivers tutorial.

Qwiic Connector

The Qwiic connector on the SparkFun Digi XBee® Explorer USB-C Board provides power and I²C connectivity to Qwiic breakout boards. Note that I²C functionality is not enabled by default.

LEDs

There are a number of LEDs on the board:

PWR

This LED lights up when power is provided to the board.

ASC

This LED on the development board blinks when the Digi XBee is registered to the cellular network.

Blink	Timing	Meaning
On	Solid	Not joined to a mobile network
Double Blink	½ second	The last TCP/UDP/SMS attempt failed. If the LED has this pattern, you may need to check DI (Remote Manager Indicator) or CI (Protocol/Connection Indication) for the cause of the error.
Single blink	1 Second	Normal Operation

RSSI

This LED is the Received Signal Strength Indicator. When configured, it reflects the received signal strength.

RSSI PWM The RSSI/PWM output is enabled continuously, unlike other Digi XBee products where the output is enabled for a short period of time after each received transmission. If running on the XBIB development board, DIO10 is connected to the RSSI LEDs, which may be interpreted as follows:

PWM duty cycle	Number of LEDs turned on	Received signal strength (dBm)
79.39% or more	3	83 dBm or higher
62.42% to 79.39%	2	-93 to -83 dBm
45.45% to 62.42%	1	-103 to -93 dBm
Less than 45.45%	0	Less than -103 dBm, or no cellular network connection

GPIO

We've broken out the Digi XBee pins to plated through holes on either side of the board.

Buttons

There are two buttons on the board - D0 and Reset. The Reset button allows the user to reset the running program; the D0 button is connected to GPIO to be used as the user sees fit.

Jumpers

Never modified a jumper before?

Check out our Jumper Pads and PCB Traces tutorial for a quick introduction!

Tutorial's thumbnail
How to Work with Jumper Pads and PCB Traces

I2C Jumper

The I²C jumper pulls the SDA and SCL pins to VDD (normally 3.3V) through two 2.2K Ohm resistors. If you have multiple Qwiic devices on the same bus you may want to disable these by opening the jumper (assuming they are also operating at 3.3V logic).

LED Jumper

If power consumption is an issue (or if you just don't like the LEDs), cut the respective jumper to sever power to the LED.

PLED: Red
ALED: Blue
RSSI: Yellow

Shield Jumper

For most applications, the single point grounding of the Direct USB or UART at the USB-C connector is sufficient. However, should you run into problems with EMI/EMC, we've provided a jumper that allows you to disconnect the connector from ground.

Board Dimensions

The SparkFun Digi XBee® Explorer USB-C Board dimensions are illustrated in the drawing below; the listed measurements are in inches.

Need more measurements?

For more information about the board's dimensions, users can download the Eagle files for the board. These files can be opened in Eagle and additional measurements can be made with the dimensions tool.

Eagle - Free Download!

Eagle is a CAD program for electronics that is free to use for hobbyists and students. However, it does require an account registration to utilize the software.

Download from

Dimensions Tool

This video from Autodesk demonstrates how to utilize the dimensions tool in Eagle, to include additional measurements:

Hardware Assembly

Note the white silkscreen on the Shield PCB - this will help orient your Digi XBee as you're plugging it in. Make sure to match up the Digi XBee's two diagonal edges with the two diagonal lines on the PCB.

Digi XBee unit being plugged into the SparkFun Digi XBee® Explorer USB-C

Software Setup

We have a number of tutorials detailing how to work with Digi XBees and their associated software. In particular, XCTU is free software provided by Digi (the manufacturer of XBee), that provides a quick and easy way to configure and manage Digi XBees as well as test Digi XBee networks.

If you haven't worked with XCTU before, head on over to our Exploring XBees and XCTU tutorial to get set up.


Exploring XBees and XCTU tutorial

You might also check out this XBee WiFi Hookup Guide if your project includes WiFi!


XBee WiFi Hookup Guide

Troubleshooting Tips

Note

Not working as expected and need help?

If you need technical assistance and more information on a product that is not working as you expected, we recommend heading on over to the SparkFun Technical Assistance page for some initial troubleshooting.

SparkFun Technical Assistance Page

If you don't find what you need there, the SparkFun Forums are a great place to find and ask for help. If this is your first visit, you'll need to create a Forum Account to search product forums and post questions.

Create New Forum Account Log Into SparkFun Forums

Resources:

For more resources related to the SparkFun Digi XBee® Explorer USB-C, check out the links listed here:

Or check out other Digi XBee Projects for inspiration: