MicroPython for XBee Setup using XCTU

My goal with these videos is to pass along some of the most basic information you need to start experimenting with your XBee radios. These are things that weren't explained very clearly in the documentation and I couldn't find really clear, concise tutorials to get me started. You see, I'm the type of person who can really benefit from a lot of hand-holding in the very beginning when I'm learning something new, because I don't even know what questions to ask.
So that's that's what these videos are. I'm treating you the way I wish I had been treated when I first started using these radios. I assume you know nothing so I'm going to show you every step in minute detail. And when we are done, you should have enough knowledge to start asking the right questions to learn more. Feel free to ask those questions in the comments and I'll make a video about it.
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MicroPython for XBee Setup using XCTU
Resources:
Digi MicroPython Guide: www.digi.com/r...
XCTU: www.digi.com/p...
1) Configure radio for MicroPython mode
- AP=4
- BD=115200 (default is 9600, I like to use 115200)
2) Open MicroPython terminal in XCTU
- Tools - MicroPython Terminal
- Configure
- Select Port
- Select Baud rate (the same rate as you chose in configuration
- Click OK
- Click Open
3) Direct entry
- print("Hello World")
- 3+6
4) Paste mode
- Ctrl-E to enter paste mode
- right-click - paste
- Ctrl-D to exit paste mode and run the code
- Ctrl-C to exit paste mode without running the code
copy this:
print("Hello World")
x=4+9
print(x)
5) Flash mode
Save code to Flash memory
- Ctrl-F to enter Flash mode
- right-click - paste
- Ctrl-D to exit and save to flash memory
- Enter "N" to NOT automatically run this code at startup (we will look at this later)
- Ctrl-R to run the code that is saved in flash memory
Remove code from Flash memory
- Ctrl-F to enter Flash mode
- Ctrl-D to exit and save
- Ctrl-R
- Note the message "no bundled code to run"
6) File System
- In XCTU menu: Tools- File System Manager
- Configure
- Select Port
- Select Baud rate (the same rate as you chose in configuration
- Click OK
- Click Open (if the connection doesn't open, check that your baud rate settings)
- Click Format. You will be prompted with "Are you sure you want to format the XBee file system?" Click Yes. NOTE: If this is the first time the file system has been accessed, you may be prompted to format the file systme when the connection is opened. If so, then click OK.
- in left window, navigate to the folder with your xbeeTest.py file
- click and drag main.py to the right window
- close the connection
- open MicroPython Terminal
- type "import xbeeTest.py"
- the code should run.
- press CTRL-R to run the code again
- press CTRL-D to perform a soft reboot.
- Note that the radio reboots and the python prompt appears...that's it.
7) Run code automatically on startup
- in XCTU Configuration
- PS = 1
- in File System, copy main.py to /flash
- close connection in File System window
- open connection in MicroPython Terminal
- pres CTRL-D to perform a soft reboot
- Note that main.py runs automatically
- you can wait for the code to end, or press CTRL-C to stop.
** Note: It is not best practice to run .py files. Instead, you should load .mpy files, because it reduces overhead. There is more information in the guide, linked in the description.
*** And now the sky is the limit. You can write your program and have it run on XBee, independently.

[@billdussinger2952]

Very good explanation, thanks!!!!

[@antonyedwards1086]

Great video, Greg. Yep, I'm also the sort of person who needs a lot of help to get started and I really couldn't find anything accessible on this subject. Please, please keep the videos coming and thank you for spending your time on this.

[@robertcohen9516]

Great job. I learned a lot and I look forward to more videos.

[@kiserleti4d4s]

Did you contined this series somewhere else? :)
There is so much more to can cover.

[@saswatkumar3794]

There's very less content on how to interface sensors with the Xbee 3 and also how to use the API mode in micropython REPL, if you could make videos on that it would be great!

[@fahadfaez3559]

Thank you , waiting for more videos :)

[@mitkosokolov9382]

Hi. Great video. Can we establish mesh/star topology with micropython in XCTU?

[@joseestebansanchezalarcon1689]

Excellent guide, sorry for my English, is there actually any way to program these devices with C/C++?