Xbee® sensors are used within Digi’s Drop-in networks, where customers can have their customized networks monitored and their network applications controlled. This is beneficial for network locations that are hard to reach wirelessly. Xbee® Sensors are one of the devices that can be a part of the network, and they come in different models for different contexts of use. The different kinds of sensors include motion sensors, light sensors, and environmental sensors.
One of the Xbee® sensors available for a wireless network is the Xbee® Sensor, an environmental sensor that provides information on humidity, light, and temperature. Its battery is compact, has an extended life and is powered and integrates easily into Digi’s Drop-in network. Installation is simple and the configuration can be deployed instantly. Applications of the device include building security, building automation, food management, vehicle monitoring, energy management, and more.
Inside an Xbee® Sensor is an internal antenna that transmits and receives frequencies of 2.4 gigahertz (GHz). Its ranges include up to 133 ft (40 m) indoors and in urban areas, while its outdoor range can include up to 400 ft (120 m) with a radio frequency (RF) line of sight. The network that the Xbee® sensors are a part of can have up to 16 channels with 5 megahertz (MHz) frequencies. They also have filter options to prevent interference from other frequency signals. Additionally, the sensor has a set of LEDs to indicate the functions of the sensor, including power state, network association, and identification.
Another one of the Xbee® sensors is the Watchport® Sensor which can connect to an Xbee® sensor adapter by using certain ports and gateways in the network configuration. There are four different models of these Xbee® sensors, which measure different readings. This type of sensor can be used in wireless, WAN, and Drop-in networks. The sensor monitors an environment, including temperature, moisture, humidity, distance and acceleration. It also does not require an external power source.
The sensor features a connector with a single wire interface, and operates between -40° F and 185° F (-40° C and 85° C). The temperature and humidity sensor has a command interface with ASCII and 20 second interval reading rates of relative humidity (RH) and temperature. A distance and proximity sensor has photo-electric sensors that detect proximity between 1.6 ft and 4.9 ft (0.5 m and 1.5 m). The temperature-only model measures temperature at 20 second intervals with an accuracy between +/- 0.9° and 3.6° F (0.5° C and 2.0° C).