I. Overview

There are three logical device types in a ZigBee network: Coordinator, Router, and End-Device. A ZigBee network consists of one Coordinator, multiple Routers, and multiple End-Devices.

The functions of each device type are as follows:

(1) Coordinator

The coordinator is responsible for starting the entire network. It is also the first device in the network. The coordinator selects a channel and a network ID (also called a PAN ID, or Personal Area Network ID), and then starts the entire network.

(2) Router

The main functions of a router are: allowing other devices to join the network, multi-hop routing, and assisting its own battery-powered child end-devices in communication.

(3) End-Device

End-devices do not have a specific responsibility for maintaining the network structure. They can sleep (hibernate) or wake up, therefore they can be battery-powered devices.

II. Quick Start Guide

① Introduction to the Host Computer (Zigbee V1.8.exe)

This host computer configuration mainly consists of three control and configuration panels: Local Commands, Network Commands, and Device Control Commands.

Local Commands: Reading and configuring network parameters, module local attributes (baud rate, low power level, target port, power, target short address), channels, and group information;
Network Commands: Node address query, setting permanent connections (specifying a pair of terminal nodes to match MAC addresses for communication via the network manager);
Device Control Commands: Displaying network node network status (supported by the network manager), managing and controlling various ClusterID attributes.

② Host Computer Configuration

1. After opening the host computer, select the device serial port number, baud rate, and module model in sequence;

2. Execute "Enter Parameter Configuration" (or enter command mode by sending the serial port command "+++"). The status box on the right will indicate successful entry into configuration mode;

3. Execute "Read Parameters" (or query the current status of the module by sending the serial port command "55 03 00 00 00"). The status box on the right will indicate successful reading of parameters;

4. Execute "Query" to read the baud rate, target short address, target port, power, and low-power wake-up cycle;

5. Configure the "Module Type" according to requirements: coordinator, router, terminal node, or hibernation node;

6. After selecting the module type, execute "Write Parameters". See Figures 1-1 and 1-2 below for detailed operation instructions.

III. Host Computer Network Setup

Network setup steps for coordinator and terminals:

1. Select the appropriate serial port;

2. Select the baud rate (E18 series modules default to 115200 baud rate), E72 only supports 230400;

3. Select the module model currently being used (supports E18 and Network Manager), then execute "Open Serial Port";

4. The module enters configuration mode (command mode);
5. Read the current module parameters;

6. Select the device type to be set (we select coordinator here);
7. Write parameters (write the set device type to the module), serial port... Please refer to the above description for the command format;

8. After the device type is set, the module will restart and refresh the protocol stack;

9. Open the network (the coordinator starts building the network, and the terminal starts querying and joining the network). After execution, the host computer will prompt that the network was opened successfully. See Figure 1-3 for the specific host computer configuration method;

10. Executing "Read Parameters" can read the module's current network status, PANID, short address, MAC address, extended ID, and network key. The operation result is shown in Figure 1-3. The network was successfully built, and the PANID and network key are consistent within the same network.

IV. On-Demand Communication

Network parameter configuration for on-demand communication between terminals:

1. After successful network setup, both the coordinator and the terminals should click "Query" (to query the local attributes of the module; please refer to the serial port command description above for details);

2. Device target short address: Set the target short address of Terminal 1 to "B9 CD", and the target short address of Terminal 2 to "8E DA";

3. Set the target port: Set it uniformly to "01", and both terminal nodes should execute "Enter Transmission Mode";