The FREE version of CadSoft EAGLE PCB Design Software is great to do PCB design for simple boards, up to 10×8 cm area, up to 2 layers. Here are some steps to get started:
I’ve been looking more closely into these tools for PCB design. All can be downloaded for free, only KiCad and gEDA are true opensource with no limitations. Eagle KiCad gEDA
It looks like KiCad is about to become mainstream….
So far I haven’t found any software to configure the XBees like the X-CTU software (that only runs on Windows). That doesn’t mean we can’t configure the XBees using a mac or Linux. So, these are just a few notes to help me configure my XBEEs when I’m using my Mac. I thought it may be useful to you as well.
Follow these steps and you’ll get your XBee configured in a minute:
Connect your XBee to the USB port of your computer using the XBee Explorer USB from Sparkfun.
Open a terminal window and search for the serial device >> ls /dev/tty.*
This will show a list of the available tty. devices connected. Example
/dev/tty.Bluetooth-Modem /dev/tty.usbserial-A8003WbK
/dev/tty.Bluetooth-PDA-Sync
In this case we are interested in the /dev/tty.usbserial-A8003WbK (your’s will be similar)
I am assuming that the baud rate of the XBees is 38400.
So to configure the XBee #1 type in the terminal
>> screen /dev/tty.usbserial-A8003WbK 38400
>> +++
>> OK
>> ATBD5 (baudrate = 5, or 38400 baud)
>> ATID1111 (ID = 1111)
>> ATDL11 (DL = 11)
>> ATMY10 (MY = 10)
>> ATWR (write changes in memory)
This configures the XBee #2
>> screen /dev/tty.usbserial-A7006vC8 38400
>> +++
>> OK
>> ATBD5
>> ATID1111
>> ATDL10
>> ATMY11
>> ATWR
To close ‘screen’ press “control-A then control-\” and then “Y” . This closes the session.
