User's Manual

Table Of Contents
XBee®/XBeePRO®ZBRFModules
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A Comparison of Transparent and API Operation
The following table compares the advantages of transparent and API modes of operation:
As a general rule of thumb, API firmware is recommended when a device:
sends RF data to multiple destinations
sends remote configuration commands to manage devices in the network
receives IO samples from remote devices
receives RF data packets from multiple devices, and the application needs to know which
device sent which packet
must support multiple ZigBee endpoints, cluster IDs, and/or profile IDs
uses the ZigBee Device Profile services.
If the above conditions do not apply (e.g. a sensor node, router, or a simple application), then AT
firmware might be suitable. It is acceptable to use a mixture of devices running API and AT
firmware in a network.
Transparent Operation Features
Simple Interface All received serial data is transmitted unless the module is in command mode.
Easy to support It is easier for an application to support transparent operation and command mode
API Operation Features
Easy to manage data
transmissions to multiple
destinations
Transmitting RF data to multiple remotes only requires changing the address in the API frame. This
process is much faster than in transparent operation where the application must enter AT command
mode, change the address, exit command mode, and then transmit data.
Each API transmission can return a transmit status frame indicating the success or reason for
failure.
Received data frames
indicate the sender's
address
All received RF data API frames indicate the source address.
Advanced ZigBee
addressing support
API transmit and receive frames can expose ZigBee addressing fields including source and
destination endpoints, cluster ID and profile ID. This makes it easy to support ZDO commands and
public profile traffic.
Advanced networking
diagnostics
API frames can provide indication of IO samples from remote devices, and node identification
messages.
Remote Configuration
Set / read configuration commands can be sent to remote devices to configure them as needed
using the API.