LoRa vs Xbee vs Xenon

I used high gain antennas like this with my units:

https://www.ebay.com/i/221037104237?chn=ps&dispItem=1

I also only got the 900HP radios working with the XBee commander software, never did get it set up with Photons. I just couldn’t find libraries for the 900HP radio line that was easy for me to port to Particle back then.

I find the LoRa radios easier to work with on the Photon since we have working code examples that I can understand.

So I’m not sure how easy working with the 900HP radios will be if you’re starting from scratch with them on the Photon or Electron. Maybe it would be easy for you to get working.

The main thing I liked about the LORA 95w radios was that they were cheaper, provided the same rang with wire antennas and the example code that worked.

Let us know how it goes.

Thank you.

What would be wrong with transparent mode? That seems like a standard TX/RX thing no?

Yea that would work just fine. Just parse the incoming data stream.

The XBEE has a lot of features that are available in the other modes though. I had a book on these but it just confused the shit out of me, seemed overly complicated.

XBee API mode is Much more reliable, and the Library requires API Mode 2.
Look at Andrew Rapp’s XBee library in the Web IDE. Take a look at his GIT page with Arduino Examples.
Your Electron can happily send data through Cellular, XBee, and Lora, if you wish.

I’d consider LoRa and XBee very similar when dealing with Point To Point Comms.

As @RWB said, LoRa is cheaper, XBee has FCC Certification (if that matters to Your Project).

My personal guess is that you will likely get a longer range with LoRa radios, as you can configure many of the parameters.

XBee shines in Mesh Networking, which doesn’t impact your HAB application, but is related to the OP.
I appoligize for Helping to HiJack @jonamleonel Thread.

@frlobo I would stick with the Lora and help us build the LoRa libraries for the Photon & Electron since it’s a really nice long range low power tech.

Check this latest contribution out here: My attempt at RF95 (LoRa)

@syrinxtech Any recommendations?

1 Like

@Rftop @RWB got it…

Since I already have XBee and the boards :confused: but will make Revision 3 for LoRas!

I’ll take a stab at transparent mode for XBee and workout on LoRa In the future.

I too apologize to @jonamleonel for hijacking his thread :blush:

2 Likes

Thank you so much!!! These questions will help me a lot to make a better planning.

Would this antenna work for the Xbee ground station?

ZDA Communications 902-928 MHz Yagi antenna, 17dBi https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01E2THEVM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_vjwYAbCWJ0CG8

@RWB, for my money, I’m going with LoRa. I have several XBee Series 1 and 2 units and I liked them OK, but I’m going to stick with Moteinos and Photons with the RF95 radios. And, when the new Particle’s come out later this year, they will get added to the stable.

2 Likes

I’m not sure but probably.

Digi sells/recommends these Laird Antennas which I would assume are proven options, and they look smaller than the one you are looking at.

https://www.digi.com/products/models/a09-y8nf

https://www.digi.com/products/models/a09-y11nf

These should work fine with the 900 MHz LoRa radios also.