RedBee Communication Interface

The RedBee RFID reader has a direct USB and wireless XBee serial interfaces, selected via jumpers.

The USB interface simply connects to a host computer using a USB A to Mini-B cable (included with the RedBee RFID Reader).

The XBee wireless serial interface communicates with another XBee module connected to the host computer via a USB Xbee carrier board.

RedBee Networked Mode

The XBee wireless interface is very powerful in that a single host computer can communicate with one or more RedBee readers, simultaneously, using the Networked BPAN mode.

This requires some basic XBee configuration of the RedBee RFID reader and XBee modules, but is very easy to do. Setup will take a matter of minutes. A configuration How-To of the RFID readers to communicate in a Networked BPAN scenario is available below.

RedBee Reading Range

The RedBee RFID Reader has an excellent range of 4 ½”, however, this can vary depending on the RFID tag packaging, input voltage, and orientation of the tag when swiped.

Internal Valid Tag List

The RedBee RFID reader can store up to 48 tags in an internal valid tags list. Tags can be saved/deleted to/from the list either via serial commands, or by toggling the SAVE and/or DEL pins on the reader.

Autopulse Functionality

In response to a tag swipe, the RedBee RFID reader can respond by automatically pulsing one of the four OUT pins. This ‘autopulse’ functionality allows you to connect up to four relays (for example) to the OUT pins, to activate door locks or other peripherals when a valid tag is swiped.

Setting the direction, duration, and enabling of each autopulse pin is fully configurable via serial commands.

Asynchronous Serial Event Notification Packets

The RedBee RFID reader transmits out serial event packets in response to various events, containing data specific to that event and RFID tag id. This allows the host application can decide on the appropriate action to take (e.g. grant access for the tag id swiped), and send a command down to toggle one of the outputs (e.g. to unlock a door).

Asynchronous packets are sent out for the following events:

• Tag Swipe
• Tag Delete (via the DEL pin on the reader)
• Tag Save (via the SAVE pin on the reader)
• Pin changes (via the OUTx pins on the reader)
• RF Power Enable/Disable (via the RFP pin on the reader)

This is useful to keep the configuration on the board coherent with host applications that are also communicating with the reader.

RedBee RFID Reader Specs

• Support all EM41xx family 125 kHz RFID tags including cards, buttons, capsules, disks, key fobs, and others
• Power LED
• Valid/Invalid Tag LED
• Xbee Comm LED
• 3 Power Inputs Options (jumper selectable 2.5mm x 5.5mm Barrel Connector, USB, or Vcc inputs. Onboard input voltage regulator for Barrel connector(12V max)
• USB and XBee Interface (jumper selectable)
• Serial Communication Protocol and Shared Serial Devices Protocol (SSDP)
• 4.5" tag reading range (tag geometry also affects reading distance)
• 4 Configurable GPIO Pins
• 4 GPIO pins support Autopulse functionality (configurable direction and duration)
• Supports Xbee and Xbee Pro modules
• Supports Communicating withe multiple RFID readers using one computer (requires USB XBee Carrier board)

(Click image for larger view)

Click on an icon below to learn more about the RedBee RFID Reader:



Digi X-CTU Application Download (for configuring Xbee module settings)

RedBee RFID Reader .NET Library Downloads:

• Release v1.0.0.0 (msi installer) - Feb 15, 2010
• RedBee RFID Reader .NET Library Documentation(CHM file) 1.25MB - Updated Feb 10, 2010

RedBee RFID Reader Quick Start .NET Applications - ReadyToRun

NOTE: Make sure you have the latest RedBee RFID .NET Library installed.

	RedBee RFID Reader Tag Swiper Example Application This application allows you to test the the most commonly used functionality of the RedBee RFID Reader. Downloads RedBee RFID Reader Tag Swiper How-To: (pdf) RedBee RFID Reader Tag Swiper Test App (winzipped VS2008 C# Express Solution)
	SSDP Device Test Application (Shared Serial Device Protocol) This application allows you to see what RedBee RFID reader devices are talking on the XBee Broadcast Personal Area Network (BPAN) using SSDP. It also displays asynchronous RFID readers event information flowing across the BPAN. Downloads SSDP Device App How-To: (pdf) SSDP Device Test App (winzipped VS2008 C# Express Solution)

RFID Technology Information:

We would like to thank RFID enthusiast Amal Graafstra for his contributions to the development of this reader. His beta testing and valuable input helped make this product the best it could be! Thanks Amal!

• Amal Graafstra's RFID website

DC Characteristics:

Ambient temperature under bias: -55 to +125°C

Storage temperature: -65°C to +150°C

Voltage on any pin with respect to VSS: -0.3V to (VDD + 0.3V)

Voltage on VDD with respect to VSS: -0.3 to +5.5V

Total power dissipation on digital I/O pins: 1.0W

Maximum current out of VSS pin: 300 mA

Maximum current into VDD pin: 250 mA

Input clamp current, IIK (VI < 0 or="" VI="" > VDD): 20 mA

Output clamp current, IOK (VO < 0 or="" VO="" > VDD): 20 mA

Maximum output current sunk by any I/O: 25 mA

Maximum output current sourced by any I/O pin: 25 mA