XBee®/XBee‐PRO® ZB SMT RF Modules
A Comparison of Transparent and API Operation
The following table compares the advantages of transparent and API modes of operation:
Transparent Operation Features
Simple Interface
Easy to support
All received serial data is transmitted unless the module is in command mode.
It is easier for an application to support transparent operation and command mode
API Operation Features
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.
Easy to manage data
transmissions to multiple
destinations
Received data frames
indicate the sender's
address
All received RF data API frames indicate the source address.
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 ZigBee
addressing support
Advanced networking
diagnostics
API frames can provide indication of IO samples from remote devices, and node identification
messages.
Set / read configuration commands can be sent to remote devices to configure them as needed
using the API.
Remote Configuration
As a general rule of thumb, API mode is recommended when a device:
• sends RF data to multiple destinations
• sends remote configuration commands to manage devices in the network
• 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.
API mode is required when:
• using Smart Energy firmware
• using SPI for the serial port
• receiving I/O samples from remote devices
• using source routing
If the above conditions do not apply (e.g. a sensor node, router, or a simple application), then transparent
operation might be suitable. It is acceptable to use a mixture of devices running API mode and transparent
mode in a network.
© 2010 Digi International, Inc.
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