Operating Modes - Digi XBee Zigbee Mesh Kit User Manual

How XBee devices work
If you plug the modules into the boards and connect them to a computer or microcontroller
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using the micro USB cables, you can configure the XBee modules, test the connection, and
send/receive data to/from other modules.
If you plug the modules into the boards and connect them to a battery, the XBee modules work
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autonomously. For example, they can gather data from a sensor and send it to a central node.

Operating modes

XBee devices can use their local serial connection in very different ways. The "operating mode"
establishes the way the host device communicates with an XBee module through the serial interface.
XBee modules support two different operating modes:
Application Transparent ("transparent mode")
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Application Programming Interface ("API mode")
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Application Transparent operating mode
This mode is called "transparent" because the radio passes information along exactly as it receives it.
All serial data received by the radio module is sent wirelessly to a remote destination XBee module.
When the other module receives the data, it is sent out through the serial port exactly as it was
received. Transparent mode has limited functionality but is an easy way to get started with XBee
devices.
To learn more about transparent mode, see
API operating mode
Application Programming Interface (API) operating mode is an alternative to transparent mode. In API
mode, a protocol determines the way information is exchanged. Data is communicated in packets
(commonly called API frames). This mode allows you to form larger networks and is more appropriate
for creating sensor networks to perform tasks such as collecting data from multiple locations,
controlling devices remotely, or automating your home.
XBee® Zigbee® Mesh Kit
XBee transparent mode.
Serial communication
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