3. Advanced Application Features; Remote Configuration Commands; Sending A Remote Command; Applying Changes On Remote Devices - Digi XBee Manual

XBee/XBee‐PRO DigiMesh 2.4 RF Modules
3. Advanced Application Features

Remote Configuration Commands

A module in API mode has provisions to send configuration commands to remote devices using the Remote Command Request
API frame (See API Operations chapter.) This API frame can be used to send commands to a remote module to read or set com-
mand parameters.

Sending a Remote Command

To send a remote command, the Remote Command Request frame should be populated with the 64-bit address of the
remote device, the correct command options value, and the command and parameter data (optional). The API field for a 16
bit address should be set to 0xFFFE. If a command response is desired, the Frame ID should be set to a non-zero value.
Only unicasts of remote commands are supported. Remote commands cannot be broadcast.

Applying Changes on Remote Devices

When remote commands are used to change command parameter settings on a remote device, parameter changes do not
take effect until the changes are applied. For example, changing the BD parameter will not change the actual serial inter-
face rate on the remote until the changes are applied. Changes can be applied using remote commands in one of three
ways:
• Set the apply changes option bit in the API frame
• Issue an AC command to the remote device
• Issue a WR + FR command to the remote device to save changes and reset the device.

Remote Command Responses

If the remote device receives a remote command request transmission, and the API frame ID is non-zero, the remote will
send a remote command response transmission back to the device that sent the remote command. When a remote com-
mand response transmission is received, a device sends a remote command response API frame out its UART. The remote
command response indicates the status of the command (success, or reason for failure), and in the case of a command
query, it will include the register value. The device that sends a remote command will not receive a remote command
response frame if:
• The destination device could not be reached
• The frame ID in the remote command request is set to 0.
Network Commissioning and Diagnostics
Network commissioning is the process whereby devices in a mesh network are discovered and configured for operation. The
modules include several features to support device discovery and configuration. In addition to configuring devices, a strategy
must be developed to place devices to ensure reliable routes.
To accommodate these requirements, the modules include various features to aid in device placement, configuration, and net-
work diagnostics.

Device Configuration

These modules can be configured locally through serial commands (AT or API), or remotely through remote API commands.
API devices can send configuration commands to set or read the configuration settings of any device in the network.

Device Placement

For a mesh network installation to be successful, the installer must be able to determine where to place individual XBee
devices to establish reliable links throughout the mesh network.
Link Testing
A good way to measure the performance of a mesh network is to send unicast data through the network from one
device to another to determine the success rate of many transmissions. To simplify link testing, the modules support
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