Questions
From SquidBee
Can I add other sensors? How many?
Sure! The 12 digital I/O and 6 analog I/O let you connect upto 18 sensors!
What kind of new sensors can I add?
Any! Sound, gases, smoke, presence, GPS, pressure... Take a look to the Projects section
Self-powered? what kind of batteries are you talking about?
SquidBee works with 5V, so you can use anything wich feeds it between 5V - 15V. Normal configurations are: 4 x 1'5V (AA) and 2 x 9V (6F22).
Can I attach a GPS module to the mote?
Sure! We have developed a GPS module for SquidBee! : GPS module.
What is the ZigBee module power transmission?
The communications module developed uses the XBee MaxStream chip. There are "two flavours" for that chipset:
+ XBee : 1mW = 30m indoor, 100m outdoor
+ XBee Pro : 100mW = 100m indoor, 1600m outdoor
SquidBee comes with the 1mW XBee module and a pigtail connector attached to a 2'1 dB dipole antenna. This configurations is used because of the low consumption target. However, you can change Xbee module if longer transmissions are needed because the chip is not soldered to the board. You can also change the anntena, the connection to the ZigBee module is made through a MMCX male standard connector.
Can I use other modules which communicate using the serial port?
Sure! You can attach any serial device/module since SquidBee can use software conversion through the digital I/O to get a serial simulation for several devices at the same time (the Arduino board is really versatile and allows you perform this kind of operations).
Can I make secure communications?
Sure! The ZigBee module lets you use the AES-128 bit cipher algorythm.
Can I send parametres in execution time to the SquidBee?
Sure! It is a bidireccional communication. You can send commands to any of the nodes.
How can I (send / receive) (to / from) an specific node?
Each node has a unique 64 bit long ID Number in the network. Anyway you can program the board and give extra identification names to each node.
Can I create subnets inside a Sensor Network?
Sure! You can have hundreds of SquidBee's running in the same area and program them to be grouped by subnets, each of them transmitting on a different frequency channel in order to avoid interferences.
Can I make develop Mesh Networks with the motes?
Sure! You can develop whatever you want with the programmable board wich controls the wireless communications module.
Where can I use the monitoring software?
You can use it in Linux, Windows and Mac.
Where can I use the compilation board software?
You can use it in Linux, Windows and Mac.
Can I transform a Sensor Node to a Gateway one or viceversa?
Sure! The Arduino board is the same and it comes with USB port and the analogic and digital I/O. You just have to change the software running on the board and attach or remove the sensors or the USB cable.
Can I connect the gateway node to several architectures?
Sure! the conection is through an USB port!
Can I use the Arduino board for other purposes?
Sure! The ZigBee module can be detached and you can use the Arduino "as is" and use it for any other purpose.
What does really mean Open Harware?
You can access the circuit schematic, see how everything works, change what you want, make your own circuit...
Is there any other commercial motes?
A lot of companies (Crossbow, Intel, Microstain...) are researchig in this field, but SquidBee is the only one wich is really open source and hardware.
Tell me about the warranty
As others open source and hardware developments, is comes with NO WARRANTY. SquidBee has been realized having in mind RESEARCH and EDUCATIONAL purposes, NOT FOR COMMERCIAL ones. It means you can use it for any other application (including commercial ones) UNDER YOUR ENTIRE RESPONSABILITY.
The reference designs for SquidBee are distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Go to Licensing page for more details about Open Hardware and Licensing.
