In this post we shall review the XBEE Radio TARANG.
Melange Systems P Ltd ,Bangalore supply TARANG modules which are XBEE Series 1 compliant.
The Break Out boards are manufactured by NSK Electronics,Bangalore & distributed by Saravana Electronics,Coimbatore.
TARANG XBEE Module TARANG on USB BreakOut Board
Support Video for this post: Part1 : Usage of Tarang Modules on Breakout Boards & configuring using TMFT program
In this workshop we shall make use of USB breakout boards.These are very handy to use & no external power adapter is required.Just plug in the Tarang module in to the socket and connect the USB cable to one of the USB ports of your PC.
While plugging in the module on to the USB breakout board take care to insert the right way. Pin 1 is power (3.3v DC) & Pin 10 is Ground..
Connect one of the USB board with Tarang module to one of the USB port of your PC & the second one to other USB port.
Open the Device Manager & scroll down to expand Ports.
Your USB boards are allotted COM ports.If they are not recognized , then download the FTDI drivers from HERE.
FTDI is the device on USB BreakOut board that provides Virtual Com Port (VCP).
We are going to use a Program called TMFT – Tarang Multi Function Tool to configure the modules.
Download the Program here.
Fire up the TMFT.
Your ports are already recognized & displayed under Select Com Port.
Make sure the Serial Port is selected & select COM 13 to configure the Modem connected to it.The port settings should be Baud Rate – 9600 , 8N1.
Now click on Query Modem.TMFT detects a Modem connected to COM13 port.Click OK.
If not detected , try to pull out the module from USB board and place it the Right way that Pins 1 & 10 are placed correctly.Press Reset button.
Click on Terminal or press Ctrl+T to open the in built Terminal Program.
Keep this Terminal aside and open up second instance of TMFT program.
Now select the second port COM14 and click on Query Modem.TMFT will confirm the detection of another Tarang Modem.
Click Ok & then open the Terminal by pressing Ctrl+T.
Place both the Terminals side by side.
To the left is the Terminal for COM13 & to the Right is for COM14.
Now click inside COM13 terminal and start typing some text.You can see the Tx Light blinking at the bottom & the text is received by COM14. The Rx light at bottom blinks while receiving text .
Congrats !! Now you are communicating between two Tarang modules in Wireless mode.
Using Transmit File facility in the Terminal you can transmit the contents of a Text file.To test this , open up Notepad & type some text.Save it as some text file.
Click on Transmit File & browse to the location where you stored the text file.Click Open.
Now you can see the contents of Text file Received under COM14 Terminal.
AT Commands
Tarang modules can be configured using AT commands.Within the Terminal of TMFT program type 3 consecutive +++ symbols to enter Command Mode.Just type +++ ,do not even type Enter.
Video : Part 2 AT commands with TARANG
All AT commands used by Tarang modules are sorted by category.
After typing AT ,the category should be mentioned.The categories are
G – General category N – Networking S – Serial Interface
P – Power Commands I – Input/Output Control …..
ATG — General category
ATN – Networking category
ATS — Serial Interface
ATP — Power Commands
ATI – Input Output Control
Some Read Only Commands
Note that till you give ATGEX command the module will remain in Command mode.
For availability of the Modules & Breakout boards contact
alselectro 
Thanx for such an awesome tutorial on setting up the tarang modules…….It will be really helpfull if u can give some tutorial on how to interface tarang with arduino uno board …
I am making a series of tutorials on Arduino.Soon you’ll see them including
interfacing.
Could you direct me to some sites, where i can buy Zigbee modules for lowest price. Can i get zigbee modules for less than 500Rs. I can interface even if they provide just SPI protocol, I dont need all the GPIO and ADC part present in the Zigbee modules.
Thankyou.
Hi
Xbee modules from DIGI are costly.Compared to that TARANG modules are cheaper.But if you want in the lowest price range , go for Texas CC2500 modules.
It has SPI .Check up my blog at
https://alselectro.wordpress.com/2012/10/14/xbee-radio-2-chipcon-cc2500-of-texas-instruments/
Thanks, but CC2500 chips are not Zigbee compliant radio’s, they are proprietary RF communication, and moreover they dont have the Zbee stack in them. I want Zbee stack for application and endpoint level programming so that I can use them for Home Automation project. I found one Zbee module for 1K Rs (nskelectronics). I guess thats the cheapest I can get it for in Bangalore.
Thank you so much Sir. I have been searching how to communicate with Tarang modules for a year now, and finally landed on your site. Fantastic write up on AT commands related to Tarang modules. Thanks again.
i have bought tarang f4 try to communicate tmft software when it try to query i have found communication failed and possibilites are
1.PC Settings may not match with Modem Settings
2.Communication port may not be connected properly with modem
3.No power to communication modem
4.May reset modem and then try again
i had a pair i m getting same error for both devices
i m using windows 7 and updates virtual com port drivers
can u please telll me how to rectify this error
I also had the same problem
check following thing
1.check whether your com port is detecting in device manager,if not please install the software for virtual com ports according to your cable.
2. check with your power supply..
thank you..
i have bought tarang f4 try to communicate tmft software when it try to query i have found communication failed and possibilites are
1.PC Settings may not match with Modem Settings
2.Communication port may not be connected properly with modem
3.No power to communication modem
4.May reset modem and then try again
i had a pair i m getting same error for both devices
i m using windows 7 and updates virtual com port drivers
can u please telll me how to rectify this error
How do you connect Tarang to your PC? Do you use an USB-UART converter or do you use any RS232 dongle?
If so, the drivers related to the converter or dongle should be installed.After connecting ,open up the Device manager
& check up whether your hardware is detected.Please go through my blog at
https://alselectro.wordpress.com/2012/10/14/xbee-radio3-tarang-module/
i used a usb uart cable and installed cp210x supporting driver
in device manager it has been detected
hello sir thanks for a superb tutorial on tarang modules.
I bought the tarang modules from NSK electronics bangalore with breakout boards.
I am trying to interface it with AT89S52 microcontroller.
can you please give a schematic on connecting the controller to tarang.. It’ll be a lot help.
Thanks in advance.
Tarang can be interfaced with 89S52 using serial port with the help of level
conversion.Use RS232 breakout board for Tarang & connect pin 10 (RxD P3.0)
& pin 11 (TxD P3.1) of 89S52 to pin 3 & pin 2 of DB9 connector respectively.
Thanks for the reply sir.
I will try your suggestion and post you back soon sir..
hello sir!!!
i m using tarang f4 module to establish wireless communication b/w my laptop and 8051 (p89v51rd2). the problem i have is, when 8051 sends data pc is able to receive, but when i m sending data from pc side it is not received by 8051….i have successfully checked 2 way wired communication…i don’t know sir what is wrong in wireless…all i could think of is that there is some incompatibility issue…but i don’t where it is and how to rectify it…. pls help
How do you connect Tarang to PC ? Are you using USB break out board or RS232 board?
If RS232 board is used,check up the external power supply to that board.
Try to use TMFT software & check up wireless communication between the Tarang Modules.
sir! i m using RS232 breakout board…as i mentioned above, i m able do one way communication (from 8051 to pc), so there is no problem with external power supply, i m giving power supply to each of the breakout boards…and sir, i have tested 2 way communication b/w two PCs using the same Tarang f4 modules, it worked fine both way… i don’t know what is going wrong with 8051….i have interfaced 8051 directly to the breakout board and whwn 8051 it is transmitting data it is received by pc, but when pc is transmitting 8051 does not receives it…
sir! i have connected tx and rx pin of 8051 directly to rx and tx pins respectively in DB9 connector of RS232 breakout board. ground connection is also made . pls help me with this sir. if i m able to get this, i’ll be able to control my robot wirelesslly. i have got stuck @ the final point…please help.
thank u very much reply.
sir,
can you please tell us how to configure tarang zigbee serial interfece for mesh topology?
check up this link for a mesh tutorial
http://xbee.wikispaces.com/Mesh+with+Xbee
sir,
need to implement mesh topology using tarang f4 with serial interfece on TMFT
any suggetions for that?
thanks
Hello sir i have the version 3.2 of tarang f20. I do not see any option for 3.2 in the dropdown of hardware version under tools -> modem configuration. Please suggest me how i must Read and Write to the tarang module
Contact Melange Systems & request for new version of TMFT software
http://www.melangesystems.com/contact%20us.html
Hello sir,I am using Tarang f4 , I have use the I/o, does it require any configuration, if how
By default all I/O pins are Outputs in Tarang & no analog output is possible.You’ve to configure for the inputs using ATID , e.g . ATID02 to make pin20 digital input.The logic condition of pin 20 is now transferred to the paired module at the receiving end.
sir kindly i have details how to change the( S B D) f20 and i want 2 type of use 1 rs232 ; 2 I/O on off control for led only
thanks….
To change baud rate use command ATSBD followed by baud reference number ,say, to change to baud 19200, ATSBD4.
Before issuing ATGWR command ,change the baud rate of TMFT terminal to 19200 & then give ATGWR command.
Sir, if I wish to set destination Address as 0x000B using ATNDA command, how exactly to do it? How to write the command?
Open up the Terminal of TMFT software.Type in +++ to enter Command mode.By default all Tarang modules are configured for Destination address 1000.
To change this give command ATNDA000B.
Do not forget to write changes by typing command ATGWR.
sir,
how to configure tarang F4 to mesh? using at commands??
hello sir,
I am using tarang f-4 series modem in my project.
while using TMFT when I connect the modem to pc, after query it detects modem.
but in modem config. when I click on read modem it is giving me error (TMSnet 3.2 1.7 .xml file not found)
I want to implement net topology..
As you can communicate with modem ,enter into command mode by typing +++ inside Terminal window.Restore to factory defaults by giving command ATGRD .Then ATGWR followed by ATGEX to exit.
Still the problem persists ,try to download TMFT again & reinstall.
Dear Sir
I’m doing my project based on tarang F4 module.Main idea of my project is the Mesh Topology available in tarang F4 modules.My Eval board in 3.3 v standard.SO that i can connect my RX & TX pin directly to tarang modules.
My doubts are
1)What should i do with RST,RSSI,Bgnd,Sleep pins when connecting with my Eval board.
2)When doing mesh topology,how will addressing be done amoung Routers.If possible can u help me with programming flow or flow chart when programming our MCU for Mesh Topology &configuration for Tarang module
Tarang Mesh can be achieved only with modules of Firmware version 3.0 or 0.001. To know the version use ATVFW command.If the version is some other than these ,you’ve to order for Tarang modules with Mesh firmware.
RST pin 5 is Module Reset pin. RSSI pin6 is Receive signal strength indicator ,parameter of which is known through ATPRS command.But RSSI is not yet implemented in F4.
BGnd pin 8 is programming pin used in factory.
Sleep pin9 is for sleep control of Mobile nodes.This pin is applied LOW to make module sleep & HIGH is applied to wake it up.2 types of sleep mode . One is pin controlled (ATPSM=1) & other is cyclic sleep (ATPSM=2).
Tarang Mesh network has 3 types of nodes : ROOT , ROUTER & MOBILE nodes.
ROOT is the center of Mesh which acts like a Coordinator in original XBEEs.You define a root node by setting ATNMY as 0x00000001.The root node then allocates internal network address for routers as required.Routers will then be associated with Root.
Mobile nodes are defined by ATNMY as 0xFFFFFFFE.Mobile nodes do not register with any router & transmit/receive when they needed.Note that Sleep is applied only to this type of nodes.
Finally Mesh communication is more controlled & flexible in API mode for Root .Other nodes where you connect sensors are set to non-API mode. ATGAP is the command to enable API.
Dear Sir
Thanks for the reply that i have come to a stand to use switch for Sleep pin.What should i do with RST pin,RSSI pin &Bgnd pin.SHould i connect them to LOW or HIGH
I didn’t understand about Firmware version.Are u saying that there are again different varieties in Tarang F4 modules(having Firmware version3.0 & not having firmware version 3.0 ).
can u provide me with more details about mesh topology using zigbee.In previous comment,sir told about Router,Root & Mobile node.Let me know what is the role of Root in mesh topology?
Thanx a lot… Bought the modules but was having difficulty using them because they are bit different from the xbee one.. Such a helpful post
Can I run the module on xbee breakout board(adapter)?
Because pinout of xbee and tarang zigbee pinout are almost same.
Tarang is same as XBEE with restricted configuration.You can very well use the same breakout for both.
mess topology sir.I Am not able to establish using tarang f20
You’ve to preorder for Tarang modules with Mesh firmware.By default what you get in market are loaded with net firmware
Sir ,is it possible to use one tarang module and one xbee module, by setting them to same PAN Id..
Not possible.Tarang can communicate with another tarang only. DIGI S1 with S1. S2 with S2 .You can’t even mix S1 with S2.
Sir, I am having a module of Tarang-P20 and its frimware version is 02.8.Can I implement mesh network using this module ? and if yes then how?
Mesh firmware can be upgraded only in factory.You’ve to pre order TARANG with MESH firmware while purchasing.Better use DIGI’s S2 modules
for Mesh networking.Very powerful module , interesting to configure & use.