User Manual
ConBee
Document Version V1.2
2017-12-10
User Manual
Version 1.2
2017-12-10
ConBee – USB Dongle
www.dresden-elektronik.de
Page 2 of 33
Table of contents
1. Overview ......................................................................................................................... 6
2. Applications ................................................................................................ ..................... 6
3. Features .......................................................................................................................... 6
3.1. Technical specification ........................................................................................... 6
3.2. How does the USB Dongle work? ........................................................................... 7
4. Quick start ....................................................................................................................... 8
4.1. Content of delivery.................................................................................................. 8
4.2. Shipping Software .................................................................................................. 8
4.3. Requirements ......................................................................................................... 8
4.3.1. Supported Operating Systems .................................................................... 8
4.4. Driver installation .................................................................................................... 8
4.4.1. Windows ..................................................................................................... 9
4.4.2. Linux ........................................................................................................... 9
4.5. Using the USB Dongle with deCONZ application .................................................... 9
4.5.1. Windows ..................................................................................................... 9
4.5.2. Raspbian Linux ......................................................................................... 11
4.5.3. Ubuntu Linux ............................................................................................. 13
4.6. Phoscon App on mobile devices, laptops and PC ................................................. 16
4.6.1. Requirements ............................................................................................ 16
4.6.2. Usage ....................................................................................................... 16
5. Installing custom firmware with GCFFlasher .................................................................. 17
5.1. Windows ............................................................................................................... 17
5.2. Raspbian Linux ..................................................................................................... 18
5.3. Ubuntu Linux ........................................................................................................ 19
5.4. Notes on custom firmware .................................................................................... 20
5.5. Example with BitCatcher ...................................................................................... 20
5.5.1. Software .................................................................................................... 20
5.5.2. Firmware ................................................................................................... 20
5.6. EEPROM layout ................................................................................................... 20
5.7. Fuse settings ........................................................................................................ 21
6. Technical data ............................................................................................................... 21
User Manual
Version 1.2
2017-12-10
ConBee – USB Dongle
www.dresden-elektronik.de
Page 3 of 33
6.1. Output power and channel settings ...................................................................... 23
7. Pin assignment .............................................................................................................. 24
8. Hardware modifications for development ....................................................................... 26
8.1. Assemble the program header ............................................................................. 26
8.2. Assemble the trace header ................................ ................................................... 27
8.3. Assemble the Serial Flash Memory ...................................................................... 27
8.4. Assemble the User button .................................................................................... 28
8.5. Assemble the status LEDs .................................................................................... 28
9. Radio certification .......................................................................................................... 29
9.1. United States (FCC) ............................................................................................. 29
9.2. European Union (ETSI) ........................................................................................ 30
9.3. Approved antenna list ........................................................................................... 30
10. Ordering information ...................................................................................................... 31
11. Revision notes ............................................................................................................... 31
12. References .................................................................................................................... 32
User Manual
Version 1.2
2017-12-10
ConBee – USB Dongle
www.dresden-elektronik.de
Page 4 of 33
Document history
Date
Version
Description
2016-06-15
1.0
Initial version
2016-09-30
1.1
Update deCONZ section for Ubuntu Linux
Update GCFFlasher section for Ubuntu Linux
Adding screenshots
2017-12-10
1.2
Update deCONZ installation for Windows, Ubuntu and Raspbian
Stretch.
Document deCONZ GUI and headless autostart.
Introduce Phoscon App as WebApp update.
User Manual
Version 1.2
2017-12-10
ConBee – USB Dongle
www.dresden-elektronik.de
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Abbreviations
Abbreviation
Description
IEEE 802.15.4
Communication standard, applicable to low-rate Wireless Personal Area
Networks (WPAN)
CE
Consumer Electronics
ETSI
European Telecommunications Standards Institute
FCC
Federal Communications Commission
GPIO
Generals Purpose Input Output
JTAG
Joint Test Action Group, digital interface for debugging of embedded
devices, also known as IEEE 1149.1 standard interface
MAC
Medium (Media) Access Control
MCU, µC
Microcontroller Unit
OS
Operating System
RF
Radio Frequency
RPi
Raspberry Pi, a famous inexpensive single board computer in credit card
size
R&TTE
Radio and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment
(Directive of the European Union)
U[S]ART
Universal [Synchronous/]Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter
ZigBee
Low-cost, low-power wireless mesh network standard. The ZigBee Alliance
is a group of companies that maintain and publish the ZigBee standard.
ZHA
ZigBee Home Automation profile
ZLL
ZigBee Light Link profile
User Manual
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2017-12-10
ConBee – USB Dongle
www.dresden-elektronik.de
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1. Overview
The ConBee is the platform independent USB Dongle that turns your host into a full
functional wireless node which can be seamlessly integrated into ZigBee networks. This will
enhance the application range of your host with monitoring and controlling ZigBee networks.
ZigBee compatible devices are available from a lot of manufacturers.
This USB Dongle contains a powerful radio module with integrated power amplifier and low
noise amplifier. Together with the assembled onboard chip antenna which has been
optimally tuned ensures a superior RF performance.
The ConBee is shipped with a bootloader application for simple firmware uploads and
updates.
The ZigBee firmware is interfaced by a program called deCONZ which runs on Windows and
Linux and is responsible for ZigBee network control and monitoring.
2. Applications
The ConBee is designed to handle ZigBee 3.0, ZigBee Light Link (ZLL) and ZigBee Home
Automation (ZHA) applications in connection with the ZigBee firmware and software
deCONZ. A more detailed description of the ZLL standard, the features, benefits and
available certified products can be found on the official alliance website [1].
It is also possible to use a custom firmware for wireless applications. Follow the instructions
in Section 5 and Section 10 for detailed instructions on software installation and customer
modifications.
Note: Please note that depending on the modifications the radio certification and
compliance may become invalid. Please get in contact with us to advise you
for a custom FCC certified and/or compliant design.
3. Features
The ConBee contains the features listed below. Figure 1 illustrates the feature parts in a
detailed view.
3.1. Technical specification
Slim size: 70.7 x 23.0 x 8.3 mm
Supply voltage: USB powered 5.0V / DC
Onboard 2.4 GHz ZigBee radio module ‘deRFmega256-23M12’
Application interfaces: USB
User Manual
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ConBee – USB Dongle
www.dresden-elektronik.de
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Figure 1: ConBee in detail
3.2. How does the USB Dongle work?
The functional parts of the ConBee are shown in a schematic overview in Figure 2.
The USB Dongle will be supplied by the USB 5.0 V domain. Therefore the USB power supply
must be sufficient to support the additional load. An onboard low-drop-out voltage regulator
generates a stable 3.3 V voltage to supply the radio module on the USB Dongle.
The onboard placed radio module deRFmega256-23M12 by dresden elektronik contains an
8-bit AVR microcontroller with an integrated low-power 2.4 GHz transceiver for ZigBee and
IEEE 802.15.4 applications. The ConBee is shipped with bootloader software and preinstalled ZigBee firmware. Each USB Dongle contains a world-wide unique identifier, named
MAC-ID. It consists of an 8 byte address, including the vendor ID and product ID. The MACID is stored in the MCU internal EEPROM.
Radio module
Chip antenna
USB connector
Flash (n.a.)
LEDs (n.a.)
FTDI
UART (n.a.)
JTAG (n.a.)
Button (n.a.)
n.a.: not assembled
User Manual
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ConBee – USB Dongle
www.dresden-elektronik.de
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The RF output signal of the 2.4 GHz radio module is routed to the assembled onboard chip
antenna.
Figure 2: Block Diagram
4. Quick start
This section describes in short steps a fast start-up of the ConBee to control and monitor a
ZigBee network.
4.1. Content of delivery
One shipped USB Dongle package contains the following:
1x ConBee - USB Dongle
1x Instruction leaflet
4.2. Shipping Software
The ConBee is shipped with bootloader software and pre-installed ZigBee firmware.
4.3. Requirements
The ConBee needs a dedicated USB port with up to 500mA current supply and works on
desktop PCs, laptops and the Single Board Computer Raspberry Pi 1, 2 and 3.
4.3.1. Supported Operating Systems
Microsoft Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and 10
Canonical Ubuntu Linux 16.04 LTS
Raspberry Pi Raspbian Jessie and Stretch
Note: Raspbian Wheezy is no longer supported.
4.4. Driver installation
On most platforms the necessary USB COM port drivers by FTDI will be installed
automatically when you plug in the USB Dongle. You can also download and install the FTDI
drivers manually from http://www.ftdichip.com/FTDrivers.htm
USB
UART
deRFmega256-23M12
FTDI
Chip Ant.
LDO
VUSB
4.5V to 5.5V
RFOUT2
VOUT
3.3V
User Manual
Version 1.2
2017-12-10
ConBee – USB Dongle
www.dresden-elektronik.de
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4.4.1. Windows
Plug in the ConBee USB Dongle into a free USB port. On Windows the drivers will be
installed automatically if you have activated automatic driver installation. A window will pop
up where you can select automatic driver installation.
4.4.2. Linux
No further driver installation is needed. All common Linux distributions include the necessary
COM port drivers.
4.5. Using the USB Dongle with deCONZ application
The deCONZ1 application allows the configuration, operation, monitoring and maintenance of
ZigBee networks.
4.5.1. Windows
1. Download and install the deCONZ software from:
https://www.dresden-elektronik.de/funktechnik/products/software/pc/deconz
Important: The next step will bring up a windows firewall warning. This happens because
deCONZ runs a webserver to provide the Phoscon App and is using an
Internet discovery mechanism so that the browser can find the Phoscon App.
For proper operation it’s required to confirm the firewall exception.
2. Start the deCONZ application from the start menu.
3. If necessary a firmware update request will be shown.
Proceed by clicking on Update Firmware button.
1
See https://www.dresden-elektronik.de/funktechnik/products/software/pc-software/deconz
User Manual
Version 1.2
2017-12-10
ConBee – USB Dongle
www.dresden-elektronik.de
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4. deCONZ automatically connects to the ConBee USB Dongle and a blue coordinator node
with address 0x0000 appears.
5. Click the Phoscon App button to open the browser based control software.
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