I own an old Digi Connectport X2 with ZB firmware, therefore suitable to act as a coordinator of a Zigbee network. This device has an ethernet port that, properly configured, allows sending and receiving radio network packets to or from a TCP/UDP connection, what is really useful in order to make tests from any computer able to access to the ethernet gateway port.
Since I need to form not a Zigbee but a 802.15.4 network, some changes are necessary in order to convert the Connectport X2 Zigbee coordinator into a 802.15.4 coordinator. These are the steps to be done: Upgrading the X2 gateway and Xbee PRO radio module firmwares or, in the last case, replacing the radio module by a 802.15.4 compliant module.
Upgrading the X2 gateway firmware
In order to get the proper firmware, go to the Digi Support Page, "Firmware updates" section and search "Connectport X2 - 802.15.4 - Ethernet" (link here). In case that the installed version was older than the available versions, the best is updating first the POST firmware and then updating the Connectport X2D (that was the exact name of my gateway firmware) firmware. Both the POST and the gateway installed firmwares can be checked in the Gateway "Administration/System information" page. In this case I updated the firmwares to version 1.1.3 release 82002548_B for POST and version 2.17.1.2 release 82002549_G1 04/20/2017 for gateway firmware.
Upgrading the Xbee PRO radio module
After upgrading the gateway firmware, it is necessary upgrading the radio module. The way to do depends on the installed radio module:
- If the gateway contains a Xbee Pro S2(B) module, it is not compatible with the 802.15.4 firmware and therefore it must be replaced by another, 802.15.4 compatible, radio module. The valid options are two:
- Replacing it by a Xbee Pro S1 module: it is old, expensive and it will become deprecated on December 2018, so it is not a good option to buy one.
- Replacing it by a Xbee Pro S2C module: better and cheaper than the S1 module, it is compatible with Connectport X2D from firmware version 2.17.1.1, so upgrading the gateway firmware to that version (or higher) is necessary.
- If the gateway contains a Xbee Pro S2C module, just upgrade the firmware by downloading the latest from the Digi support page (go to the Digi Support Page, "Firmware updates" section and search "XBee / XBee-PRO S2C 802.15.4 Modules", link here). The usual firmware option should be that containing "TH" (through hole) in its name, that is addressed to the Xbee Pro through hole modules that usually are mounted in the X2 gateways. However, in case of trying to upgrade the module with a wrong firmware, the gateway will generate an error and the process will be aborted, so no risk in this step in case of choosing the wrong firmware.
