Using Zigbee modules in home automation

There are a couple of other threads related to using the CC2480 and the topic of the Simple API interface.

https://community.ti.com/forums/p/337/1504.aspx

The Z-Accel Demonstration example highlights how to use the CC2480 with an MSP430F2274.

Fundamentally, the simple API is a set of command packets that are transmitted across the SPI interface from the microprocessor to the CC2480 and there are response packets as well.
The command packets were constructed to abstract many details of the Zigbee stack from a customer's application.

Thanks, Brandon.

I will study the Z-stack from the basic materials.

By the way, how shall I start software design? Do I have to write all the source code by myself? No way, man¬¬¬

Any demo helps?

Cheers. 

The following sites provide the software stack for Z-Stack including a couple of sample applications, including the Home Automation profile.  In addition, the Z-Accel software is indicated.

The Z-Stack software runs on a couple of devices, including a MSP430F2618 where the stack is running on the MSP430.  This is not what I was discussing earlier, but has the sample application for the Home Automation.
The Z-Accel software runs on a MSP430F2274, where the Zigbee stack is executed on the CC2480.

http://focus.ti.com/docs/toolsw/folders/print/z-stack.html

http://focus.ti.com/docs/prod/folders/print/cc2480a1.html

Hi, Brandon,

Where can i find any hardware schematic of MSP430 + cc2520?

Cheers.

I have found a couple of EVMs, using the MSP430F2816 and CC2520DK, which together provide what you are asking.

http://focus.ti.com/docs/toolsw/folders/print/cc2520dk.html

The CC2520DK User's Guide indicates the CC2530DK is compatible with the SmartRF05EB, CCMSP-EM430F2618 combination.  The C2520DK comes with all necessary boards and schematics.
The aforementioned User's Guide has schematics at the back for the SmartRF05EB and CCMSP-EM430F2618 boards.

Hi, Brandon,

Bad news~~~

my department doesn't have any tool for MSP430. If complier or emulator needed, I will pay for it by myself. What's worse, the cost of the whole project should be less than 50 pounds, which was specified by our department.  Are complier and emulator for MSP430 available for free?

I would like to design a coordinator and a router as a wireless network. Is it possbile for the cost.  If not, any other solution?  

Cheers,

David. 

This scenario certainly presents a challenge.  I guess the only thing I can say to try to articulate exactly what you would get with a particular path and you make the decision if this is acceptable.

Based on my current understanding of your application, my recommendation would be to use the eZ430-RF2480 platform which is $99USD.  This is $20USD above your budget as 50 pounds is roughly $79USD.
This platform provides the following:

• Three ZigBee Nodes (eZ430-RF2480 Target Boards)
  • One USB dongle interface (MSP-eZ430U)
  • Two powered by battery boards (eZ430-BB)
  • Four AAA batteries
• ZigBee Accelerator Sample Application (ZASA) for temperature and battery voltage sensor reporting using the eZ430-RF2480 Sensor Monitor PC application tool
• Sample Host Processor Code to demonstrate configuration, network instantiation or selection, binding, and communication
• free Kickstart version of the IAR Embedded Workbench Integrated Development Environment (IDE) limited to 4K byte programs for the MSP430

This provides the emulator and toolchain, although limited to program sizes of 4K bytes.

Since the Zigbee stack, which is much larger than 4K bytes, is in the CC2480, this would allow the 4K bytes to be your application and the layer that interacts with the CC2480.

There is also an alternative IDE in Code Composer Essentials from TI, but the free one is limited to 16K bytes.