Kit makes it easy to play with ZigBee

Wireless kit contains everything required to set up a ZigBee mesh network connected to a PC - and is available during July 2007 at a US $200 discount.

A new wireless control experimenters' kit contains everything required to set up a ZigBee mesh network connected to a PC.

The kit will interest anyone who is curious about ZigBee wireless controls, and is packaged as a solution that works straight out of the box.

It incorporates a wide variety of I/Os, including digital, analogue, relay, temperature and light sensors, with ready-written sample programs that let you use the devices immediately.

It also includes source code for the sample software for those who want develop their own applications.

Kit is both RoHS compliant (lead-free) and fully ZigBee certified.

"We developed the Combo Platter almost a year ago for environmental controls in spas and greenhouses", reports Brian Empey, CEO of Techsol.

"But through word-of-mouth we find that many people want a simple, flexible, wireless control box such as this, but with genuine ZigBee mesh networking".

"So we decided to make it available to everyone".

"We're excited to see companies such as Z-Point Products working to make ZigBee technology more accessible to the masses, including people who aren't electrical engineers", says Bob Heile, Chairman of the ZigBee Alliance.

The ZigBee wireless control experimenter's kit comes as a set of four wireless devices plus software for Windows or Linux computers.

It combines: two ZigBee "Combo Platter" boards, featuring a four each of analogue inputs, relay outputs, and digital I/O, plus light and temperature sensors; one ZigBee USB dongle that plugs into a PC; a ZigBee co-ordinator that plugs into an AC outlet; USB and serial cables; AC adapters for each of the I/O boards; and a CD that contains Java and Windows programs, along with their source code.

This kit, based on the same ZigBee dongle that was demonstrated at Light Fair 2006 in May and hailed by the ZigBee Alliance as the world's first ZigBee product, is normally priced at US $695.

However, for the first 500 customers who order a kit in July, this kit is available for only US $495 - a saving of $200.

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