These modules are basically equivalent to the xbee parts. You'd have to pull out the spec sheets to see the differences, which may come down to the MAC layer or software protocals.
I just finished a project using these exact same parts! After looking at the high prices on the XBee chips I got a few of these same transmitters and receivers from Sparkfun to build a remote control for one of my robots. The chips have a lot of quirks but are not very hard to figure out despite some comments to the contrary on Sparkfun. If you are interested in Arduino I would highly recommend Tom Igoe's book Making Things Talk. The book is filled with a ton of wireless projects and walks you through the Arduino basics. If you are in L.A. and interested in Arduino I recommend checking out the occasional Arduino classes offered at Machine Project (www.machineproject.com).
While not entirely related to the article, I've been wanting to start playing with an Arduino for a while now. I have a little bit of experience with circuits, but not really anything that goes beyond soldering a longer wire onto something.
Does anyone have a suggestion about where to start with Arduinos? Specifically, a kit which would be complete enough to play with and make a few things.
I recently bought and arduino and have been having a LOT of fun with it...
Last night, actually, I was the most giddy I think I have been in YEARS...
I stole two servos out of a remote control plane from my childhood, and connected them to one another so that I could point a stick at almost any point...(think like what an observatory does...the end of my servo was the telescope)...
Anyhow (this is going to be a birthday present for my friend that introduced me to this)...I connected an LED to the end of a stick that was connected to one of the servos, then wrote some code to spell out words with it in the air...
Set a camera in front of it, turn the lights out, expose for about 30 seconds (or however long the drawing takes) and get a word...totally stupid, totally pointless and TOTALLY fun...
For this project I needed:
2 servos (any servos will pretty much work...you can buy them at your local hobby shop)
1 LED
some wire.
Some Spaghetti sticks (I used these to make an "arm" for the LED).
The birthday present is going to be a program that spells out "Happy Birthday" in the air, as well as the source code for it :).
Honestly, after the servo went back to its "home" position, and shut off the LED, it took about 10 seconds for the photo to process. Seeing the photo come onto the screen with my message in it was AMAZING.
Seriously, if you're even thinking about buying one of these, JUST DO IT! Playing with this thing feels like when I first started to code way back when...
That was one of the places I had looked at, and was seriously considering: http://www.adafruit.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&... . My primary concern was whether or not that would be able to get me from "Huh, these sound cool" TO "well, if I go out and buy X and Y, I'll be able to make a really cool Z".
I guess its finding that balance point, a kit with enough parts to take you through learning the process, but not so much stuff you end up with things you never use.
However you can download the PDF's (check the Resources section of the page) so I'm going to buy the missing components.
Edit:
One thing I am sorely missing is a decent sized breadboard for prototyping. The little mini one that comes with the starter kit is nice because it fits on the proto-shield but I want a bigger one for my initial designs.
Oooh. I never looked to closely at that one, I had figured it was mostly just the same kit, plus the plastic cards, but going through it all, it definitely looks worth the extra $20. It looks like the one I linked was enough to get someone excited about the Arduino, and the one you linked was enough to actually start making things.
I never really looked at the answers before but I know this has been talked about many times. So, I suggest that you comb through the results here: http://searchyc.com/arduino
1. Build a wirless mesh tower that send a stronger signal than of your typical internet router.
2. Connect a server to it.
3. Write docs and plans so others can build it too. Sell arduino kit for lazy people.
4. Build a UAV that retransmit wireless signal to other mesh tower.
5. Again, write docs and plans so other can build transmitter UAV too. Don't forget selling the kits.
6. Use profits to build next generation of wireless mesh towers(solar powered? long lasting?) and transmitter UAV(higher up? Bigger payload? Stay in the air longer? More pointers?)
7. Repeat the cycle of improvement, selling, and education.
yeah, I also missed that step about explaining to the FCC why this unapproved device should be allowed to "send a stronger signal than of your typical internet router." As a bonus you do get a FREE visit from some government bureaucrats though :)
If you're going to do anything that requires reliable data transfer or data rates higher than a few k, consider the following:
http://www.microchip.com/wwwproducts/Devices.aspx?dDocName=e...
These only cost 10 bucks in single quantities and include a tuned pcb antenna.
These modules are MUCH, MUCH, MUCH better...