CCS has just announced Zigbee development packages bundling boards using the Ember EM260 and the PIC16F676, the PCWH compiler, and their ICD tool ($600). As far as I can tell, no network analysis tools are included, and Ember’s hardware-based tool is undoubtedly very expensive, as they don’t list a price.

Though I have been focussing on Zigbee lately, all that Atmosphericon needs is an easy to use, robust network architecture. There are others out there. SunSPOT from Sun is an interesting project. If it gains traction, it could be a very interesting platform for ambient feedback devices. It’s pretty hardware-heavy, as all Java solutions seem to be, but it could attract a lot of developers, aspecially if the hardware becomes gets more flexible/customizable as time goes on.

At this point the two strongest contenders are Jennic and Meshnetics. Both make modules which integrate a microcontroller which is used for both networking and the user application. Meshnetics uses an Atmel micro and an Atmel radio, and provides software libraries for networking which one compiles with their own code. They offer modules with external and chip antennas. Network control is done using AT-type commands.
Jennic uses their own 32-bit processor with built-in radio, ROM and lots of RAM. The micro’s ROM contains the networking code and a bootloader, and user code is stored in serial flash and loaded on startup. All micro and network control is done through API calls.

The Jennic system has the advantage of offering a nice volume path as they sell both $25 modules and $5 micro/radios. The Meshnetics offerings are unknown at this point, they are out of Russia but anticipate Digikey distribution in the next month or so. Still waiting on pricing.

Meshnetics also offers an ethernet gateway, which is an interesting idea. I would probably prefer to do a USB gateway, but the ethernet approach would certainly ease my FireFox implementation! We’ll see how much it costs. I guess it will be prohibitive.

This is pretty much the simplest way to use the Xbee modules. Also, here is a breakout board for Xbee modules from the good people at SparkFun. Finally, here is a USB board for the same modules.