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+---
+title: Wireless sensor networks
+permalink: /wireless-sensor-networks.html
+date: 2013-10-24T12:00:00+02:00
+layout: post
+type: post
+draft: false
+---
+
+Zigbee networks have this wonderful capability to self-heal, which means they
+can reorder connections between them if one of them is inoperable. This works
+our of the box when you deploy them. But you have to have in mind that achieving
+this is not as easy as you would think. None of it is plug&play.  So to make
+your life a bit easier, here are some pointers which, I hope, will help you.
+
+- Be careful when you are ordering your equipment abroad. There are many rules
+  and regulations you need to comply before you get your Xbee radios. What they
+  do is they wait until you prove that you won’t use the technology for some
+  kind of evil take over control of the world project :). For this, they have
+  EAR (Export Administration Regulations) which basically means “This product
+  may require a license to export from the United States.”.
+- I don’t know if this applies for every country, but when we purchased our Xbee
+  radios from Mouser, this was mandatory! What we needed to do was to print out
+  a form and write information about our company and send them a copy via
+  email. With this document, we proved that we are a legitimate company.
+- When you complete your purchase and send all the documentation, you are not
+  clear yet. Then customs will take it from there :). There will be some
+  additional costs. Before purchasing, make sure you have as much information
+  about costs as possible. Because it can get costly in the end.
+- I suggest you use companies from your country. You can seriously cut your
+  costs. Here in Slovenia, the best option so far as I know is Farnell. And
+  based on my personal experience, they rock! All I need to say!
+- Make plans when ordering larger quantities. Do not, I say, do not make your
+  orders in December! :) Believe me! You will have problems with stock they can
+  provide for you. So, we were forced to buy some things from Mouser, which was
+  extremely painful because of all the regulations you need to obey when
+  importing goods from the USA.
+- Make sure that firmware version on your Xbee radios is exactly the same! Do
+  not get creative!!! I propose using templates. You can get template by
+  exporting settings/profile in X-CTU application. Make sure you have enabled
+  “Upgrade firmware” so you can be sure each radio has the same firmware.
+- And again: make plans! Plan everything! In months advanced! You will thank me
+  later :)
+- Test, test, test. Wireless networks can be tricky.
+
+If you are serious, I suggest you buy this book, Building Wireless Sensor
+Networks. You will get a glimpse of how networks work in lumens terms. It is a
+good starting point for everybody who wants to build wireless networks.
+
+**Additional resources:**
+
+- http://www.digi.com/aboutus/export/generalexportinfo
+- http://doresearch.stanford.edu/research-scholarship/export-controls/export-controlled-or-embargoed-countries-entities-and-persons
+- http://www.bis.doc.gov/licensing/exportingbasics.htm
+