Combine zigbee roles or start a network of two devices

Question

Hello. I'm a CS student and I've bought myself two NRF52840 Dongles. I've downloaded NRF Zigbee SDK and wanted to flash and try out some examples. But the simplest light_control example needs 3 devices to be in a network - Coordinator, Router and End Device. I need for my project only 2 though - actuator and sensor. So how is it possible to combine roles - Coordinator + end device or router + end device. Or how to communicate Coordinator-router or Coordinator-End Device? 
 Would really greatly appreciate your help)

Edvin · Accepted Answer

Hello, 
 Unfortunately, you can't use one device as both coorinator and router in Zigbee. However, the coordinator may do other things than just forwarding messages back and forth. 
 We have an example called the cli_agent_router, which can act as a coordinator, and form the network for the other device (light_bulb) to join. But unfortunately, that application is not suited for the dongle, as the dongle doesn't route the UART pins to the USB. The example, running on a DK uses the programmer to translate from UART to USB, and send USB to the computer. 
 The dongle does have USB, but the example doesn't utilize that. 
 
 I suggest that you get hold of at least one DK. Even if this was to work with the dongle, the dongle is not intended for development, but to be used with our development tools, such as nRF Connect. Since it doesn't have a debugger, it is very difficult to figure out what's actually going on after you upload your application.

Combine zigbee roles or start a network of two devices

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