Wi-Fi Bluetooth ZigBee and Sub-GHz Technolgies

The rapid development of “ZigBee Certified Products” is made possible by EmberAppBuilder, a development tool that hides protocol stack details and focuses on ZAP implementations.

Through a graphical interface, developers can quickly select the properties needed for an application and then have AppBuilder automatically generate the required code.

To take maximum advantage of the flexibility of ZigBee networks, efficient debugging tools are required. The complexity of mesh networks makes it more difficult to use traditional network analysis tools such as Packet sniffers.

In fact, since packets may traverse multiple hops to reach their destination, many intermediate transmissions are beyond the scope of the analyzer’s application.

The only solution to this problem is the use of SiliconLabs DesktopNetworkAnalyzer, a powerful analysis tool that presents a full picture of every packet sent and received in the network within a graphical interface, and built-in protocol analysis and visual trace engine that allows developers to coordinate network communications and device tasks.

In some cases, mesh networks are not the right choice because the node density is too low and therefore does not provide effective failover support.

For example, road or rail network topologies require the widely spaced deployment of nodes along narrow paths. Similarly, the external facilities of the campus are too sparse for the adoption of a mesh network. In these environments, star topologies combined can span longer distances and are therefore more reliable and appropriate.

Sub-GHz: ideal for long-range and low-power communications

Wireless propagation is inversely proportional to frequency, and sub-GHz RF is more advantageous in terms of low power consumption, long-range communication, or wall penetration capability. For many applications, 433MHz become a global alternative to 2.4GHz (but Japan does not allow it to be used for wireless applications).

Designs based on 868MHz and 915MHz are available for the US and European markets. There are many available brands that do not require licensing or need to be licensed, for system integrators to either choose to optimize performance in certain specific areas or to work with utilities to design systems over a wide area.

In this diversity, there is less interference in the sub-GHz spectrum than in the 2.4GHz band. A band with less interference improves the overall performance of the network and reduces the number of retransmissions in transmission.

Third-party and standards-based network protocol stacks are available for sub-GHz RF, but many vendors still choose dedicated solutions to target their specific needs.

Data transmission consumes more energy than data reception, but transmissions are short-lived and have long intervals, so long-term average energy consumption is typically lower.

In many wireless protocols, the receiver does not know when a message is coming. Therefore, it has to keep listening in order not to lose any data, so the receiver cannot completely turn off the energy consumption even if there are no messages. This situation will limit the node’s battery autonomy, requiring regular battery replacement or recharging.

Sub-GHz transceiver by using a combination of frequency hopping and clock synchronization technology, system integrators are able to achieve a sub-GHz network spanning several kilometers between the coordinator and the end node, while the end node can operate for more than ten years using a single battery.

As a result, system integrators can use a small number of coordinators to reliably cover a specific area and place the end node in a place where the main power supply cannot be connected.

Wi-Fi Bluetooth ZigBee and Sub-GHz are the four major wireless technologies, each with its own advantages and disadvantages, according to their respective needs, using the appropriate wireless technology.