Wireless Technologies for IoT | Part 2

Having talked about LPWAN and 5G in the first part of “Top Wireless Technologies For IoT”, we are now focusing on other important wireless networks which are going to complete our list.

WiFi , Bluetooth, Zigbee and Z-Wave (mesh networks) are some of the top technologies that are going to mark the future of the Internet of Things.

WiFi

WiFi or IEEE 802.11 (it’s technical name) is the name of a wireless networking technology that uses radio waves to provide wireless high-speed Internet and network connections. Wi-Fi is everywhere. 90% of modern routers have WiFi enabled and its supported by many applications and devices including mobile phones, video game consoles, home networks, PDAs, major operating systems, and other types of consumer electronics.

Operating at frequencies of 2.4 GHz and 5GHz, it allows the signal to carry more data than other networking protocols like LPWAN but within a much shorter distance. The new generation, WiFi6, will soon become everyone’s new technology as it provides much faster speeds with a bunch of devices connected in the same network than the previous generation.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a short-range communication technology standard which is used for data exchange among consumer devices providing us with the opportunity to create our personal area network within a range of less than 100 meters.

There are two kinds of Bluetooth devices: one is referred to as Bluetooth Classic (used in wireless speakers, cars, smartphones, tablets), and the other one is Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). BLE is more suitable for applications where small amount of data and power consumption are necessary like fitness and medical wearables or sensor applications.

A new version of the Bluetooth standard (version 5.2) is already here and it promises to have a greater range and being faster and even more power efficient.

Zigbee and Z-Wave

Both Zigbee and Z-Wave are very popular wireless mesh network communication technologies which are used for monitoring and controlling our smart devices within a short range designed to provide small amount of data using very little power. Unlike WiFi, mesh networks have a different topology and are designed to connect the devices directly and transfer/repeat the signal instead of connecting to the central hub, which means we can have a large and reliable network which is suitable for large detached smart homes.

Although Zigbee and Z-Wave are mesh networks, they seem to have some differences… First of all, they work at different frequencies when Zigbee uses 2.4GHz and Z-Wave 868.4MHz. That means that Z-Wave’s lower frequencies allow the network to cover longer distances while Zigbee is capable of carrying more data.

In theory Zigbee networks don’t have a limit on the amount of devices that can connect to one network compare to Z-Wave, but the more devices we have, the more bandwidth problems we may experience.

Another difference is Zigbee’s an open source network which means contractors can use this technology on their devices for free, while Z-Wave is owned by Sigma Designs, it charges license fees for use of its technology.

To summarise, each wireless technology is perfectly designed to work for IoT connectivity , having their own characteristics and being suitable for different use cases. Choosing the right technology for your needs might be the hardest and most critical part. However, asking advice from a specialist can always get you out of trouble.

Nikos Eleftherakis, Network Support Agent, Tardis4G | www.tardis4g.uk

A bit about the author:

Nikos is a Network Support Agent of Tardis, UK’s leading provider of construction site broadband solutions. Being a graduate of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and having experience working for a major Telecom company, Nikos is following his strong passion about technology and is taking every effort to develop his skills, while wanting to contribute to a better, more sustainable future.