Wireless protocols and standard comparison

Wireless sensors are being integrated into nearly every commercial market. However, to centralize the data without a cable mess requires the use of wireless technologies. However, manufacturers have had work harder too keep up with the latest wireless standards and protocols. Many of these new protocols include Wifi, Bluetooth, and Zigbee. Making the right choice can be confusing. The application will often determine which protocol is best suited. A wireless module which works well for one may not be the best choice for another. Range and bandwidth are two of the most important aspects to consider.

Many wireless serial systems, range and bandwidth are often inversely related. Long range and high bandwidth applications can be difficult to achieve at a reasonable budget. In order to create efficient methods of communication for a particular bandwidth, many wireless standards exist. For example, a WiFi module is great for transmitting high bandwidth information, but the range is limited to only a hundred meters or so. Beyond this range, the protocol becomes less effective at transferring data without errors and a different protocol may be better suited. A Bluetooth wireless transmitter is in a very similar class to WiFi.

At the opposite side of the wireless I/O spectrum is the zigbee and 802.15.4 protocol. This protocol is designed for applications needing longer transmission range but low bandwidth. This protocol is able to achieve this range using higher power and complex modulation techniques. While peak power may be greater, the spectral width and bandwidth is typically much lower than WiFi or Bluetooth. This allows zigbee to focus on low power designs using battery power, and is very well suited for such cases.

Will The Future See Internet Radio Taking Off

The popularity of internet radio has really increased over the last few years. It is reasonable to assume that this type of radio is going to replace normal radio over the next few years because more and more people are beginning to use this service every single day. Anyone with a good internet connection is going to choose online radio because it has so many more advantages than regular radio. Read the rest of this entry »