Right now, there are a range of connectivity options under the IoT framework, each specifying a specific range of transmission, data speeds, power consumption, and level of security. Some of them are listed here.
Needless to say, the Internet of Things (IoT) has become a force we can’t ignore. In fact, Gartner forecasts that 6.4 billion connected things will be in use worldwide in 2016, up 30 percent from 2015, and will reach 20.8 billion by 2020.
With IoT becoming so prevalent, it is difficult not to count security as part of the whole IoT revolution. Against this backdrop, knowledge on IoT and the various communication technologies/protocols associated with it becomes key. “Security installers must have a solid understanding of networking, network and data security, and privacy concerns,” said Mark Walters, VP of Strategic Development at ZigBee Alliance. “Who is getting what information, what are they doing with it, and who owns and controls it are very important factors to understand.”
Right now, there are a range of connectivity options under the IoT framework, each specifying a specific range of transmission, data speeds, power consumption, and level of security. Some of them are listed as follows.
Bluetooth
Bluetooth is ideal for short-range data transmission between Bluetooth-enabled devices such as smartphones and laptops. It operates in the 2.4GHz band of the radio spectrum. Range is from 1 to 100 meters. The typical data rate is 1 Mbps, and rates may vary depending on the version of Bluetooth used. With Bluetooth low energy (BLE), power consumption is reduced significantly. More and more, hotels and homes employ smart locks that open upon reading the user’s BLE-enabled smartphone.
ZigBee and Z-Wave
Both ZigBee and Z-Wave are ideal for low-data, short-distance transmission, and their mesh networking capability can extend the transmission distance if necessary. Both protocols are ideal for home-area networks, which are becoming more widespread in the U.S.
ZigBee operates in the 2.4GHz range. The ZigBee Alliance has developed various technologies, for example ZigBee PRO, ZigBee RF4CE, and ZigBee IP, and has recently combined all application profiles into a single solution called ZigBee 3.0. Z-Wave employs the 900MHz portion of the spectrum. Devices include motion detectors, door/window sensors, and door locks.
RFID
RFID operates in the 120kHz-2.45GHz portion of the radio spectrum, has a range between 0.5 and 100 meters, and transmits data at 4 to 424 kbps, depending on the type of RFID used. Applications are diverse and wide-ranging. “RFID has been extensively used in short range identification (LF technology), for example in access control, up to the latest generation of long range (few meters) UHF applications able to identify bundles of thousands of objects in a few seconds,” said Andrea Azzoni, Marketing Manager at Fluidmesh Networks.
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi has become a dominant wireless transmission technology. The most common standard used in homes and businesses today is 802.11n, which operates in the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands of the radio spectrum. Data range is approximately 50 meters, and data rates are typically 150 to 200 Mbps. While these features make Wi-Fi suitable for transfer of large files, they also create other issues, for example interferences and heavy power consumption.
3G/4G
Cellular technologies, now mostly 3G and 4G, are suitable for long-distance, high-data transmission, operating in the 900/1800/1900/2100MHz portions of the radio spectrum. For LTE, a type of 4G, transmission range is claimed to be anywhere from 5 to 29 kilometers, while data rates are about 300 Mbps in the downlink and about 75 Mbps in the uplink.
Despite their strengths, cellular technologies also have their limitations. “3G/4G is the currently deployed cellular system, featuring good bandwidth for mobile applications and low-demanding streaming. The main limit with these technologies is field coverage due to the high cost of installation of new base stations,” said Azzoni.
ULE
ULE, or Ultra Low Energy, is a wireless communication standard that enables ULE devices – sensors, remote controls, actuators, and smart meters – to operate on batteries for a long period of time. Primary applications include home automation, home security, and climate control.
EnOcean
EnOcean specifies that devices are battery-less and operate on “energy harvesting,” based on mechanical motion and other potentials from the environment, such as indoor light and temperature differences. But also because of this, data transmitted by the devices are extremely small, typically just 14 bytes.
Sigfox, Neul, and LoRaWAN
These are long-range technologies that are lower in cost and power consumption compared to Wi-Fi and cellular. Sigfox has a range of anywhere between 3 to 50 kilometers with data rates of 10 to 1,000 bits per second. Sigfox networks are currently being rolled out in major cities across Europe, including ten cities in the U.K. Neul has a range of 10 kilometers with data rates from a few bits per second to 100 kbps. LoRaWAN transfers data at 0.3 to 50 kbps over a distance of up to 40 kilometers.