Exploring Wireless Communication in the IoT Landscape

1. Short-range wireless communication technologies

(1) Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11 series)

Frequency band: 2.4 GHz / 5 GHz / 6 GHz (Wi-Fi 6E)

Rate: tens of Mbps to several Gbps (e.g., Wi-Fi 6 up to 9.6 Gbps)

Coverage range: 50-100 meters (depending on the environment)

Power consumption: high, suitable for continuously powered devices

Key technologies: OFDMA, MU-MIMO (Wi-Fi 6), BSS Coloring (anti-jamming)

Application Scenarios: High-bandwidth-demanding scenarios (e.g., video surveillance) in the smart home, Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).

Disadvantages: high power consumption, channel congestion (serious interference in the 2.4 GHz band).

(2) Bluetooth

Bluetooth Classic (BR/EDR): For audio transmission (e.g., headphones), rate ≤ 3 Mbps.

Bluetooth Low Power (BLE, Bluetooth 5.x) : Frequency band: 2.4 GHz ISM band

Rate: 1-2 Mbps (LE Audio supported by BLE 5.2)

Coverage: 10-100 meters ( BLE 5.0 Long Distance Mode up to 300 meters)

Power Consumption: Extremely Low (Coin Battery can work for several years)

Key Technologies: Adaptive Frequency Hopping (AFH), Broadcast Mode (Beacon).

Application scenarios: wearable devices, medical sensors, indoor positioning (iBeacon).

(3) Zigbee (IEEE 802.15.4)

Frequency bands: 2.4 GHz (), 868 MHz (Europe), 915 MHz (North America)

Rate: 20-250 kbps

Coverage: 10-100 meters (supports multihop mesh network)

Power consumption: low (supports hibernation mode)

Key technologies: Mesh network (AODV routing protocol), CSMA- Key technologies: Mesh network (AODV routing protocol), CSMA-CA channel access.

Application scenarios: smart lighting (e.g. Philips Hue), industrial sensor networks.

Disadvantages: Low rate, gateway coordination required (Zigbee 3.0 improved compatibility).

(4) Z-Wave

Frequency band: Sub-1 GHz (region dependent, e.g. 908.42 MHz North America)

Rate: 9.6-100 kbps

Coverage: 30-100 meters (strong penetration)

Key technologies: source routing algorithms (mesh networks), low interference (not 2.4 GHz).

Application Scenarios: Home automation (security, smart locks).

Disadvantages: technology (Silicon Labs dominated), closed ecology.

 

2. Long-range wireless communication technologies

(1) Cellular IoT (LPWAN)

LTE-M (eMTC): LTE-based optimization, rate ~1 Mbps, mobility support, low latency (~10 ms).

NB-IoT: Frequency band: authorized band (Sub-1 GHz)

Rate: ~200 kbps

Coverage: 10+ km (rural), high penetration

Power consumption: very low (PSM/eDRX mode)

Application scenarios: smart meters, smart agriculture (soil monitoring).

(2) LoRa (Long Range)

Frequency band: Sub-1 GHz ISM band (e.g. 868 MHz/915 MHz)

Rate: 0.3-50 kbps

Coverage: 2-5 km in urban areas, 15 km in rural areas

Key technology: CSS (Chirp Spread Spectrum) modulation, strong anti-interference.

Network Architecture: Based on LoRaWAN (Class A/B/C terminals).

Application Scenario: Smart city (street light, garbage can monitoring).

(3) Sigfox

Frequency band: 868 MHz/902 MHz

Rate: 100 bps (ultra-narrowband UNB)

Coverage: 30-50 km (line-of-sight)

Power consumption: very low (10 years of battery life for a single message per day)

Disadvantages: unidirectional communication, ecological constraints (carrier dependent).

3. Other specialized technologies

(1) Thread (based on IEEE 802.15.4)

Characteristics: IPv6 support (6LoWPAN), mesh network, compatible with Zigbee physical layer.

Application scenarios: Google Nest and other smart home devices.

(2) RFID/NFC

NFC (13.56 MHz): Near Field Communication (<10 cm), used for payment, device pairing.

RFID: passive tags (UHF band), used for logistics tracking.

(3) Proprietary protocols (e.g. Sub-1 GHz)

TI CC1310: Below 1 GHz band, for industrial sensors (strong anti-interference).

Technology Selection Key Parameter Comparison

Technology Band Rate Coverage Power Consumption Network Topology Cost

Wi-Fi 62.4/5/6 GHz High-Speed Medium-High Star Medium

BLE 5.22.4 GHz Low Short Extremely Low Star/Mesh Low

ZigbeeSub-1/2.4G Low Medium Low Mesh Low

NB-IoT Authorized Frequency Band Low Long Extremely Low Star Medium-High

LoRaSub-1 GHz Very Low Ultra Long Very Low Star Low 

Summary:

High bandwidth scenarios: Wi-Fi 6, 5G RedCap (future).

Low power short range: BLE, Zigbee.

Wide-area low power: NB-IoT (licensed band), LoRa (unlicensed band).

Industrial anti-interference: WirelessHART, ISA100.11a (based on IEEE 802.15.4).