IoT (the Internet of Things) is a network of connected devices which interacts, collects, and exchange information with other devices or systems using wired or wireless Communication Systems.
What is Wireless Communication?
It is a method of transferring information from one place to another or one device to another without using any physical medium such as wires or cables.
We can understand The use of wireless technology in IoT by the following block diagram.
Wireless Technology has played a vital role in the development of IoT over the years. Wireless technology has helped to minimize human intervention and thus fulfilling the purpose of IoT technology. Also Based on various applications, bandwidth requirements, range, security, power consumption, capacity, and standards we can choose a proper wireless communication protocol. Let us look into some of the widely used wireless communication protocols of IoT.
NFC(Near Field Communications)
It is one of the communication protocols used for short-range communication. very much similar to RFID technology. It Also Needs human intervention and can be used for data transferring or establishing a connection with other wireless technologies. With just a tap, we can establish a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connection using NFC. Water metering systems, appliance servicing, appliance control, and many more are applications of NFC.
Features –
- Network Type – Point to point.
- Technology – Interacting electromagnetic radio technology.
- Standards- ISO, ECMA.
- Communication direction – Bidirectional.
- Frequency – 13.56 MHz.
- Power usage – less than 15 mA.
- Range – Less than 10 cm.
- Data rate- Up to 424 Kbits/sec.
- Topology – Point topology.
- Connecting devices- Two devices at a time.
Advantages-
- Easy network access.
- Better data security than an open network.
- Offers easy ways to specify users action for next actions.
- Eases the establishment of other networks.
- Low power usage.
Disadvantages –
- Low range.
- Expensive.
- Low speed.
- Less data transfer.
BLE(Bluetooth Low Energy)
It is the most common wireless technology used for short-range communication. Device to device file transfer, wireless speakers, earphones, headsets can be some of the applications of Bluetooth. It is the best alternative for cables used to connect printers, fax, keyboard, etc. The PAN (Personal Area Network ) Also Based Bluetooth technology in Fitness Trackers, smartwatches, home automation devices are much used these days. It works with operating systems like Android, IOs, windows, etc.
Features-
- Network type – WPAN (Wireless Personal Area Network).
- Technology – Radio transmission.
- Standards – IEEE.
- Communication direction – Bidirectional.
- Frequency – 2.4 GHz.
- Transmitting power – 10 mW.
- Range – near about 10m.
- Data range – 1,2,3, Mbps.
- Topologies-Mesh and Star.
- Connecting devices – 7 to 8 at a time.
Advantages-
- Low power consumption.
- Low bandwidth requirement.
- Not much expensive.
- Simple to use.
Disadvantages-
- Limited range.
- Not suitable for large data transfer.
- Ideal for short-range communication only.
Wi-Fi(Wireless Fidelity)
Wireless Fidelity is one of the most hassle-free and fast wireless communication technology. It is the choice of many developers due to its various advantages. It allows access to the internet as well as to connect devices in a specific range. Personal computers, smartphones, laptops, printers, and cars use this protocol. An automatic IP address is allocated to wireless devices using DHCD(Dynamic Host Configuration )protocol.
Features-
- Network type – LAN(Local Area Network )
- Technology- Traditional radio transmission.
- Standards- IEEE 802.11.
- Communication direction-Bidirectional.
- Frequency-2.4 GHz or 5GHz.
- Power usage – Medium.
- Range – Up to 50 m.
- Data rate- 0.1 to 54 Mbps.
- Topology – Star, Tree, P2P.
- Connecting devices – 4 to 8 devices at a time.
Advantages-
- Cost-effective
- Convenient
- Explanadibility
- Easy to use and hassle-free
Disadvantages-
- More power consumption
- Inconsistent and instable
- Low-level security
- Low range
NB-IoT(Narrow Band – Internet Of Things)
It is a low-power wide-area network-Also Based technology that is known for its long battery life and excellent power consumption. This protocol facilitates good and extended coverage and can coexist with cellular networks like 2G, 3G, 4G, etc. It focuses more on long battery life, high connecting density, and low cost with good coverage.
It is ideal for connecting devices with low bandwidth requirements. Also Based on LTE specifications., telecom companies like Vodafone, Huawei, Qualcomm have invested in this technology. The NB-IoT chips are simple to create and do not need additional gateways to provide connectivity. Smart city infrastructures, tracking systems, fire alarms are some of its applications.
Features-
- Network type- WAN( Wide Area Network).
- Technology – Low power WAN radio transmissions.
- Standards- 3GPP.
- Communication direction- Bidirectional.
- Frequency – Cellular bands.
- Data Rate – 200/250 Kbps.
- Range – 1 – 15 km.
- Topology- Star.
- Batter life – More than ten years.
Advantages-
- Good Battery Life.
- High connection density.
- Cost-Efficient.
- Reliable.
- Good coverage.
Disadvantages-
- Voice transmission is not possible.
- Low data rate.
- Roaming is not supported.
RFID (Radio Frequency Identification System)
It is the technology that uses electromagnetic waves to capture digital data and to identify or track the tags. It consists of a transponder(tags), a reader, and an antenna. There are mainly two types of tags active and passive. The passive tags lack computational capacity whereas active tags can sense channels easily.
The reader consists of an interrogator or a transceiver that sends signals which activate the tags. The antenna is used for transmitting and receiving the data. It has various applications in agricultural sectors, defence, tracking, cashless transaction, etc.
Features –
- Network – Point to Point.
- Technology – Automatic Identification and Data Transfer \.
- Standards – ISO Certified.
- Communication direction- Unidirectional.
- Frequency – LF/HF/UHF/Microwave.
- Power usage-Varies with frequency.
- Range-Up to 100 m.
- Data rate- Varies with frequency.
Advantages-
- Multiple usages at a time.
- Durable also.
- Much secure than barcodes.
Disadvantages-
- High cost.
- Metals used may create interference of the signal.
- Overhead reading.
ZigBee | Wireless Communication
Zigbee is one of the wireless technology that has a vast user base and it addresses the needs of low-power, low-cost requirements. It is a high-level communication protocol. It consists of a lower power digital radio system and is widely used in home automation systems, medical data collection, or any small scale project with low bandwidth requirement. In our day to day life, the applications of ZigBee is in the traffic management system, light switches, etc. It is secured with AES-128 technology and has minimal power consumption.
Features-
- Network type – WPAN(Wireless Personal Area Network).
- Standards- IEEE 802.15.4.
- Communication direction -Bidirectional.
- Frequency -2.4 GHz.
- Power usage-Low power usage.
- Range-10-100m.
- Data Rate-250 Kbps.
- Topology – Star,Tree, Mesh.
Advantages-
- Low power requirement.
- low cost.
- Flexible network structure.
- Easy to implement and install.
Disadvantages-
- Low data transmission rate.
- Risky for the use of personal information.
- Low bandwidth.
Z-Wave | Wireless Communication
It is one of the most widely used communication protocol used in IoT Also Based communication systems. The easy setup makes it one of the best choices for a low-cost wireless option. Here the devices are linked around themselves and do not have a central hub, hence forming a mesh network. Home automation systems use this technology on a large scale.
Features-
- Network type-WPAN(Wireless Personal Area Network).
- Technology-Source routed mesh network architecture.
- Standards-Zensys Corp.
- Frequency-908 M/860M.
- Power usage-1mW.
- Range- Up to 100m.
- Data rate-9.6 Kbps.
- Topology-Mesh.
- Network Size (Nodes)-232.
Advantages-
- Easy setup.
- Budget-friendly.
- Less power consumption.
Disadvantages-
- Limited coverage.
- Needs security enhancement.
- Supports a limited number of nodes.
- Used only for small data size.
6LoWPAN
IPv6 over Low Power Personal Area Network or 6LoWPAN is an IP-Also Based protocol that ensures connectivity of even low data rate networks. It ensures that even the smallest or low power device should be a part of IoT. It helps provide end-to-end IP and is widely used in home automation systems.
Features-
- Network type-WPAN(Wireless Personal Area Network).
- Technology – IP(Internet Protocol)Also Based technology.
- Standards-IEEE 802.15.4 (RFC 6282).
- Frequency -Sub GHz Frequency range.
- Range-25-50m.
- Data rate-0-250 Kbps.
- Topology-Mesh.
Advantages-
- Low power consumption.
- Low cost.
- The protocol can be directly routed to the cloud platform.
- Vast network for many devices.
Disadvantages-
- Less secure.
- Problem of interference.
- Without Mesh topology the network may be small.
LoRaWAN | Wireless Communication
Long Range Wide Area Network helps define communication protocol as well as system architecture. It is a point to the multipoint communication network. acts as a gateway that does encryption as well as identification. It has a wide range of applications like smart cities, smart industrial control, home security systems, etc.
Features-
- Network Type – WAN(Wide Area Network).
- Technology – Wireless RF technology.
- Standards – LoRa Alliance.
- Communication direction – Bidirectional.
- Frequency – Sub GHz.
- Power Usage – Low.
- Range – up to 10 km.
- Data Rate – 40 -250 Kbps.
- Topology – Star.
Advantages –
- Long-range.
- Less power consumption.
- Low cost.
- Wide coverage.
- Easy to deploy.
Disadvantages-
- Network size is limited.
- Not ideal for devices operating with a high data rate.
Written By: Anusha Shetty
Reviewed by: Batta Pruthvi
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