Are Zigbee Modules The Answer To A Wireless Future?

Are Zigbee Modules The Answer To A Wireless Future?

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Wireless technologies for short- and medium-reach communications attract attention due to their ability support multiple applications and their cost efficiency. These technologies became synonymous with home and manufacturing automation as well as with Wireless Sensor Networks.

ZigBee is an open global standard providing wireless networking based on the IEEE 802.15.4 standard and taking full advantage of a powerful physical radio this standard specifies. ZigBee is the result of collaborative efforts by a global consortium of companies known as the ZigBee Alliance. The ZigBee Alliance is a non-profit association of more than 350 members driving development of ZigBee wireless technology. The Alliance promotes world-wide adoption of ZigBee as the leading wirelessly networked, sensing and control standard for use in consumer electronic, energy, home, commercial and industrial areas.

ZigBee is aimed at applications with low data rates and low power consumption. ZigBee's current focus is to define a general-purpose, inexpensive self-organizing mesh network that can be shared by industrial controls, medical devices, smoke and intruder alarms, and building-automation and home automation. The network is designed to use very small amounts of power, so that individual devices might run for a year or two with a single alkaline battery.

ZigBee Modules, as a separate product, have only been introduced to the market a couple of years, but already they are used world wide, mainly in automation jobs. ZigBee modules are low powered, tiny radio transceivers. ZigBee modules are actually very cheap and you can but them directly online, without needing to leave the comfort of your home. They come with a full service warranty and their full functionality is ensured at all times. Reliability won't be a situation concerning ZigBee modules.

ZigBee Modules are also adjustable to suit your specific need. If you don't want the sensors to go off with the smallest movement, you can simply adjust the sensitivity and make them a little less sensitive, or if you need them to detect movement on a wider area, you can adjust them to be very sensitive. This is the beauty with the ZigBee Modules, you are not just purchasing one item; you are actually purchasing at least a dozen with less money than you would pay for a single motion sensor.

Zigbee modules are usually programmed with AT commands which make it easy for a serial console, or a serial device, such as the controller on a robot to control the module. Compare this with Wifi, which uses the complex 802.11 Media Access Control.

ZigBee devices are designed for low power consumption. Devices put themselves to sleep when not in use, thereby conserving power. This makes these devices ideal for battery-operated applications because they can last for several years before needing new batteries.

Wireless technologies are developing quickly, with increasing speeds, better security, and innovative new products that are making it easier to provide coverage for facilities. Zigbee goes beyond the single wireless devices and can be used in almost anything at all. Who knows, Maybe someday we really will get rid of all those cables altogether?


About the Author:
http://www.sequoia.co.uk stocks many Zigbee Modules. For more information about Zigbee modules visit http://www.sequoia.co.uk/components/family.php?d=3&c=41&f=5&p=&fmt=grid



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


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