Re: wireless network using Zigbee

> mamouda@... wrote:
> >
> > I'd like to design a wireless sensor network (20 sensors) using PIC
> microcontrollers.
> >
> > Which PICs do you think is better for that purpose and which wireless
> technology (Zigbee. WiMi ?)
>
> I have used XBees for several devices, but would like to move over to
> PICs with a Microchip stack at some point to reduce per-unit cost.
>
> My feeling at this point is that ZigBee has a lot of nice features, but
> if you don't need them, the fact that it's a standard is NOT important,
> because no two ZigBee stacks interoperate yet (as I understand it).  So
> it's really no more "standard," at this point, than Microchip's MiWi.
>
> So - my decision tree goes like this:
>
> A. Is short development time far more important than per-unit cost?  Or,
> are you looking to sell the product commercially?  Go with XBee.  (FCC
> approval is a major cost otherwise.)  There are some other similar
> modules that are no worse, but as far as I can tell, not particularly
> better either.
>
> B. If per-unit cost is important, and FCC approval isn't (or you can
> afford it), try Microchip's ZigBee solution.  Their stack is free, but
> you still have to join the "ZigBee Alliance" ($K).
>
> C. Or if you are OK with the subset included in MiWi (<= 1024 nodes, <=
> 8 coordinators), use that.
>
> So far, for home use, I have done (A) but lean toward (C) next.
>
> For small commercial products, I would go with (A) since the FCC
> certification process scares me.
>
> Hope that's of some use.
> --
> Timothy J. Weber
> http://timothyweber.org
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