Laird Technologies Releases White Paper on Wireless Solutions for Star Networks

A Discussion of Identifying Key Requirements for Optimized Wireless Solutions

St. Louis, Missouri, USA – June 9, 2011 – Laird Technologies, Inc., a global leader in the design and supply of customized performance-critical components and systems for advanced electronics and wireless products, today announced the release of a white paper discussing wireless solutions for key requirements. The white paper, “Moving Beyond Zigbee® for Star Networks,” address the requirements of star networks, and the need of finding the correct wireless solution beyond traditional means.

The paper details the data flow through a network, and how most networks that are point-to-multipoint (or multipoint-to-point, depending on the perspective) form a star topology. This star topology has limited range, and requires wireless connectivity. The limited range is addressed through incorporating wireless modules into a multi-hop mesh routing network.

An examination is made of how adding more routers to increase connectivity produces drawbacks such as increasing overall system cost and adding to the overall latency of the system due to the node possessing a single transceiver that prevents it from transmitting and receiving at the same time. Source routing is also an issue, as it can reduce the amount of route requests that are required, but adds additional overhead to the data packets sent across the air by including each of the hops’ network addresses in the packet.

The paper then discusses possible solutions and provides a model comparison of some of the key attributes of a Laird Technologies LT2510 100 mW transceiver versus a typical Zigbee 10 mW transceiver. As star networks present unique challenges, they can benefit from a simpler, more effective solution. Identifying the key requirements and selecting a wireless solution which is optimized for star networks can reduce the time to market and also provide for a more robust design.

Laird Technologies is active in the wireless M2M market, offering the widest range of high-performance wireless modules utilizing Bluetooth technology, as well as integrated antennas and electronic components. The company’s broad selection of M2M products provides solutions for the automotive, telematics, healthcare, EPOS, retail, finance, and security, as well as asset management markets.

The white paper is available free for download on Lairdtech.com.

About Laird Technologies, Inc.

Laird Technologies designs and manufactures customized, performance-critical products for wireless and other advanced electronics applications.

The company is a global market leader in the design and supply of electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, thermal management products, specialty metal products, signal integrity components, and antenna solutions, as well as radio frequency (RF) modules and wireless remote controls and systems. 

Custom products are supplied to all sectors of the electronics industry including the handset, telecommunications, data transfer and information technology, automotive, aerospace, defense, consumer, medical, mining, railroad and industrial markets.

Laird Technologies, a unit of Laird PLC, employs over 12,000 employees in more than 49 facilities located in 16 countries.

Contact Information

For additional information, visit http://www.lairdtech.com or contact us at:

  Americas: +1-800-492-2320
  Europe: +44-1628-858-940
  Hong Kong: +852-2268-6567 x026
  Email: WirelessInfo@lairdtech.com

Translations

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Trademarks

© 2011 All rights reserved.  Laird Technologies and its logo are trademarks of Laird Technologies, Inc.  Other products, logos, and company names mentioned herein, may be trademarks of their respective owners.