Analysing Wireless Communications

Overview

This analysis provides a review of the most common short range radio technologies, and then analyses Wireless Sensor Networks, their technical performance and commercial prospects. Even though short-range radio systems do not form a homogenous group, it is possible to find some common trends amongst them. They are typically used to form Wireless Personal Area Networks (WPAN). Thus, the range of these radios does not need to be more than a few meters or a few tens of meters. Another common factor is that the existing short-range radios typically use license-exempt spectrum. However, many new systems under development are adopting Ultra-Wideband (UWB) radios. UWB may also provide a solution to spectrum crowding which is expected to become a problem in the 2.4 GHz band.

When it comes to Wireless Sensor Networks, Cantab Wireless argues that the widespread use of WSNs has been slowed down by the immaturity of the WSN industry. WSNs are often proprietary systems, which are not compatible with each other and cannot exchange data. It will also require considerable expertise to deploy and operate a WSN. The difficulty of designing and installing a WSN is a serious problem which should not be overlooked. Simple wireless sensor nodes may soon cost only USD 10 or so, but designing, deploying, testing, and calibrating the network may easily cost more then the cost of the WSN hardware. This situation has to change before the WSN business can truly take off.

The main topics of this report:

• Analysis of the following radio standards or technologies: 802.11 (a, b, g, and n), Bluetooth, Wibree, various 802.15 radios, UWB, RFID, NFC, Wireless USB, and Wireless HD.
• ZigBee and 6LoWPAN, protocols for 802.15 radios.
• Technical comparison and future prospects of various short range radio systems.
• The role of the IEEE in radio standardisation and the recent problems in IEEE working groups. Can the IEEE retain its position as the leading radio standardization body?
• Wireless Sensor Networks and their future trends.
• Introduction of 10 sensor network control protocols.
• Comprehensive review of various sensor types and technologies.
• What are the spectrum bands for WSNs? Spectrum crowding in the 2.4 GHz band and how to solve it.
• Energy harvesting techniques and other power sources for wireless sensors.
• WSN applications, with numerous examples.
• WSN deployment problems.
• WSN market forecasts.