Six Leading Types of IoT Wireless Technology and Their Best Applications

The Internet of Things (IoT) begins with connectivity, but because IoT is such a diverse and multifaceted field, there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all communication solution.

1. LPWANs Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWANs) is a new phenomenon in the Internet of Things. This technology family is designed to support large-scale IoT networks that span vast industrial and commercial campuses by providing long-range communication on small, low-cost batteries that last for years. LPWANs can connect all kinds of IoT sensors, allowing for a wide range of applications such as asset tracking, environmental monitoring, and facility management, as well as occupancy detection and consumables monitoring. LPWANs, on the other hand, can only send small blocks of data at a low rate, making them better suited for use cases that do not require a large amount of bandwidth and are not time-sensitive. 2. Cellular (3G/4G/5G) Cellular networks, which have a long history in the consumer mobile market, offer dependable broadband communication that supports a wide range of voice calls and video streaming applications. On the negative side, their operational costs and power requirements are extremely high. While cellular networks are unsuitable for the vast majority of IoT applications powered by battery-powered sensor networks, they are ideal for specific use cases such as connected cars or fleet management in transportation and logistics. In-car infotainment, traffic routing, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), fleet telematics, and tracking services, for example, can all benefit from ubiquitous and high bandwidth cellular connectivity. 3. Zigbee and Other Mesh Protocols Zigbee is a wireless short-range, low-power standard (IEEE 802.15.4) that is commonly used in a mesh topology to extend coverage by relaying sensor data across multiple sensor nodes. When compared to LPWAN, Zigbee offers higher data rates but significantly lower power efficiency due to the mesh configuration. Zigbee and similar mesh protocols (e.g., Z-Wave, Thread, etc.) are best suited for medium-range IoT applications with an even distribution of nodes nearby due to their physical short-range (100m). In general, Zigbee is an excellent complement to Wi-Fi for a wide range of home automation use cases, including smart lighting, HVAC controls, security and energy management, and so on. 4. Bluetooth and BLE Bluetooth, also known as a Wireless Personal Area Network, is a popular short-range communication technology in the consumer market. Bluetooth Classic was designed to exchange data between consumer devices on a point-to-point or point-to-multipoint basic Bluetooth Low-Energy was later introduced to address small-scale Consumer IoT applications, which was optimized for power consumption. BLE-enabled devices are commonly used in conjunction with electronic devices, most notably smartphones, which serve as a data transfer hub to the cloud. Nowadays, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) is widely integrated into fitness and medical wearables as well as Smart Home devices, facilitating data communication and visualization on smartphones 5. Wi-Fi There is almost no need to explain Wi-Fi given its critical role in providing high-throughput data transfer for both enterprise and home environments. However, its major limitations in coverage, scalability, and power consumption make the technology much less prevalent in the IoT space. Wi-Fi, with its high energy requirements, is frequently not a viable solution for large networks of battery-powered IoT sensors, particularly in industrial IoT and smart building scenarios. It is more concerned with connecting devices that can easily be plugged into a power outlet, such as smart home gadgets and appliances, digital signage, and security cameras. 6. RFID Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a technology that uses radio waves to send small amounts of data from an RFID tag to a reader over a short distance. Until now, technology has enabled a significant revolution in retail and logistics. Businesses can track their inventory and assets in real-time by attaching an RFID tag to a variety of products and equipment, allowing for better stock and production planning as well as optimized supply chain management. RFID continues to be entrenched in the retail sector, enabling new IoT applications such as smart shelves, self-checkout, and smart mirrors. To summarise briefly, each IoT vertical and application has its own set of network requirements. Choosing the best wireless technology for your IoT application requires carefully weighing criteria such as range, bandwidth, QoS, security, power consumption, and network management. Check Out Our Entire Range of IoT & Wireless Devices Here: https://robocraze.com/collections/iot-wireless