What is Zigbee? | what is WPAN? | zigbee basics

What is zigbee?

Refer zigbee tutorial covering following sub topics:
About zigbee  
Zigbee network  
Stack  
PHY  
frame  
MAC  
Bands  
Conformance 
AODV protocol 
Products 

Zigbee is a simple packet data protocol designed for light weight wireless networks.
The PHY/MAC layers are defined in IEEE 802.15.4 specifications. Channel access in zigbee is via CSMA/CA.
Zigbee network composed of Zigbee co-ordinator, zigbee router and zigbee end devices.

zigbee network fig

Refer zigbee tutorial for more.
Both mesh as well as star link types are supported between them based on device types.

Zigbee products use very low power and are available at very low cost.
They are based on LR-WPAN (low rate wireless personal area network) standard i.e. IEEE 802.15.4.
Zigbee products will have protocol layers (PHY,MAC,network,security,application).
Network,security and application layers are defined by zigbee alliance.

Zigbee operates at various frequency bands viz. 868MHz,915MHz and 2.4 GHz. Out of these 2.4 GHz based zigbee products are very popular around the world.
Based on antenna, transmitter output power and frequency it will cover about 10 to 100 meters. Zigbee supports mesh topology.
Zigbee products delivers about 250Kbps of data rate. About 65000 devices are supported in a zigbee network.

Zigbee Applications

Zigbee in Healthcare – For example to monitor blood pressure, to monitor blood glucose level, bed sensor controller, weighing scale etc.

Zigbee in smart energy – For example safe plug, smart socket,electricity consumption display, thermostats,energy manager etc.

Zigbee in Home and building automation – For example remote control of various home and building related stuff.

Zigbee for Closures – For example smart lock, Door sensor, occupancy sensor, etc.

Zigbee for Home appliances – For example air conditioner, TV, digital water meter etc.

Zigbee for telecom services – For example router/gateway etc.

Useful Links

Refer page on zigbee tutorial which describes zigbee network,zigbee stack,frame structure,Physical layers,MAC frames.
Refer page on zigbee products which covers zigbee equipment,semiconductor,test and measurement,gadgets,stack
Refer page on zigbee gadgets which covers zigbee home automation,healthcare,smart energy,lighting,telecom,security,appliances related gadgets.
Refer page on bluetooth versus zigbee which describes comparison between Bluetooth and Zigbee technologies.

This page explains what is zigbee technology and provides useful links.

Zigbee RELATED LINKS

Zigbee network architecture basics  
Zigbee Protocol Stack  
Zigbee Physical layers  
Zigbee physical layer frame 
Zigbee MAC layer frames  
Zigbee frequency bands  
zigbee RF4CE  
zigbee 6LoWPAN  
zigbee AODV protocol 

What is?

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RF and Wireless Terminologies

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