Communication protocols
What are communication protocols ?
A communication protocol is a system of rules that allow 2 or more entities of a communications system to transmit information via any kind of variation of a physical quantity. You could compare it to a language like English, Chinese, or Spanish.
In today’s connected world, it is used to communicate mostly between devices and controllers. Every single communication protocol has its advantages if compared to others.
The challenge is to be able to communicate between all the different types of devices you need for your environment. Protocols are evolving for your security, and for your comfort.
Communication protocols comparison
Common communication protocols for buildings.
Wi-Fi
- Leader in the market
- Max range; 5 km ( IEEE 802.11a )
- Up to 600 Mbps ( IEEE 802.11n )
- Band; 2.4 GHz & 5 GHz
Topology; Star, tree, P2P, and mesh ( IEEE 802.11s ) - Up to 250 devices
Medium power usage - Low cost
- Application; PC based data acquisition
Z-Wave
- Proprietary
- Generic controls
- Max range; 100 m
- Up to 100 kbps
- Band; 900 Mhz & 2.4 GHz
- Topology; Star & mesh
- Up to 232 devices
- Low power usage
- Medium cost
- Application; wireless sensors
Zigbee
- Max range; 100 m
- Up to 500 kbps
- Band; 2.4 GHz
- Topology; Star & mesh
- Up to 240 devices
- Low power usage
- Medium cost
- Application; wireless sensors
LoRa
- Max range; 7 km
- Up to 50 kbps
- Band; sub GHz
- Topology; Star
- Up to 1000 devices
- Low power usage
- Medium cost
- Application; wireless sensors
Bluetooth
- Second leader in the mobile market
- Max range; 100 m
- Up to 50 kbps
- Band; sub GHz
- Topology; P2P & star
- Low power usage
- Low cost
- Application; wireless sensors
BACnet
- Max range; 1.2 km
- Up to 1000 Mbps
- Topology; Single-ended, P2P, tree, star, and mesh
- Up to 127 devices
- Low cost
- Application; wired & wireless sensors
IP
- Max range; 100 m
- Up to 1000 Mbps
- Topology; Single-ended, P2P, tree, star, and mesh
- Up to 250 devices
- Low cost
- Application; wired & wireless sensors
RS485 / Modbus
- Max range; 1.2 km at 100 kbps
- Up to 10 Mbps
- Topology; Multi-drop
- Up to 32 devices
- Low cost
Application; wired sensors
RS232
- Max range; 15 m at 19.2 kbps
- Up to 1 Mbps
- Topology; Single-ended
- Up to 1 device
- Low cost
- Application; wired sensors
433 Mhz RF
- Max range; 1000 m
- Up to 115.2 kbps
- Topology; Single-ended, P2P, & star
- Unlimited devices
- Low cost
- Application; wireless sensors
Analog
- Max range; 200 m
- Instantaneous
- Topology; Single-ended, star & P2P
- Unlimited devices
- Low cost
- Application; wired sensors
Communication protocol selection
Are you planning to smart up your environment? Are you lost with all of the thousands of device options? Do you need a professional to advise you?
When it is time to choose the right communication protocol for your property, 911micro offers consulting, solutions, and installation. Select the best fit.