There are already many smart home devices on the market, and as their prices become more affordable, the acceptance of these products continues to rise. However, the various wireless technologies that support device-to-device and device-to-smartphone communication can be overwhelming. The protocols or standards used by these technologies each have their unique characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages. These include Wi-Fi, Thread, Matter, Zigbee, Amazon Sidewalk, Z-Wave, Bluetooth, and proprietary protocols, which are some of the most common. This article will introduce these smart home technologies and the related solutions launched by Silicon Labs.
Common wireless communication technologies for smart home devices
Currently, there are many wireless communication technologies available for smart home devices, each with its own advantages and characteristics. Below, we will analyze the features of these common wireless communication protocols.
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi is the most widely used and common technology for connecting smart home devices. It utilizes the same wireless network as laptops, tablets, and smartphones, offering high-speed data transmission and wide coverage. Wi-Fi is compatible with most smart home devices and platforms, such as Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, and Samsung SmartThings. Wi-Fi operates on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands and supports data rates of up to several gigabits per second.
Wi-Fi technology is commonly used in both lined-powered and battery-powered devices (large-capacity disposable batteries, such as alkaline batteries), such as smart speakers, smart displays, smart TVs, smart cameras, smart thermostats, smart locks, smart doorbells, smart plugs, smart switches, and smart bulbs.
The new version of Wi-Fi mesh networks can improve the connection and functionality of smart home devices, especially for outdoor devices or those far from the router. Devices like security cameras, smart lights, or pet trackers, which benefit significantly from the wide network coverage of Wi-Fi mesh networks. Wi-Fi mesh networks are also suitable for outdoor lighting, sensing and control, parking management, environmental management, building and campus management, and even extensive applications in airports.
Thread
Thread is a low-power, mesh -based smart home protocol that operates on the same frequency bands as 2.4G Wi-Fi but creates a separate, dedicated low-power mesh network. Thread devices provide robust mesh networking coverage for homes and even commercial buildings. Thread does not define an application layer, so manufacturers need to develop their own application layer or potentially support existing ecosystems like Apple HomeKit.
Thread protocol is commonly used in both lined-powered and battery-powered devices (such as coin cell batteries), including smart sensors like motion, temperature, humidity, and light sensors, as well as smart switches, smart plugs, smart lights, and smart locks. In outdoor use cases, the Thread protocol can also be used for sensor networks, asset tracking and control systems, street lighting control, environmental monitoring, traffic management, garden automation, pool monitoring, and outdoor lighting.
Matter
Matter is a new smart home protocol released by the Connectivity Standards Alliance in 2022. The Connectivity Standards Alliance was founded by a group of tech companies, including Amazon, Apple, Google, Samsung, and Silicon Labs. Matter aims to establish a universal and interoperable standard for smart home devices, free from brand, platform, or technological constraints.
The Matter protocol is commonly used in both lined-powered and battery-powered devices, such as smart speakers, smart displays, smart TVs, smart cameras, smart thermostats, smart locks, smart doorbells, smart plugs, smart switches, smart bulbs, smart sensors, smart buttons, smart remotes, smart devices, and large household appliances.
Zigbee
Zigbee is one of the most original and mature smart home protocols, widely adopted and used by popular brands, including Philips Hue, IKEA, and Honeywell. It is also a low-power, mesh-based protocol that operates on the same frequency band as Wi-Fi but uses a different modulation and coding scheme. Zigbee devices can establish networks with hundreds of nodes, enabling communication between nodes, and between nodes and central hubs or coordinators. Some smart home platforms (including Amazon Echo, Samsung SmartThings, and Tuya) natively support Zigbee and can also cooperate with other platforms (such as Google Nest and Apple HomeKit) through Actions or Skills.
The Zigbee protocol is commonly used in both lined-powered and battery-powered devices (such as coin cell batteries), including smart sensors like motion, temperature, humidity, and light sensors, as well as smart switches, smart buttons, smart plugs, smart lighting, smart locks, and smart meters. In outdoor applications, the Zigbee protocol can be used for sensor networks, asset tracking and control systems, street lighting control, environmental monitoring, traffic management, garden automation, pool monitoring, and outdoor lighting.
Amazon Sidewalk
Amazon Sidewalk was launched in 2021 as a smart home protocol designed to support shared wireless network connections for IoT devices inside the home, at the front door, within communities, and across cities. It is a long-range, low-bandwidth protocol that uses 900 MHz (long-range) and 2.4 GHz Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) (indoor) to connect smart home devices and extend their network coverage. Amazon Sidewalk uses two modulation techniques to transmit data over the 900 MHz band, including Frequency Shift Keying (FSK) and Chirp Spread Spectrum (CSS). FSK is used by Amazon Sidewalk for medium-range communication between Amazon Sidewalk Bridge devices (e.g., Echo or Ring) and Amazon Sidewalk-enabled devices. CSS covers a greater distance than FSK but has a much lower data rate. Amazon Sidewalk can use both FSK and CSS to create a secure and reliable wireless network with extensive coverage, supporting a variety of low-power devices.
The Amazon Sidewalk protocol uses low-power Bluetooth within the home for applications such as tracking, theft prevention, access control, and home automation. Outside the front door, it uses sub-GHz FSK for outdoor lighting, water resource crisis mitigation and control, energy conservation, and appliance predictive maintenance. Beyond the fence, it employs sub-GHz FSK and CSS for applications like park management, environmental management, building and campus management, and airports.
Z-Wave
Z-Wave is a low-power mesh network protocol that operates in the 800-900 MHz frequency band, widely used in smart home devices, particularly for security, lighting, and climate control. It was developed by the Z-Wave Alliance, which includes over 300 companies producing Z-Wave compatible devices. Z-Wave is reliable, scalable, and secure, utilizing a mesh network topology, meaning each device can act as a repeater to extend the network range. It also uses encryption and device authentication to prevent unauthorized access and hacking. A Z-Wave network can support up to 232 devices (nodes), including the primary controller. In indoor applications, Z-Wave is used with both lined-powered devices and battery-powered devices (such as coin cell batteries), including smart sensors like motion, temperature, humidity, and light sensors, as well as smart switches, smart plugs, smart locks, smart doorbells, and smart security systems.
Z-Wave Long Range (LR) is an extended specification that supports more devices in a single network, up to 4,000 nodes, allowing users to add more smart home features throughout the home. It also enables multi-dwelling property managers to manage buildings or complexes on a single network. Z-Wave LR allows wireless connections for sensors, door locks, and lighting without the need for repeaters or extenders. It can cover larger areas such as gardens, driveways, or backyards, and provides more reliable communication in harsh weather conditions.
Bluetooth Low-energy
Bluetooth Low-energy (BLE) is another common technology primarily used for connecting devices to smartphones. It operates in the same frequency band as 2.4G Wi-Fi but has a shorter transmission range and lower data rate. Bluetooth devices can communicate with each other and with smartphones or tablets. They can form a network consisting of up to 32 devices, called a piconet. Typical smart home devices controlled indoors via smartphones, such as locks and lighting, utilize Bluetooth, which often requires a hub for outdoor control. Bluetooth Low-energy is commonly used in wireless headphones, speakers, earbuds, wireless keyboards, mice, game controllers, smartwatches, fitness trackers, health monitors, smart tags, trackers, and beacons.
Bluetooth Mesh, on the other hand, is a network topology that allows Bluetooth devices to relay messages to each other, forming a mesh network. A single Bluetooth Mesh network can support up to 4,096 devices and can be expanded by adding more devices or subnets. This makes Bluetooth Mesh suitable for large-scale and complex IoT applications. Bluetooth Mesh is commonly used in smart lighting, building automation, asset tracking, and environmental monitoring.
Proprietary protocols (Sub-GHz or 2.4 GHz)
Proprietary wireless protocols, which can operate in various frequency bands (such as Sub-GHz or 2.4 GHz), are customized wireless technologies designed to meet the specific needs of the vendor or manufacturer. These protocols support different data rates and bandwidths, depending on the specifications of the protocol. Proprietary wireless devices can form various network topologies, such as star, tree, or mesh, depending on the manufacturer's design. Proprietary networks often require their own hub or gateway, which is needed to avoid direct connections with other ecosystems. However, these devices can integrate with larger ecosystems through Actions or Skills, allowing them to work with platforms like Google Nest or Apple HomeKit.
Proprietary protocols are commonly used in specialized smart sensors, smart buttons, smart remotes, as well as proprietary smart locks, doorbells, security systems, smart meters, smart plugs, and other smart appliances.
How to choose the best smart home technology
In fact, smart home protocols or standards are not unique, and it can be difficult to determine which one is the best, as each protocol or standard has its own advantages and disadvantages, and the needs and preferences they fulfill may vary. You can choose the most suitable smart home protocol or standard based on your actual requirements.
For example, if you want to add more smart home devices in the future, you need to ensure that your smart home system can adapt to future needs and be compatible with an increasing number of devices. Wi-Fi technology is a great choice. Wi-Fi is ubiquitous and compatible with many devices, making it a versatile and scalable solution.
If compatibility and interoperability with existing or preferred platforms, voice assistants, or apps must be considered, Matter is the best choice. If you need to extend transmission distances and cover both indoor and outdoor smart home devices, Z-Wave technology is undoubtedly a strong contender for smart home technologies that need extended transmission range and larger coverage. Z-Wave operates in the sub-GHz frequency band and supports mesh networking, where each device can act as a router or repeater, thereby extending network transmission distances and expanding coverage. Additionally, Amazon Sidewalk can also be considered.
From the perspective of smart home devices, power consumption is an important consideration. Zigbee is well-known for its low power consumption and low data rate wireless technology, making it ideal for applications that require long battery life, network reliability, and security. Zigbee devices can form a mesh network, extending transmission distances and expanding coverage, which also helps in achieving efficient power usage.
Moreover, features like Target Wake Time (TWT) and BSS Max Idle in Wi-Fi 6 can also help increase device power efficiency, thereby extending battery life. Devices can use these features to stay in sleep mode for long periods, saving energy and maximizing battery life. On the other hand, Z-Wave LR is designed to extend the transmission distance of Z-Wave networks while maintaining energy efficiency, with a coin cell battery capable of powering devices for up to 10 years, making it a preferred technology for low power consumption and extended battery life.
From the perspective of smart home devices and personal data security and privacy, Matter is renowned for supporting a wide range of device types and providing end-to-end encryption, device certification, and cloud integration, enhancing the security and privacy of smart home devices. Z-Wave also provides encryption and device authentication, but lacks built-in cloud services. When considering the cost and complexity of setup and maintaining smart home devices, Matter technology undoubtedly leads the way.
IoT and smart home device development toolkits supporting multiple protocols
To accelerate the development of IoT and smart home devices, Silicon Labs has launched the xG24-EK2703A development toolkit (EFR32xG24 Explorer Kit), a small form factor development and evaluation platform based on the EFR32MG24 System on Chip (SoC). The EFR32xG24 Explorer Kit focuses on rapid prototyping and concept creation for 2.4 GHz wireless protocols in IoT applications, supporting wireless protocols such as Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Bluetooth Mesh, Zigbee, Thread, Matter, and proprietary products.
Key features of the xG24-EK2703A development toolkit include a built-in USB interface, an onboard SEGGER J-Link debugger, Packet Trace interface, and push buttons. It also supports hardware add-on boards via mikroBus sockets and Qwiic® connectors. Hardware add-on support allows developers to use ready-made boards from mikroE, Sparkfun, AdaFruit, and Seeed Studios to create and prototype applications with various combinations.
The xG24-EK2703A is a small form factor kit, about the size of a breadboard, and includes the xG24 Explorer board (BRD2703A). It features the EFR32MG24B210F1536IM48 low-power wireless SoC with DSP instructions and floating-point unit, supporting high-performance 2.4 GHz radio, integrated 78 MHz 32-bit ARM® Cortex®-M33 core, 1536 kB flash memory, and 256 kB RAM, providing resources for demanding applications while allowing room for future growth.
The EFR32MG24 multi-protocol wireless SoC is an ideal choice for implementing mesh IoT wireless connectivity using Matter, OpenThread, and Zigbee protocols. It is suitable for smart home, lighting, and building automation products. With its high-performance 2.4 GHz RF, low power consumption, AI/ML hardware accelerators, and Secure Vault™ capabilities, IoT device manufacturers can create smart, robust, and energy-efficient products, protecting against remote and local cyber-attacks.
The EFR32MG24 features hardware encryption acceleration for AES128/192/256, ChaCha20-Poly1305, SHA-1, SHA-2/256/384/512, as well as a true random number generator (TRNG), ARM® TrustZone®, secure boot (Root of Trusted Secure Loader), Secure Debug Unlock, DPA countermeasures, and secure key management using PUF technology, ensuring anti-tamper and supporting secure attestation. Target applications include gateways and hubs, sensors, switches, door locks, LED lighting, luminaires, location services, predictive maintenance, glass break detection, wake word detection, and more.
Conclusion
The choice and application of smart home communication technologies are critical to the overall functionality, stability, and scalability of the system. Whether based on Wi-Fi, Zigbee, Bluetooth, Thread, or the emerging Matter standard, each technology has its specific advantages and suitable use cases. As IoT technology continues to advance, future smart home systems will place greater emphasis on interoperability, low latency, high security, and enhanced user experience. The Silicon Labs solutions introduced in this article will assist designers in rapidly developing smart home products, driving the evolution of smarter and more user-friendly homes, and achieving truly intelligent connectivity.