Sleepy Routers and end devices

Miguel Bento

Other Parts Discussed in Thread: CC2630, CC2530, CC2538

Hi,

I am struggling with the choise of protocol and devices to use in my application.
I want do design a network where i have 45 sensor nodes that reports their data to an gateway, and this gateway sends the data to the cloud by 3G connection.
I saw that the CC2630 is fine for my end device nodes, but for my gateway I am not sure if it can communicate with the 45 nodes and then send its data to the cloud by 3G (3G module, that communicates by AT commands). In the beginning I decided to use ZigBee for the communication between the nodes and the gateway (star topology), but the more I read, the more confused I get.
The power consumption is very important since all the devices (nodes and gateway) are battery powered. So I will have sleepy routers and sleepy nodes.

Should I use ZigBee or 6LoWPAN?

Can I use CC2630 in end devices and gateway?

Thank you so much.

over 9 years ago

0 YiKai Chen over 9 years ago

Guru 735625 points

1. Both Zigbee and 6LowPAN can support 45 nodes wihout problem. However, it is not flexible to power GW with battery because it usually keep RX on and would consume lots of power.
2. CC2630 is suitable for device but not for GW. You will need a host MCU to co-work with CC2630 as Zigbee coordinator or 6LowPAN slip radio.

0 Miguel Bento over 9 years ago in reply to YiKai Chen

Intellectual 640 points

So, for the gateway can I use one CC2530 alone or is it better to use one cc2630+MSP430?

For the sleepy GW, is it better zigbee or 6lowpan? I can make some kind of synchronization to wake the GW a little before the node start the communication. I have been reading about ZAP and ZNP and that confused me.

0 YiKai Chen over 9 years ago in reply to Miguel Bento

Guru 735625 points

1. What do you mean GW exactly? I suppose you mean coordinator in Zigbee and 6lbr in 6LowPAN. For Zigbee, I think CC2530 alone is good enough for coordinator in 45 nodes application. If you mean to use 6LowPAN, you would need CC2538 at least to run 6lbr.
2. As I told you, it is feasible to work both Zigbee and 6LowPAN on battery. Unless, you have a very big battery and you don't have to run it for years.

0 Miguel Bento over 9 years ago in reply to YiKai Chen

Intellectual 640 points

1. GW is the zigbee node that receives all the other nodes data and sends it to the cloud by a GSM module.
2. I pretend to use 2 AA batteries to run the GW for 4 months

0 YiKai Chen over 9 years ago in reply to Miguel Bento

Guru 735625 points

1. If GW needs to connect with GSM, I would suggest you to use CC2538 which has flash upto 512K bytes.
2. It is not feasible to run GW with two AA battery for 4 months. When running coordinator or 6lbr, it would consumes current more than 20 mA@3V.

0 Miguel Bento over 9 years ago in reply to YiKai Chen

Intellectual 640 points

2. it consumes more than 20 mA@3V because it is always on? I can put it on sleep and awake it a little before the nodes start to transmit

0 YiKai Chen over 9 years ago in reply to Miguel Bento

Guru 735625 points

If you turn GW off, how does GW know device wants to send messages and turn on?

0 Miguel Bento over 9 years ago in reply to YiKai Chen

Intellectual 640 points

I wil need to have some kind of syncronization

0 YiKai Chen over 9 years ago in reply to Miguel Bento

Guru 735625 points

That will be a big challenge.

0 Miguel Bento over 9 years ago in reply to YiKai Chen

Intellectual 640 points

I am aware of that, however, I cannot have the GW running on mains, it has to be on battery

0 YiKai Chen over 9 years ago in reply to Miguel Bento

Guru 735625 points

I just remind you that it's not feasible to do so. Anyway, good luck to your project.

0 Miguel Bento over 9 years ago in reply to YiKai Chen

Intellectual 640 points

So, what do you suggest? Using sub 1GHz? or something?

0 YiKai Chen over 9 years ago in reply to Miguel Bento

Guru 735625 points

Sub1-GHz doesn't help on GW power saving. If you already know how to make GW sleep and can wake up to receive messages from end nodes, I see no problem.

0 Miguel Bento over 9 years ago in reply to YiKai Chen

Intellectual 640 points

Ok. Thak you very much

0 YiKai Chen over 9 years ago in reply to Miguel Bento

Guru 735625 points

You are welcome.

0 Miguel Bento over 9 years ago in reply to YiKai Chen

Intellectual 640 points

so, is it ok to use cc2530 instead of the cc2538? I don't really see the major differences between them

0 YiKai Chen over 9 years ago in reply to Miguel Bento

Guru 735625 points

CC2538 has larger flash size which can be upto 512K bytes but CC2530 only has 256K bytes. It depends on your application.

0 Miguel Bento over 9 years ago in reply to YiKai Chen

Intellectual 640 points

ok, thank you

0 YiKai Chen over 9 years ago in reply to Miguel Bento

Guru 735625 points

You are welcome.

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