ZigBee Wireless Transceiver Engineering Options

ZigBee offers unique advantages for wireless applications, including low-cost radios, mesh networking, a basis in standards, and low power consumption. But with a technology this new, realizing a successful ZigBee implementation requires understanding its architecture and operation, assessing design options at the chip and module level, and weighing practical considerations relative to specific application needs.

This white paper provides a developer's overview of ZigBee, presenting key aspects of ZigBee's architecture and certification requirements as they relate to implementation options. It then examines the strengths and challenges of each primary option to help the reader decide which path is best suited to specific application and business needs.