There's no shortage of networking technologies designed to connect devices wirelessly, but one way that's probably the one most people use is Zigbee. It's often used to connect smart devices, such as lights and thermostats. Zigbee uses low power consumption technology, which is very suitable for using battery-powered equipment in the home environment.

What is Zigbee?

Zigbee is an open standard that provides low-cost, low-power wireless mesh networking. It was designed to create a personal area network where devices could connect via built-in digital radios. Smart home automation and medical device data collection are good examples of Zigbee in practice, as both benefit from Zigbee's low power consumption and low bandwidth usage.

The technology behind Zigbee is considered simpler and cheaper than other wireless personal networks including Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. That's why Zigbee is used in some familiar smart home devices, such as wireless light switches and home energy monitors. Just like a Wi-Fi network needs a wireless router, Zigbee needs a centralized hub to get started. The device creates and controls the network, with each device operating as a node.

Typically, these products fall into one of four categories: smart home hubs, lighting, security sensors and locks.

How does Zigbee work?

Zigbee provides the ability to wirelessly control and monitor networked applications. In the process, it provides secure communication by default. One reason the standard remains popular is its simplicity. Other protocols, such as ZWave, can perform a variety of functions. Zigbee is only focused on performing specific tasks, such as operating a wireless light switch from a mobile phone.

Various types of small devices support this technology. These include, but are not limited to, light bulbs, plugs, door locks, thermostats, security camera sensors, speakers, doorbells, switches, and more.

What are the advantages?

In addition to low power consumption and mesh network topology, Zigbee offers long battery life, scalability, security and ease of use. It is cost-effective and covers a wide range of compatible devices. This also helps the standard to be recognized around the world. The Port PHY supports 2.4 and Sub-GHz frequency bands, enabling it to cover the widest range of settings and uses.

What are the disadvantages?

somehow. This architecture can only provide short range and is limited to slower data rates. It may also interfere with other wireless devices.

Although it is a security protocol, Zigbee is sometimes accused of being a security risk. The reason for some concern is the sporadic discovery of bugs over the years. One of the most common security issues with Zigbee is the password. Usually, the default passwords for Zigbee devices are easy to guess. Unfortunately, this simplicity makes it easier for hackers to guess the passcode and gain access to the device.

No encryption is another problem with the Zigbee architecture. Without encryption, potential attackers can go back and forth between devices to eavesdrop and extract information, including personal data.

There are steps we can take to allay these concerns, some more obvious than others. First, we can use strong passwords and enable encryption on the Zigbee network. It also ensures that all devices are using the latest firmware. Using a firewall is another possible solution, since there is usually more caution about the information shared between devices.

Is there any other option?

Few protocols are as popular or used as Zigbee, but alternatives do exist. ZWave is sometimes considered a more accessible Zigbee alternative. It also uses a small scale network to communicate between devices, which actually provides better range. However, it will only support 232 devices, while Zigbee will support up to 6,500 devices on the same personal network.

When it comes to Zigbee, it's not so much about making a "choice" as it is about recognizing that the devices you already have in your home may support it. Armed with this knowledge, we can understand how to connect devices for home automation