The ETRX1 family of low-cost, low-power, mesh network modules combines application hardware, integration and toolkits from Telegesis (www.telegesis.com) with wireless semiconductors and software from Ember. By providing a range of modules to meet customers' needs, the ETRX1 family enables companies to quickly bring to market ZigBee sensing, monitoring and control applications.

Designed to help product designers integrate mesh-networking capabilities without complex programming or RF design experience, the ETRX1 family is comprised of multiple modules that include a programmable ETRX1 module for OEMs seeking to embed ZigBee networking capabilities into their products and a ZigBee CF card module (ETRX1CF) that provides ZigBee communications to portable handheld devices. A USB ZigBee stick (ETRX1USB) is also offered, which acts as a cost-effective way to add wireless sensing to any device employing USB. All modules feature an AT-style command interface for easy integration, programming and debugging, and employ Ember's 802.15.4-compliant radio and EmberZNet mesh networking stack.

A new range of IEEE 802.15.4/ZigBee modules is designed to enable rapid development of wireless sensor-based products. The modules provide a production-proven reference design and manufacturing package for other module suppliers developing their wireless sensor modules for the end-market. More than just a bolt-on wireless interface, the comprehensive IO access provided by the Jennic (www.jennic.com) JN5121MOxxx modules ensures that they can be used without having to add additional circuitry to implement all of the functionality required in many low-power wireless systems.

The JN5121MOxxx modules are based on the JN5121 single-chip wireless microcontroller, granting developers full access to its digital and analog IO capabilities, which include ADC, DAC, comparators, timers, UART, serial interfaces and GPIO. The JN5121 chip, manufactured on IBM's 7RF low-cost RF CMOS process, integrates a 32-bit RISC core and a 2.4 GHz IEEE 802.15.3 transceiver, as well as ROM and RAM memory.

The JN5121MOxxx family includes versions with integrated ceramic antennas or with an SMA connector; both enabling ranges of up to 200 m. They are available in a surface-mount form factor measuring 18 mm × 30 mm. Another family member features an integrated power amplifier and low noise amplifier for an extended range of more than 1 km and measures 18 mm × 40 mm. Each module is supplied with either the IEEE 802.15.4 MAC layer software or with a ZigBee network stack.

EmberZNet, a second-generation ZigBee protocol stack and fifth-generation mesh networking stack from Ember (www.ember.com), is designed for self-organizing, self-healing wireless networks using a variety of network topologies, including mesh, star and cluster tree. It provides all the standards-based benefits inherent in the ZigBee specification, including high reliability, high security, broad interoperability, low cost, long battery life, and integrated network management.

EmberZNet 2.0 now extends ZigBee functionality, simplicity and performance through its support of application profiles for home controls and user-defined network applications. It also features an Ember transport layer to provide more reliable wireless communications between nodes, enable distributed bindings and allow customers to port EmberNet applications to the new ZigBee platform. Using an API, users can easily migrate their applications to a ZigBee-compliant version with minimal changes and development costs. Future upgrades to products can be deployed with EmberZNet's over-the-air bootloader.

EmberZNet 2.0 gives device manufacturers lower cost microcontroller options by providing a compact, scalable implementation of ZigBee. The stack is available in different configurations optimized for specific node types, including PAN coordinators and full-function devices. It is available for multiple third-party microcontroller platforms, such as from Atmel and Texas Instruments and comes bundled with Ember's EM250 ZigBee SoC and EM260 ZigBee network processor.

A one-stop solution for ZigBee-based applications hails from a development effort between Oki Electric Industry Co. (www.oki.com) and Integration Associates (www.integration.com). The joint ZigBee-compliant certified solution combines the Oki ML7065 chip with Integration's ZigBee stack. The ML7065 IEEE802.15.4-compliant LSI chip is comprised of a 2.4 GHz RF, physical layer and a media access control layer. Built on a 0.22 µ CMOS process, it has a standby current that is less than 2 µA. The solution supports Integration's CompX ZigBee stack in Asia, as well as in North America and Europe.

The BM TECH line of general-purpose, high-performance modules from the BM Group (www.bm-group.com), offer the simplest and fastest way to integrate ZigBee mesh networking technology into different products. Comprised of flexible, low-cost hardware and software platforms, and supported by the BM Core library, the modules are customizable.

BM TECH modules incorporate Texas Instrument's (formerly Chipcon) CC2430 ZigBee system-on-chip. They provide simple connections to a serial port, multiple general-purpose digital IO ports (both inputs and outputs, two of which can drive up to 20 mA each and many of which can be configured as timers), and several ports that can be read by the internal analog-to-digital converter (ADC).

OEMs and system integrators have the ability to load their code into the XBee and XBee-PRO RF module's processor with MaxStream's (www.maxstream.net) version of the XBee professional development kit. The kit is ideal for applications that require a customized software configuration.

Included in the kit are code and instructions for implementing and integrating the Freescale/Figure8 ZigBee stack, Freescale SMAC or 802.15.4 firmware into custom-tailored application code. Also included are redesigned interface boards with additional switches and LEDs to make custom software design and configuration simpler.