Wi-SUN, full name Wireless Utility Networks, translated into Chinese as intelligent wireless network, is a series of standard wireless communication networks based on IEEE 802.15.4 as the underlying protocol, mainly including Wi-SUN FAN (Wireless Utility Field Area Network) and Wi-SUN HAN (Wireless Home Area Network).
Compared with Wi-Fi using the 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency bands, although the communication speed of Wi-SUN is slower, it has the advantages of low cost, long communication distance, bypassing obstacles, easy access, and low power consumption. Through the integration of Mesh networking and active frequency hopping technology, Wi-SUN can be deployed in a separate area or complement other IoT technologies, reducing overall construction and operating costs.
Wireless network technology comparison:
2. Wi-SUN configuration file
Wi-SUN is a communication method that conforms to the IEEE 802.15.4g standard. The underlying protocol is based on IEEE 802.15.4g, and its upper-layer configuration files depend on the application. Creation of Wi-SUN profiles, certification to ensure connectivity, and popularization activities are carried out by the Wi-SUN Alliance.
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1.HAN
The standard profile for HEMS supports the Wi-SUN ECHONET Profile for Route B that connects to the power B route, the Wi-SUN ECHONET Profile for HAN that supports HAN, and the addition of relay function and sleep function on the basis of HAN Enhanced HAN and so on. As shown in the figure above, HAN supports standard protocols such as the PHY layer of IEEE 802.15.4g, the MAC layer of IEEE 802.15.4e, 6LoWPAN, and IPv6. HAN is mainly used in home application scenarios, using the central node and various devices in the home for one-to-one or one-to-many communication.
2. JUTA
Compliant with the wireless communication standard “U-Bus Air” for telemetry established by the NPO Telemetry Promotion Association (JUTA), a wireless communication profile that enables mutual communication. It can realize wireless communication with ultra-low power consumption, and use batteries to drive smart gas meters and smart water meters to work continuously for more than 10 years.
3. FAN
It is a profile for Field Area Network that considers the construction of various applications such as smart city, smart grid infrastructure, and advanced road transportation system. Support IEEE 802.15.4g PHY layer, IEEE 802.15.4e MAC layer, 6LoWPAN, RPL, IPv6 and other standard protocols. FAN is mainly used in dense urban networks such as smart meters and smart street lights that require multi-hop transmission.
4. RLMM
Profiles contemplated for use in factories, automation and maintenance systems of buildings, condition monitoring of buildings and structural elements, etc.
Wi-SUN technology is applied in two fields: Home Area Network (HAN) and Field Area Network (FAN)
3. The position of Wi-SUN in the connection ecosystem
Wi-SUN is not the only technical standards architect. Well-known players such as the LoRa Alliance and GSMA have launched their own connectivity protocols. While each technology does address specific needs, organizations are driving widespread adoption of their proprietary solutions, believing they are the best path forward.
Two of Wi-SUN’s biggest competitors are:
LoRaWAN: Long-range, Wide Area Network (WAN) coverage.
Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT): A low-power WAN approach that is now widely supported.
LoRaWAN is also a low-power, wide-area network (LPWAN) protocol aimed at battery-operated devices. While many wireless connectivity protocols use the LTE band, Semtech designed LoRaWAN for use in the Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) band, a communication highway that is unlicensed.
NB-IoT is similar to LoRaWAN because it is also an LPWAN protocol. However, the technology works in three unique ways: Standalone. On the unused 200 kHz (GSM) band or on LTE base stations, these sites usually reserve resource blocks for related operations, usually within a guard band, which is a narrow band of frequency that separates larger bands that are already in use and prevents interference and congestion. These represent only about 10% of the bandwidth available in LTE networks.