Difference between Bluetooth mesh and Zigbee mesh
This page compares BLE mesh vs Zigbee mesh and mentions difference between Bluetooth mesh and Zigbee mesh technologies with respect to various parameters.
Introduction: The network topologies used by wireless/wired system are categorized in to point to point, point to multi-point and multi-point to multi-point. Based on these topologies, devices or nodes communicate for data transfer or other uses. Both bluetooth mesh and zigbee mesh follows mesh topology and hence data can be exchanged with any device in the coverage range. If receiving node is not within the coverage range of the sending node, the data can be relayed or routed until it reaches the destination device or node. Both the BLE mesh and zigbee following different relay/routing techniques.
Bluetooth mesh standard specifications have been published in 2017 by Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG). It supports all the BLE versions back to 4.0. The BLE mesh has been designed to support higher range and more IoT applications. The devices in BLE mesh network are known as nodes. These nodes do not connect with each other unlike traditional BLE (bluetooth low energy) devices. They use advertising and scanning states in order to relay messages to each other. There are different types of nodes in BLE mesh based on their functions in the network viz. relay node, low power node, friend node and proxy node.
Zigbee mesh network specifications are defined in IEEE 802.15.4-2003 standard. The standard defines PHY and MAC layers and radio frequency channels to be used. The network consists of coordinators, routers and end devices. Zigbee mesh supports higher coverage range and operates in different frequency bands viz. 2.4 GHz, 868 MHz and 915 MHz. It supports data rates up to 250 Kbps.
Difference between BLE mesh and Zigbee mesh
Following table mentions comparative difference between BLE mesh and Zigbee mesh technologies.
| Parameters | Bluetooth mesh | Zigbee mesh |
|---|---|---|
| Specification | Published by Bluetooth SIG | Published by IEEE under 802.15.4-2003 standard |
| Frequency | 2.4 GHz | 868 MHz, 900-928 MHz and 2.4 GHz |
| Coverage range | 10 to 100 m | 3.2 Km or less for each hop during transmission |
| Data rate | 250 Kbps | 20 Kbps, 40 Kbps, 250 Kbps |
| Number of nodes per network | 32767 | 65000 |
| Routing | Managed flooding | Full routing |
| Complexity | High | Low |
| Power consumption | Medium | Very low |
| Network devices | Different types of nodes e.g. relay node, low power node, friend node and proxy node | Coordinator, Router and End Devices |
| Security | Uses AES-CCM with 128-bit size keys | Uses AES encryption |
| Applications or use cases | Monitor and control apps such as lighting etc. | Home automation and other IoT applications |
| References | Bluetooth mesh technology >> | Zigbee mesh network tutorial >> |
Bluetooth RELATED LINKS
Bluetooth Tutorial BLE Tutorial Frequency PHY Layer MAC layer Stack Power classes Security products versions Bluetooth Vs BLE
zigbee mesh tutorial related links
what is zigbee Zigbee mesh tutorial Zigbee Protocol Zigbee PHY Zigbee frame Zigbee MAC Zigbee bands RF4CE 6LoWPAN AODV protocol Zigbee Products Zigbee Gadgets Zigbee Switch Zigbee Sensor Zigbee USB Dongle Zigbee Smart Meter Zigbee to Ethernet
BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) Links
➤Bluetooth v4.2 versus v5.0 >>
➤Bluetooth v5.0 versus v5.1 >>
➤BLE states and state diagram >>
➤BLE advertising and data channels >>
➤BLE protocol stack architecture >>
➤BLE advertising message format >>
➤BLE connection process >>
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