Short-range options.
WHAT WIRELESS NETWORKING PROVIDES
High data rates Existing infrastructure in many buildings Direct internet access
WHAT IT COSTS
Substantial power consumption Range limited to a building Dependence on someone else's network and its credentials
WHY CREDENTIALS ARE A PROBLEM
Provisioning devices onto a customer's network is awkward, and password changes disconnect them.
WHAT BLUETOOTH LOW ENERGY PROVIDES
Very low power Direct connection to phones Short range
WHAT IT SUITS
Wearables, beacons, and devices configured or read by a nearby phone.
WHAT MESH PROTOCOLS PROVIDE
Devices relaying for each other, extending range Low power Many devices per network
WHAT THEY SUIT
Building sensors and controls, at density.
WHAT THEY REQUIRE
A gateway, bridging to the internet.
WHAT TO CONSIDER
That mesh reliability depends on device density and placement.
WHAT WIRED OPTIONS PROVIDE
Reliability, and power over the same cable in some cases.
WHY THEY REMAIN RELEVANT
In industrial settings, wired remains the default for anything critical.
