There are two types of network devices from the RF and power consumption point of view. STD devices support both STD+LP and STD networks (see below). LP devices support only STD+LP networks. LP devices, unlike STD devices, receive packets strictly at LP-RX mode, so they have considerably lower power consumption compared to STD devices and therefore they can be powered from batteries, accumulators, etc.
There are two IQMESH network types: either STD+LP or STD.
If the network is type STD, then the packets are transmitted in STD-TX mode and they can only be received in STD-RX mode. It follows that such a network consists typically only of mains powered devices as the STD-RX mode would drain batteries or accumulators fast.
If the network is type STD+LP, then the packets are transmitted in LP-TX mode. STD+LP networks are approximately twice as slow compared to the STD networks. Battery-powered devices (LP [N]) receive the LP packets in LP-RX mode (that puts the device regularly into sleep mode for most of the time) to minimize their energy consumption. By contrast, the mains-powered devices (STD [N]) keep receiving the LP packets in STD-RX mode thus they can unlike battery-powered devices take advantage of using interrupts and peripherals.
Mains powered devices (STD [N]), unlike battery-powered devices (LP [N]), can work both in STD and STD+LP networks.
The IQMESH network type (STD+LP or STD) that [C] controls is configured by a TR Configuration bit.7 at byte index 0x05 (NtwType from now) of the respective device.
The following table depicts network RF modes and the respective [C] and [N] RF settings that are automatically set by DPA:
|
Network |
Coordinator |
Node |
|||
|
STÂ |
D |
LP |
|||
|
STD |
NtwType = 0 |
STD-TX / STD-RX |
STD-TX / STD-RX |
n/a |
|
|
STD+LP |
NtwType = 1 |
LP-TX / STD-RX |
LP-TX / STD-RX |
LP-TX / LP-RX |
|