Re: Zigbee: Define "Open" Standard

From: Pablo Bleyer Kocik (pablobleyer_at_hotmail.com)
Date: 01/13/05 

Date: 12 Jan 2005 16:46:23 -0800

myren, lord wrote:
> Zigbee is another proclaimed "open" standard, but what does that
mean?
> How open is zigbee.

I guess it is currently only "open" for its members.

> Will the spec open up? I'd be happy to work on an Open Source
Software
> stack for Zigbee, but i'll be damned if I'm paying $7500 to do so.
And
> I'll be double damned if I cant sell anything I make with the stack
> since I didnt pay for a commercial license.

I know there are plans and pressures to make the details public.
However, "free" --if ever-- won't be fast because many member companies
are expecting to take their piece of the cake since that's what they
paid for (aka ROI).

> So far the only low cost zigbee solution I've seen is Microship's
PICDEM
> Z, which incorporates its own software stack.
>
http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=2018&mcparam=en021830

Last time I checked it was not really ZigBee since it is not ZigBee
compatible (based on a draft of the standard). Since ZB 1.0 is now out
I hope they will update the code to make it ZB compliant. Also, I think
Microchip is targetting the most simple ZB configurations since many of
the interesting network functionality that ZB promises is missing.

Motorola also has some ZB kits and stack (Codewarrior libs - made by
Figure8, IIRC). Check http://www.freescale.com/zigbee

> I'm just a hobbyist developer. I looked at Zensys' Z-Wave, but the
> $2500 development kit put me off. I've been banking on Zigbee, but
am
> worried about whether the free status will reach amateur developers
like
> myself.
>
> thanks
> Myren

If you only need a simple RF link without the burden of the ZB network
layer, the 802.15.4 standard is available (PHY+DATA layer):

http://www.ieee802.org/15/pub/TG4.html

You can use all those 802.15.4 transceivers available out there
(Chipcon, Freescale, etc.)

If you are looking for something *really* open to implement low data
rate meshable WPANs, check out tinyOS at http://www.tinyOS.net. Mature,
stable, actively developed, fantastic user group and it works *today*.
And no doubt it will be ZB compatible once the standard opens ;)

Regards. 

--
PabloBleyerKocik /"I believed that people would become programmers
pbleyer        / and not need companies as much. You can see how
@embedded.cl / laughable that was." -- Steve Wozniak

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