800 Series

How Far Does Z-Wave Long Range Reach?

DrZWave3 Comments

Z-Wave Long Range (ZWLR) claims to reach over 1 mile, but does it actually reach that far in the real world? The answer is YES. However, in the real world we are operating inside a building and surrounded by trees and other buildings. The more important answer is how does ZWLR do in a building and in an neighborhood? I recently captured some data in my home town just outside of Boston which shows ZWLR easily reaches the entire yard and then some.

The first thing to understand about the RF range of Z-Wave are the different power levels used by regular Z-Wave (ZW) and ZWLR. I’m comparing the values used in the US but the rules are different in each region. In the EU the max transmit power is +13dBm with regular Z-Wave which is why the range in the EU is so much further than in the US. But let’s focus just on the US for now.

RF Transmit Power

There are 3 levels of Z-Wave RF transmit power in the US:

  • -1dBm – Regular Z-Wave GFSK modulation – 12mA
  • +14dBm – ZWLR DSSS-OQPSK modulation – 41mA
  • +20dBm – ZWLR DSSS-OQPSK modulation – 92mA

The huge increase in transmit power is why ZWLR has over double the range of ZW. The reason ZWLR can transmit at such high power levels is that the spread spectrum modulation spreads that energy across a 1MHz carrier compared to the narrow band FSK of ZW. The FCC allows the transmit power to be as high as +30dBm but that would be a challenge for a battery powered device as it would likely need half an amp of current!

Why are there two power levels for ZWLR? The RF transmit power is matched to the power supply of the typical use case. The ZGM230 module is limited to +14dBm since it is most often used in battery powered devices where even the 41mA current is a bit challenging for low-cost batteries. The +20dBm ZG23 is best suited to mains-powered devices to get the maximum range. ZWLR utilizes dynamic RF power so for nodes that are close enough, the battery life is extended by using only enough RF power to reliably reach the controller. the dynamic power algorithm is built into the Z-Wave protocol so you don’t have to manage it at all.

RF Range at Home

    The Yellow circle is the regular Z-Wave mesh range with a controller in a room on the 2nd floor. My home is surrounded by large pine trees which limit the range. Using 700/800 series Z-Wave chips there are no dead spots anywhere in my home. I still have a few 100 series devices, several 300 series and a lot of 500 series devices many of which need the mesh to hop to reach my controller. This demonstrates the increasing range of each generation of Z-Wave. If I were to upgrade all of my devices there would be little if any routing using regular ZW.

    The Red circle shows over double the range of regular Z-Wave at +14dBm. The combination of higher transmit power and increased sensitivity due to the spread spectrum modulation yields a strong signal over my entire neighborhood. Note the bump on the right side caused by the open field and the swampy area with a lot fewer trees. Each wall or tree or building reduces the range but ZWLR easily reaches well beyond the end of the yard. I couldn’t test 20dBm because there just isn’t enough open space for me to measure it! So I moved to a building in the center of town.

    RF Range in Town

    The photo above shows the relative range of all three transmit powers. In this case the controller is in the upper right corner of a commercial building as shown in the inset in the lower left. Regular Z-Wave is not quite able to reach the two rooms at the far end of this 35m building. But ZWLR easily reaches the entire building and well beyond. Each step, +14 and then +20 roughly doubles the range in this typical application where there are still a number of trees and buildings reducing the signal. Recall from middle school geometry that the circumference of a circle is 2*pi*radius or roughly 6*radius. On the day I performed this test, I doubled my daily step goal and walked over 20,000 steps!

    In both of these measurements the line is roughly where full 2-way, fully secure, supervision encapsulated Basic Set commands were being sent to a battery powered SwitchOnOff sample application using SDK 7.18.3. I used a Raspberry Pi running Unify and a small python program to send Basic Set On/Off commands every half second to the Dev Kit and then noted where the LED stopped blinking. Once I stepped a few paces back toward the controller, the two devices would resync and the blinking would restart. Z-Wave is very adept at re-connecting to devices that are at the margin of the RF range.

    During the Z-Wave summit earlier this month we did a live demonstration of the range versus the transmit power. While regular Z-Wave reached well beyond the conference center, it couldn’t quite get to the adjacent hotel. ZWLR however reliably reached the hallways in the hotel thru the concrete and glass of each building.

    How to Set Tx Power

    For regular Z-Wave the transmit power is normally set pretty close to the maximum of -1dBm. There are two configuration parameters to set based on the results of FCC testing. See INS14664 in Simplicity Studio for details. For ZWLR, setting the transmit power easier. Simply set APP_MAX_TX_POWER_LR in zw_config_rf.h to either 140 for +14dBm or 200 for +20dBm but that only works if the EFR you are using supports +20. The 700 series EFR32ZG14 supports +20 but the balun has to be wired to +3.3V to have enough power to reach +20. The ZGM130/230 are both limited to just +14. The EFR32ZG23 part number chooses either +14 or +20 – EFR32ZG23B0X0F512 – If the X is 1 it’s +14, if 2 then +20.

    One last configuration setting is to make sure ZWLR is enabled. This is in zw_region_config.h and all you need to do is set it to REGION_US_LR. The protocol code completely handles everything relative to ZW or ZWLR for you so just a 3 character change enables ZWLR.

    Conclusion

    All new Z-Wave devices for the US market should support Z-Wave Long Range. The low-latency (no routing), high reliability and long range make it a must for any new product. The question is +14 or +20? All controllers should be using the SoC (EFR32ZG23A/B020) to get the most range. The SoC requires calibration of the crystal for each unit as described in UG517. The module (ZGM130/ZGM230) are limited to +14 only and come pre-calibrated from Silicon Labs and thus are ideal for end devices that are battery powered. The SoC should be used for any mains-powered end device since the current draw is not an issue but be careful to specify the right part number with the 020 in it.

    Make Your Own Z-Wave Device

    DrZWave1 Comment

    Have you always wanted your very own Z-Wave widget-thing-a-ma-bob-doohickey? Silicon Labs recently released the Thunderboard Z-Wave (TBZ) which is an ideal platform for building your own Z-Wave device. Officially known as the ZGM230-DK2603A, the TBZ has sensors galore, expansion headers to connect even more stuff, comes with a built-in debugger via USB-C and can be powered with a single coin cell. Totally cool! I am working on a github repo for the TBZ but right now there are three simple sample apps in Simplicity Studio to get started.

    ThunderBoard Z-Wave

    Thunderboard Z-Wave

    Features

    1. ZGM230 Z-Wave Long Range Module – +14dBm radio – 1mi LOS RF range
      1. ARM Cortex-M33, 512/64K FLASH/RAM, UARTs, I2C, SPI, Timers, DAC/ADC and more
    2. Built-in Segger J-Link debugger
    3. USB-C connectivity for SerialAPI and/or debugging
    4. RGB LED, 2 yellow LEDs, 2 pushbuttons
    5. Temperature/Humidity sensor
    6. Hall Effect sensor
    7. Ambient Light sensor
    8. 6-Axis Inertial sensor
    9. Metal sensor
    10. 1Mbyte SPI FLASH
    11. Qwiic I2C connector
    12. Break-out holes
    13. SMA connector for antenna
    14. Coin cell, USB or external power
    15. Firmware development support via Simplicity Studio

    Sample Applications

    There are three sample applications in Simplicity Studio at the time of this writing (Aug 2022 – SDK 7.18.1);

    1. SerialAPI,
    2. SwitchOnOff
    3. SensorMultilevel

    The TBZ ships with the SerialAPI pre-programmed into it so you can use it as a Z-Wave controller right out of the box. Connect the TBZ to a Raspberry Pi or other computer to build a Z-Wave network. Use the Unify SDK to get a host controller up and running quickly or use the PC-Controller tool within Simplicity Studio for development and testing. The SwitchOnOff sample app as the name implies simply turns an LED on/off on the board via Z-Wave. This is the best application to get started as the ZGM230 chip is always awake and is easy to debug and try out. The SensorMultilevel sounds like a great app as it returns a temperature and humidity but at the moment it does not use the sensor on the TBZ and simply always returns a fixed value. SensorMultilevel shows how to develop a coin-cell powered device. Additional sample apps are expected to be available in future SDK releases but I am working on a github repo with a lot of sensor support.

    Naturally a single Z-Wave Node doesn’t do much without a network. You’ll need some sort of a hub to connect to. Most of the common hubs (SmartThings, Hubitat, Home Assistant, etc) will at least let you join your widget to the network and do some basic control or status reporting. You need either a pair of TBZs or perhaps purchase the even cheaper UZB7 for the controller side and then the TBZ for the end-device. Then you have a network and can build your doohickey and talk to it over the Z-Wave radio.

    Getting Started

    Plug in the TBZ to your computer and open Simplicity Studio which will give you a list of applicable documents including the TBZ User Guide. Writing code for the TBZ definitely requires strong C programming skills. This is not a kit for an average Z-Wave user without strong programming skills. There is a steep learning curve to learn how to use the Z-Wave Application Firmware (ZAF) so only experienced programmers should take this on. I would recommend watching the Unboxing the 800 series video on the silabs web site to get started using Simplicity Studio. I hope to make a new video on the TBZ and publish the github repo so stay tuned.

    Have you created a Thing-a-ma-bob using the TBZ? Let me know in the comments below!

    Z-Wave 800 GPIO Decoder Ring

    DrZWaveLeave a comment

    The two Z-Wave 800 series chips from Silicon Labs have flexible GPIOs but figuring out which one is the best for which function can be challenging. There are a number of restrictions based on the function and the energy (sleep) mode you need the GPIO to operate in. Similar to my posting on the 700 series, this post will guide you to make wise decisions on which pin to use for which function.

    The tables below are a compilation of several reference documents but all of the data here was manually copied out of the documents and I could have made a mistake or two. Please post a comment if you see something wrong and I’ll fix it right away.

    Reference Documents

    • EFR32xG23 Z-Wave 800 SoC Family Datasheet
    • ZGM230 Z-Wave 800 Module Datasheet
    • EFR32xG23 Reference Manual
    • WSTK2 Schematic (available via Simplicity Studio)
    • BRD4210 EFR32ZG23 Radio Board +20dBm Schematic
    • Thunderboard Z-Wave UG532 and Schematic

    Pin Definitions

    The table below lists the pins from the most flexible to the most fixed function. There are more alternate functions than the ones listed in this table. The most commonly used alternate functions are listed here to keep the table readable. Refer to the schematics and datasheets for more details.

    Port A and B are operational down to EM2, other GPIOs will retain their state but will not switch or pass inputs. Thus, use port A and B for anything special and use C and D for simple things not needed when sleeping (LEDs, enables, etc).

    WSTK GPIO Probe Points

    Only the ZG23 QFN48 pin numbers are listed in the table. The QFN48 is expected to be pin compatible with future version of the ZG23 with additional Flash/RAM so I recommend using it over the QFN40. The WSTK2 is the Pro DevKit board with the LCD on it which comes as part of the PK800 kit. There are two sets of holes labeled with Pxx numbers on them which are handy to probe with an oscilloscope. The Thunderboard Z-Wave (TBZ) also has 2 rows of holes which are ideal for probing or connecting to external devices for rapid prototyping.

    NameZG23ZGM230WSTK2TBZALT
    FUNC    		Comments
    PB2229P19EXP5
    BTN1    		Use the pins at the top of this list first as they are the most flexible
    PB6NA5EXP15
    I2CSDA    		TBZ Qwiic I2C_SDA
    PB5NA6EXP16
    I2CSCL    		TBZ Qwiic I2C_SCL
    PB4NA7
    PA10NA23
    PC1235P1EXP4PC and PD are static in EM2/3
    PC2336P3EXP6
    PC3437P5EXP8
    PC4538P35BLUE
    PC6740P33EXP9
    PC8942P31LED0
    PC91043P37LED1
    PD34530P26IMUEN
    PB02411P15VDAC0CH0
    PA02512P2GREENIDACVREF
    PB12310P17REDEM4WU3
    VDAC0CH1    		EM4WUx pins can wake up from EM4 sleep mode on a transition of the GPIO
    PB3218P21EXP3
    BTN0    		EM4WU4
    PC0134P7EXP10EM4WU6
    PC5639P12EXP7EM4WU7
    PC7841P13SNSENEM4WU8
    PD24631P6EXP11EM4WU9
    PD0_LFXTAL_O4833XC32XC32BRD4210 and TBZ have 32KHz crystal mounted
    PD1_LFXTAL_I4732XC32XC32Accurate timing while sleeping – Time CC
    PA73220P10TraceD3Trace pins for debug & code coverage
    PA63119P8TraceD2Trace is configurable for 4, 2 or 1 data pin
    PA53017P4IMUINTEM4WU0
    TraceD1
    PA4_TDI2916P41EXP13JTAG_TDI
    TraceCLK    		JTAG data in
    Trace Clock out
    Pins below here should be used primarily for debug
    PD4_PTIDATA4429P25Packet Trace Interface (PTI) data
    PD5_PTISYNC4328P24EM4WU10PTI Sync
    PA9_URX3422P11EXP14VCOM UART
    PA8_UTX3321P9EXP12VCOM UART
    PA3_SWO2815P16JTAG_TDO
    TraceD0    		RTT UART printf and Trace D0
    PA2_SWDIO2714P18JTAG_TMSThese two SWD pins should ONLY be used for debug and programming
    PA1_SWCLK2613P20JTAG_TCKSWD debug clock
    Pins below here are fixed function only
    SUBG_O118NANot used by Z-Wave
    SUBG_I116NANot used by Z-Wave
    SUBG_O0193RFIO on ZGM230
    SUBG_I017NAMatching network to SMA
    RESET_N131F4Push buttons on DevKit boards
    HFXTAL_O12NA39MHz crystal
    HFXTAL_I11NA39MHz crystal
    DECOUPLE36181.0uF X8L cap (unconnected on ZGM230)
    VREGSW37NAInductor to DVDD for DCDC – 3.3V
    VREGVDD38253.3V In/Out based on mode
    DVDD4024VDCDC on ZGM230
    AVDD41NAHighest voltage – typically battery voltage
    IOVDD42261.8-3.8V
    PAVDD20NA3.3V for +20, 1.8V for +14dBm
    RFVDD14NA1.8V or 3.3V but less than PAVDD
    VREGVSS3927, 44GND
    RFVSS152, 4GND

    Power Supply Pins

    Obviously the power supply pins are fixed function pins. The only really configurable parts to this set of pins is the voltage to apply to the IOVDD, AVDD and whether to use the on-chip DC to DC converter or not. If your device is battery powered, AVDD should be the battery voltage assuming the battery is nominally 3V (coin cells or CR123A). AVDD can be measured by the IADC in a divide by 4 mode to give an accurate voltage reading of the battery. This avoids using GPIOs and resistor dividers to measure the battery level thereby freeing up GPIOs and reducing battery drain. IOVDD should be set to whatever voltage needed by other chips on the board. Typically either 1.8 or 3.3V. The DCDC should be used in most battery powered applications unless a larger DCDC is present on the board already to power other chips.

    The other configurable voltage is the RFVDD and PAVDD and the choice there depends on the radio Transmit Power you wish to use. For +14dBm PA an RF VDD are typically 1.8V. For +20dBm PAVDD must be 3.3V.

    Every product has unique requirements and sources of power so I can’t enumerate all possible combinations here but follow the recommendations in the datasheets carefully. Copy the radio board or Thunderboard example schematics for most typical applications.

    Debug, PTI and Trace Pins

    The two Serial Wire Debug (SWD) pins (SWCLK and SWDIO) are necessary to program the chip FLASH and are the minimum required to be able to debug firmware. While it is possible to use these pins for other simple purposes like LEDs, it is best if they are used exclusively for programming/debug. These should be connected to a MiniSimplicity or other debug header.

    The SWO debug pin is the next most valuable pin which can be used for debug printfs in the firmware and output to a debugging terminal. Alternatively, the UART TX and RX pins can also be used for debugging with both simple printfs and able to control the firmware using the receive side of the UART to send commands.

    The two Packet Trace Interface (PTI) pins provide a “sniffer” feature for the radio. These pins are read by Simplicity Studios Network Analyzer to give a detailed view of all traffic both out of and into the radio. The main advantage of these pins is that they are exactly the received data by the radio. The Z-Wave Zniffer can also be used as a standalone sniffer thereby freeing these pins for any use. The standalone Zniffer however does not show you exactly the same traffic that the PTI pins do especially in noisy or marginal RF conditions. Thus, the PTI pins on the device provide a more accurate view of the traffic to the device under test.

    The Trace pins provide additional levels of debug using the Segger J-Trace tool. These pins output compressed data that the debugger can interpret to track the exact program flow of a running program in real time. This level of debug is invaluable for debugging exceptions, interrupts, multi-tasking RTOS threads as well as tracking code coverage to ensure all firmware has been tested. Often these pins are used for other purposes that would not be necessary during firmware debug and testing. Typically LEDs or push buttons can be bypassed during trace debug. There are options to use either 4, 2 or even 1 trace data pin but each reduction in pins cuts the bandwidth and make debugging less reliable.

    LFXO and EM4WU Pins

    The Low Frequency Crystal Oscillator (LFXO) pins are typically connected to a 32KHz crystal to enable accurate time keeping within several seconds per day. If supporting the Time Command Class, I strongly suggest adding the 32KHz crystal. While you can rely on the LFRCO for time keeping, it can drift by as much as a minute per hour. While you can constantly get updated accurate time from the Hub every now and then, that wastes Z-Wave bandwidth and battery power. Both the Thunderboard and BRD4210 include a 32KHz crystal so you can easily compare the accuracy of each method.

    Reserve the EM4WU pins for functions that need to wake the EFR32 from EM4 sleep mode. These are the ONLY pins that can wake from EM4! Note that ports PC and PD are NOT able to switch or input from peripherals while in EM2. See the datasheet and reference manual for more details.

    Remaining GPIOs

    Many of the remaining GPIOs have alternate functions too numerous for me to mention here. Refer to the datasheet for more details. Most GPIOs can have any of the digital functions routed to them via the PRS. Thus, I2C, SPI, UARTs, Timers and Counters can generally be connected to almost any GPIO but there are some limitations. Analog functions have some flexibility via the ABUS but certain pins are reserved for special functions. Hopefully these tables help you make wise choices about which pin to use for which function on your next Z-Wave product.

    Tiny Headers for Reliable Debug

    DrZWaveLeave a comment

    Here we go again… Once again I’ve been given yet another board with randomly placed test points instead of a nice neat, reliable header to connect via my MiniSimplicity cable. So I’m spending an hour on my microscope soldering thin little wires to the tiny little test points to be able to flash and then debug the firmware on a new ZG23 based product. Once I’m done soldering, I’m left with a very fragile board which is unreliable at best and at worst will result in even less hair on my thinning head. My post from 2019 described using a zero cost header for a reliable connection, but it seems not everyone is reading my blog!

    On the flip side, a different customer sent me their board with a Tag-Connect Edge-Connect that I had not seen before but is absolutely brilliant. The Edge-Connect uses the EDGE of your PCB for the test points. Barely 1mm wide and about 20mm long it is possible to include this debug connector on virtually any PCB. There is a locking pin to hold the cable secure while the spring loaded tabs press into the castellated notches to ensure solid contact.

    Close up of the locking pin and castellated notches

    There are several sizes of the Edge-Connect but the recommended one is the 10-pin EC10-IDC-050 which matches the MiniSimplicity header on the WSTK DevKit board. Note that the the 6pin cable in the photo above is NOT the one I would recommend but it was the only one in stock at the time and it worked fine for debugging but doesn’t have the UART or PTI pins.

    Tag-Connect has many other types of debug headers/cables of various configurations to hold the cable to the PCB securely. The original Tag-Connect cables have plastic clips that snap into fairly large thru-holes in your PCB. While this is a reliable connection, the thru-holes eat up a lot of PCB real estate. The next evolution was to use a small retaining clip under the PCB that grips onto the metal alignment pins. The photo below shows the PCB pads are not much bigger than an 0805 footprint and only requires three small thru-holes.

    Note the smallest header is about the same as an 0805 in lower left corner

    The lowest cost approach is to simply add a 10-pin header footprint on your PCB that matches the pinout of the MiniSimplicity header. See section 5.1.1 of Application Node AN958 for the pinout of the 10-pin MiniSimplicity header. You don’t need to solder the header onto the PCB except when debugging. Thus the header can be under a battery or some relatively inaccessible location as when you are debugging in the lab the PCB is usually not installed in the product enclosure.

    Please use ANY of these standard connectors on your next project. Without a solid connection between your computer and the chip you will find yourself chasing ghosts and losing hair.

    Z-Wave 800 Series – Soc or Module?

    DrZWave2 Comments

    The new Z-Wave 800 Series silicon is now shipping in volume and fully supported by the Silicon Labs tools so it’s time to get to work designing new products! In this post I’ll describe the main advantages and the difference between the chip version (SoC) and the module. But first I want to invite everyone to watch the Tech Talk on using the new 800 series developers kit: ZWAVE-PK800A.

    I am presenting the new Z-Wave Developers Kit – ZWAVE-PK800A in a webinar on 22 March 2022. The webinar is recorded so if you missed it, you can still view it anytime, just click the image.

    Unlike the 700 series, either the SiP module or the SoC can be used for either controllers or end devices. In the 700 series the EFR32ZG14 SoC is only usable on gateways and only runs the SerialAPI. The ZGM130 module is used for all end devices and can be used on gateways. Thus, the 800 series gives you more choices for which chip/module to use that best matches your product needs.

    What’s the difference between 800 series Module vs. SoC?

    • Here’s the short list of differences:
      • ZGM230S SiP Module – easier to use
        • Integrated crystal, RF match, decoupling
        • Factory calibrated CTUNE
        • 34 GPIO – 44 pin SiP 6.5×6.5mm
        • +14dBm Max RF Transmit power (lower battery current targeting End Devices)
        • More expensive unit cost but just add antenna and a few passives
      • EFR32ZG23 SoC – lower cost, longer RF range
        • External crystal, RF match/filter, decoupling
        • CTUNE Calibration required per unit (see UG522)
        • 23/31 GPIO – 40/48 QFN 5×5/6x6mm (48 pin compatible with a future larger flash/ram device)
        • +14dBm or +20dBm Z-Wave Long Range RF Tx power
          • Line powered devices should use +20 for additional RF Range
        • Lower unit cost but more companion parts, antenna and crystal calibration required
      • Both require an external antenna and require regulatory (FCC/CE) testing

    ZGM230S Module

    The ZGM230S System-in-Package (SiP) Module is a superset of the EFR32ZG23 System-on-Chip (SoC). The module adds a handful of inductors and capacitors for the DC-to-DC regulator and RF matching and the 39MHz crystal which is pre-calibrated at the Silicon Labs factory. The module is easier to manufacture (fewer components and no calibration) but is limited to +14dBm transmit power in Z-Wave Long Range. Modules are more expensive due to the integration but the cost crossover is at pretty high volumes.

    ZGM230S SiP Module contains the ZG23 SoC chip, a calibrated crystal and a few passive components

    ZG23 SoC

    The ZG23 SoC is the chip inside the module. The main advantage of using the SoC is that at high volumes, it is cheaper. The SoC supports +20dBm Z-Wave Long Range transmit power which can nearly double the radio range over the module. But +20dBm demands a lot of battery power so it typically cannot be powered with coin cells but must use a CR123A or AA batteries. Getting FCC to pass at +20dBm can also be a challenge and careful matching of the antenna is required. On the factory test floor, every unit manufactured must have the 39MHz crystal calibrated. Details of the calibration process are described in User Guide 522. The crystal calibration is necessary to ensure reliable radio communication and is a process that requires a spectrum analyzer and several seconds of testing. Your manufacturing partner has to be equipped and knowledgeable to properly calibrate each unit efficiently.

    500 vs. 700 vs. 800 Series Comparison

    Are you still working with the Z-Wave 500 series and need more details on which series to upgrade to? Fortunately we’ve put together this comparison table to answer those questions. I have to say that once you’ve written and debugged code for a modern ARM processor, you will NEVER want to use the 500 series 8051 8-bit CPU ever again!

    Which Z-Wave Series to use?

    In these times of long lead times and limited silicon availability, the main question of which Z-Wave chip/module to use may come down to which ones you can get! Silicon Labs keeps some inventory of all of our chips available thru our distributors Digikey, Mouser and Arrow. Each day a few hundred chips of all types are placed into inventory so anyone can buy enough to build prototypes. If there are zero available today, try again tomorrow or the next day. At this time (end of Q1 2022), we are able to supply the 500 series pretty well but the supply outlook for 2023 is uncertain. The 700 series has limited availability so if you already have orders placed and have been given allocation, you are OK. The 800 series is our most advanced process which Silicon Labs and our fabrication partners are investing in upgrading capacity so availability will improve late in 2022 and into 2023. Any new product development or upgrading of 500 series products should use the 800 series. This outlook changes literally daily so contact your Silicon Labs sales person for the latest recommendation.

    Conclusion

    The choice of 800 series is easy – do it! The improvements and availability over the 500 and 700 series makes using the 800 series a no-brainer. So the next question is Module or SoC? That decision has to be done on a case-by-case basis as there are a lot of factors to be weighed. The first hurdle is the total unit volume you expect to purchase. If you’re not in the 100,000+ per year stage, then the recommendation is to use the module as it is simply easier to manufacture. The crystal calibration requirement for the SoC is non-trivial and demands expertise and equipment to do it properly. If your target market is not the US, then the module is also the way to go as the additional RF power isn’t available except in the US region as Z-Wave Long Range is only available in North America. I recommend you contact your local FAE to discuss your needs and we’ll help guide to the appropriate solution that balances cost vs. complexity.