Analogue and mixed-signal semiconductor provider, Semtech and mesh wireless network provider, Virtual Extension offer ultra-high transmission range power for smart environment applications. The chipset pairs the former's SX1231 ISM-band transceiver with the latter's VE209S wireless mesh controller. The result is wireless data transmission across greater distances, compared to lower Tx solutions, claim the companies. The ultra-high, +17dBm RF transmission power of the transceiver makes this chipset suitable for network applications that need to use the maximum power allowed by European and North American regulations, as well as for battery-operated devices with up to a 12year lifetime, while using few external components. Designers of smart lighting, metering, alarms, security systems and other smart environment systems can choose chipsets for their own design, or as customised, ready-made modules. The transceiver is optimised for asynchronous sensor network designs over the 433, 868 and 915MHz bands. The device offers programmable narrow-band and wide-band communication modes, without the need to modify external components. It has a 137dB link budget and a high receive sensitivity of -120dBm, along with a high transmitter output power of 17dBm. The transceiver extends battery life with an ultra-low, 16mA receive mode current consumption, 95mA transmit current consumption (at +17dBm), and a 0.1µA sleep mode current consumption. The VE209 mesh controller is the main building block, either a gateway or a node. The IP-based mesh controllers perform networking tasks and have interfaces for a choice of protocols, with DALI, MODBUS, RS232, USB and TCP/IP compatibility. The mesh controller provides bi-directional communication for distributed monitoring and data collection of smart lighting, smart metering and sensor systems. All nodes retransmit data from other units to create, says the company, a network with no practical limitation to the number of nodes or size of coverage area.
