Explore DSGW-030 BLE 5/ Zigbee 3.0 / Z-Wave to Wi-Fi / Ethernet Gateway
The smart home market is expanding is no longer a secret. IoT-enabled home automation brings convenience and peace of mind to residents by automated energy monitoring, potential securiy detection, and remote management of all connecting elements and objects in the home. This is mainly realized by various communication protocols and a protocol conversion coordinator.
Why Smart Homes Use So Many Protocols?
A typical smart home system are usually built based on a multitude of linked gadgets, sensors and actuators, etc. Companies who manufacturing these gadgets will use different protocols considering variations in features, capabilities, mode of operation, and requirements.
How to let these smart home devices work together? Here we take a simple example to illustrate this question: the motion sensor in your living room senses someone coming in and tranmits this info the smart home gateway hub, the hub then implement pre-written automation rules (like turning on the light when motion sensor is active), and forward this command to the smart light switch. The motion sensor may use Z-Wave, and the light switch may be WiFi or Zigbee, becasue both protocols are very low-powered. To make them being able to communicate, a smart home gateway is necessary as protocol converter and coordinator hub.
Comminication Protocols Supported by DSGW-030
DSGW-030 Hardware Block Diagram
DSGW-030 Software Block Diagram
Zigbee
What is Zigbee?
Zigbee is an open wireless Personal Area Networks standard based on IEEE 802.15.4. It features low-power consmption, low latency, large network capacity (max. 65000 theoretically), collision avoidance for reliable data transmission, and AES-128 data encryption.
DSGW-030 Zigbee Function
The Zigbee performance of DSGW-030 is realized by Dusun IoT’s DSM-04B EFR32MG21 Module which adopt Silicon Labs’ multiprotocol SoC supporting Zigbee, Matter and BLE. Multi-protocol setting gives DSGW-030 more functionality and saves PCB board space, allows for compact size of DSGW-030 (70mm x 70mm x 25mm). Meanwhile, DSGW-030 is a certified Zigbee 3.0 gateway, lowering the device integration threshold.
Data Types Suitable for Zigbee Transmission
periodic: sensor data, electricity meter data
intermittent: commands for industrial controls, remote network control, and home gadget controls
Explore: DSGW-030-1 Zigbee WiFi gateway
Z-Wave
What is Z-Wave?
Both Z-Wave and Zigbee are popular smart home protocols. Z-Wave enjoys a better interoperability, signal dependability, and security than Zigbee. It guarantee all Z-Wave devices from different manufacturers can communicate, unlike Zigbee. In addition, Z-Wave operates under Sub-GHz, effectively avoiding interference with other protocols. Beside AES-128 encryption, Z-Wave has an extra Security 2 (S2) standard for better data safety. You may want to know how does Z-Wave work and difference on Zigbee vs Z-Wave.
DSGW-030 Z-Wave Fucntion
The Z-Wave performace of DSGW-030 is realized by Dusun IoT’s DSM-102 Z-Wave Module, which consists of Silicon Labs’ the wireless ZGM130S037HGN1 processor chip. According to offical website description, ZGM130S037HGN is perfect for smart home hub and gateways and a variety IoT-based energy-efficient gadgets. This Z-Wave module support Z-Wave 700 and Z-Wave Long Range.
Explore: DSGW-030-3 Z-Wave WiFi Smart Home Hub
Suggested Z-Wave Devices
Z-Wave is primarily designed for monitoring and controlling homes and small commercial buildings thus extensively utilized in controlling lighting, security, and climate. Typical Z-wave devices include smoke detectors, door locks, security sensors, etc. Smart electricity meters may also use Z-Wave to transmit power comsumption data for HVAC monitoring and management.
BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy)
What is BLE?
BLE, which was first introduced in 2010 as a part of the Bluetooth 4.0 protocol, is designed for ultra-low power applications. The Peripheral end establishes a data connection with the Central end through Advertising. In other words, the Central end establishes a data connection with Peripheral end through Scanning. Outside of the data sending and receiving period, the Central and Peripheral end enter a low-power sleep state.
DSGW-030 BLE Function
The BLE performance fo DSGW-030 is realized by DSM-05D BLE module, which also employs Silicon Labs’ EFR32BG21 Bluetooth® Wireless SoC. This processor support Bluetooth 5.3, and BLE mesh technology. This SoC is mainly built for smart home gateways, which features increased processing capability and improved RF performance.
BLE-enabled Devices
The LE radio is suited for situations where the device emits sporadic tiny data packets, from once every second to every few days, because to its low frequency. For instance, a fitness tracker’s heart rate monitor may gather all of your heart rate information and transmit it to your smartphone every hour. Or a temperature sensor, which won’t be triggered to provide a measurement until the temperature is extremely high or extremely low.
Ethernet
What is Ethernet?
Ethernet is the standard method for establishing connections between devices in a wired LAN or WAN. Data travelling on Ethernet are realized over physical cables and RJ45 ports. This increas the difficulty of outsiders accessing network data or stealing bandwidth for unauthorized devices, providing a higher level of network security and management. Ethernet is mainly emplyed becasue of its high speed, security and reliability.
Etherent Port on DSGW-030
DSGW-030 has an Ethernet RJ45 port and is equipped with a network cable. This Ethernet port is WAN/LAN variable, which means you can connect the DSGW-030 with a router using WAN port, or connect to a PC using LAN port for gateway configuration.
Ethernet vs WiFi
Compared to Wi-Fi, Ethernet offers greater speed, dependability, and security. It doesn’t need data encryption, has little latency time, and maintains a constant speed. However, it is wired and has limited mobility and a more complicated installation process.
Wi-Fi uses wireless signals to transmit data, making it more mobile, easier to deploy, and more simpler for users to access the internet from any location that has signal coverage. But it is prone to signal interference and isn’t as fast, dependable, or secure as Ethernet. In the meanwhile, data encryption is required for every wireless connection.
Wi-Fi 2.4GHz
What is Wi-Fi 2.4GHz?
WiFi is undoubtedly the most widespread communication protocol in smart home gadgets. WiFi has fast transmission spped and easy for users to directly connect WiFi-based smart home gadgets to the network. 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi works at speed speed of 50–70 Mbps (depending on actual conditions), and provides a large coverage area and better penetration performance.
WiFi Function of DSGW-030
DSGW-030 uses MTK7688 as main control unit, which has already integrated a 1T1R 802.11n Wi-Fi radio, and support Wi-Fi 2.4GHz. This ease the burden of developing reliable and quick one-key WiFi configuration, and on the other hand, decreases the cost of DSGW-030. Meanwhile, mtk7688 determines that DSGW-030 can run [email protected] OS, and WiFi may be configured to AP (Access Point) mode and function as a router.
WiFi 2.4 GHz vs 5 GHz
The main distinction between 2.4GHz and 5GHz is between wireless range and speed. Use 2.4 GHz if you want a longer range. Use the 5GHz band if you want more speed or performance. In contrast, 5GHz offers more channels for communication and often has fewer rival devices than the older spectrum, which means less interference.
If you are looking for a gateway with both 2.4GHz and 5GHz, we have our flagship product DSGW-210 hub gateway controller for recommendation. It can satisfy any imagination you want for a smart home hub.
Enclosure Features of DSGW-030
Indicator LED Lights
There are three LED lights for indicator the working status of DSGW-030.
Power indicator: this light will turn on when the power source is properly connected;
Network indicator: this light will turn on soon the network connection is operational;
Signal indicator: You may use this light to check if the signal is connected.
WiFi-enabed Button
When you get a new DSGW-030, you need to configure it at first. The primary step is to press this button for 5 seconds to enable the gateway connected to WiFi, and then enter the SSID and password.
Reset Hole
Sometimes users may need to reset the gateway, they can poke this hole for more than 8 seconds, the factory settings are then restored and all pairing data is deleted from the gateway.
Ethernet Cable Hole
This has been discussed in Ethernet part.
USB Power Hole
DSGW-030 has an external USB port, allowing users to charge gateway via it. A USB power cable will be sampled together. Meanwhile, if users want to develop DSGW-030, they can make use of this USB port as well.
