TopTechnical DictionaryThe Mesh System

The Mesh System

Mesh network (IEEE 802.11s) - is a standard approved by IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) in 2011. Mesh network is built on the basis of mesh topology (hence its name mesh). Its main idea is to allow communication between network elements, without the need for a central unit, which is a router or access point. At the same time, routers or access points equipped with Mesh technology operate within a given network, increasing its range.

 

Mesh networking devices, unlike signal boosters, allow to create networks within a single SSID, this means that our smartphone or computer sees only one WiFi network, and the components of this network are responsible for switching between transmitting devices. By using an additional channel for communication between network devices, it is possible to achieve higher speeds and more connected network users. Manufacturers are increasingly implementing the Mesh function in their routers, signal boosters and access points, making it very easy to implement this technology even for home applications.

 

The mesh topology is divided into two types:

  • Full Mesh - each device has a physical (wired or wireless) connection to every other device on a given network,

     

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    Fig. 1: Full Mesh topology

     

  • Partial Mesh - devices have different numbers of connections to other devices on the network.

     

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    Fig. 2: Partial Mesh topology

     

    Applications of Mesh networks

     

    Mesh topologies are very often used in network infrastructures. Low failure rate and the possibility of wireless connectivity between devices allows to create very extensive networks in companies, offices, shopping malls, schools, hotels and other buildings where it is required to cover a large area with a WiFi network.

     

    Mesh networks - pros and cons

     

    The advantages of Mesh networks are:

  • Increased WiFi network coverage within a single SSID.

  • No connection loss - multiple access points connected via Mesh technology allow us to stay connected throughout the area they cover without having to switch between separate network SSIDs.

  • Easy expansion - most often, expanding a Mesh network ends with purchasing a compatible router and configuring it in a mobile app.

     

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    The disadvantages of Mesh networking are:

  • Price - devices operating with Mesh technology are often more expensive than their counterparts without this technology.

  • Lack of compatibility between manufacturers in cheaper devices - manufacturers, although they support Mesh technology, use implementations of it that are not compatible with each other. Most often, compatibility ends with one manufacturer's series, for example: the Tp-Link Deco is not compatible with the cheaper Tp-Link OneMesh.

     

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    Example Mesh standards from well-known manufacturers

     

  • Reyee Mesh
  • Tp-Link OneMesh
  • Tp-Link EasyMesh
  • Tp-Link Omada Mesh
  • Cudy Whole Home Mesh
  • Asus AiMesh 

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    Mesh networks in the application of Smart Home solutions

     

    Manufacturers of Smart Home systems offer devices that give us information about, for example, weather, air pollution or sunshine. Each of these devices can send the data it collects to our own server such as, for example, "Home Assistant", "Openhab" or "Domoticz". This solution makes it necessary to configure each device separately. Sometimes, too, our private servers will not be able to handle these types of devices, as they will have closed access to control through local programming interfaces. This problem is solved by manufacturers' applications that connect Smart Home devices directly to the cloud, then we don't have to worry about difficult configuration, as it is usually enough to scan the QR code on the device in question and enter the password to our WiFi network. The WiFi protocol is very simple to use to connect devices to the cloud, but it has one very big drawback, it is energy inefficient. In response to this, the ZigBee protocol was developed.

     

    ZigBee

     

    ZigBee is a protocol that has been under development since 2002 by the ZigBee Alliance, which includes companies such as Philips, Xiaomi, Siemens, Samsung, Amazon, Bosch and Motorola. It provides wireless transmission in the 2.4 GHz band (global) and 868 MHz (Europe) and 915 MHz (America). The maximum speed we can achieve on the 2.4 GHz band is 250 kbps, for 868 MHz it is only 100 kbps and for the 915 - 921 MHz band we reach as much as 500 kbps. The range of devices equipped with this protocol is up to 100 meters. In order to take advantage of the benefits of ZigBee, we need to equip ourselves with a suitable coordinator commonly called a "gateway". The gateway serves us as a receiver of the ZigBee protocol from the sensors where it transmits it to the cloud via an Internet connection. We can extend the transmission range of the sensors using signal amplifiers. ZigBee devices can easily communicate with any device connected to the same ZigBee network, so that data will be transmitted through another device so that it can reach its destination (in this case the hub).

     

    Fig. 3: ZigBee protocol - the way devices communicate

     

    ZED - ZigBee End Device

    ZR - ZigBee Router - router to extend the range of the hub

    ZC - ZigBee Coordinator - ZigBee hub connects ZigBee devices to the Internet

    Bluetooth Low Energy

     

    Bluetooth Low Energy - is a variation of Bluetooth technology with much lower power requirements. Unlike ZigBee, this protocol does not require a hub to work. This allows us to connect devices at close distances directly to our smartphone, but once we move out of range of the device, we will no longer receive any data from it. Connecting devices equipped with Bluetooth Low Energy to the cloud is done through hubs. Devices such as motion sensors can operate in a Mesh topology which ensures reliability and guarantees that we will be informed of the device's status, even if the sensor initially loses connection with a pre-selected receiving point.