WIRELESS MESH

NETWORKING:
ZIGBEE® VS. DIGIMESH®

WIRELESS MESH NETWORKING: ZIGBEE VS. DIGIMESH

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WIRELESS MESH NETWORKING: ZIGBEE ZIGBEE NODES
VS. DIGIMESH
The Zigbee protocol defines three types of nodes:
Mesh networking is a powerful way to route data. This coordinators, routers and end devices. Each Zigbee
methodology extends range capabilities by allowing network requires one coordinator. While all nodes
data to hop from node to node. Mesh networking also can send and receive data, there are differences in the
increases reliability through “self-healing,” which is the specific roles they play.
ability to create alternate paths when one node fails or a
connection is lost.

Zigbee is one popular mesh networking protocol, and

was developed by the zigbee® alliance. Digi International
offers several products based on the Zigbee protocol,
which is specifically designed for low-data rate, low-
power applications. Additionally, Digi offers an alternate
mesh protocol, called DigiMesh. Both Zigbee and
DigiMesh offer unique advantages important to different
applications. This paper discusses those advantages
and provides comparisons to help you select the right
protocol for your application requirements.

Coordinator
The Zigbee network coordinator is the device
responsible for forming the network and routing traffic.

Both Zigbee and There is only one coordinator in each network. Once it
establishes the network, it can store information about
the network. For example, if it is configured as a trust
DigiMesh offer center, it can store security keys. After the network is
formed, the coordinator has the same capabilities as a
unique advantages router.

important to Router
A router acts as an intermediate node, relaying data
from other devices. There can be multiple routers on the
different applications. network. A router can also be an endpoint, but a router
cannot sleep, as it needs to always be available to relay
messages and act as a parent for end devices.

WIRELESS MESH NETWORKING: ZIGBEE VS. DIGIMESH

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End device DigiMesh offers these advantages:
An end device cannot route traffic. End devices have
• Network setup is simpler
sufficient functionality to talk to their parents (either
the coordinator or a router) but cannot relay data from • You have more flexibility to expand the network
other devices. These can be mobile devices, and they • DigiMesh offers better broadcast support
are allowed to sleep. Therefore, they can be low-power,
battery-driven devices. Every end device must have a Sleeping routers
parent node in order to communicate with the network. Allowing a node to sleep helps to significantly reduce
Each parent node can support up to 20 end devices power consumption, which is especially helpful for
(children). nodes that are battery powered. Currently, Zigbee allows
only end devices to sleep. Routers and coordinators
Zigbee offers these advantages: must remain awake and available. Some variants of
• Zigbee is an open standard with interoperability DigiMesh allow for synchronized cyclic sleep, where all
nodes on the network can sleep and wake at the same
between vendors
time, thus allowing every node on the mesh network to
• Additional security options be battery-driven.
• Trust center
Asynchronous sleep modes are also available, but
• Network key rotation
require always-on routers to be able to communicate.
• Restricted joining
• Out-of-band commissioning via device
registration ADDITIONAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN
• Source routing and many-to-one routing ZIGBEE AND DIGIMESH
Because Zigbee is an open standard, it offers the
Digi supports the Zigbee protocol on several RF devices,
potential for interoperability with devices made by
including the Digi XBee Zigbee module and the Digi
different vendors. Furthermore, Zigbee offers established
XBee3 Zigbee 3.0 module.
profiles for common applications such as energy
management and lighting control. A good selection of
DIGIMESH NODES diagnostic support tools, like RF packet sniffers, is also
available. Additionally, the Zigbee protocol is known to
DigiMesh has only one node type. It is a homogenous be highly secure, when set up correctly. To achieve a high
network, which means all nodes can route data and are level of security requires additional measures, making
interchangeable. There is no parent-child relationship in Zigbee more complicated to configure.
DigiMesh.
DigiMesh, as a proprietary protocol, has more flexibility
with regard to features and enhancements that can
be made. Easy-to-use diagnostic features have been
built into the XBee application for use with network
diagnostics and troubleshooting.
DigiMesh is available on sub-GHz platforms that provide
much longer range and more RF data rate options
than Zigbee. Frame payload can be larger, which can

WIRELESS MESH NETWORKING: ZIGBEE VS. DIGIMESH

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improve throughput for applications that send larger
data blocks. Additionally, DigiMesh uses a simplified
For more information on Zigbee, inquire about
addressing method, which improves network setup and
troubleshooting. Securing nodes on a DigiMesh network our Zigbee vs. Bluetooth in IoT Applications
requires just a few specific commands, and the use of White Paper.
industry best practices.

ZIGBEE VS. DIGIMESH COMPARISON TABLE

Zigbee Mesh® DigiMesh®

Coordinators, routers, end devices. One homogeneous device type with flexible routing
Node types
configurations.

Defined roles result in a less flexible network configuration. More flexibility to expand the network. Simplified network
Each parent can only support a limited number of child setup. No parent/child ratios to consider.
devices.
Optionally, you can disable the ability to route messages
Configurability
on a per-device basis. This allows you to tailor your
network topology to your physical deployment. For
example, you can configure routers on the edge of the
network to not route messages or repeat broadcasts.

Only end devices can sleep. The coordinator and routers With synchronized cyclic sleep, all nodes can sleep,
Sleeping routers and must always be awake, which affects power consumption. which conserves power and enables devices to be battery
battery life
powered.

Because end devices are associated with a parent, it is very DigiMesh supports indirect messaging for point-to-point
easy to have bi-directional communication with a sleeping unicast messages. This allows a node to buffer a message
device. The end device will poll its parent every wake for a neighboring polling device. This functionality is not
period to see if any data is available. available for broadcast messages or messages that are
Communication with routed across hops.
sleeping devices This allows you to send broadcast or unicast messages to
end devices across the mesh network.
With synchronized cyclic sleep, messages are sent
while the network is awake, allowing for bi-directional
communication to sleeping devices on the network.

Zigbee is a very noisy protocol with frequent link status DigiMesh is a less noisy protocol and only sends data when
messages being sent between nodes. This is to aide in directed to. Route discovery is performed on an as-needed
network discovery, as a route discovery can rely on link basis in order to reduce background network traffic.
Background network status. Routes can be rapidly repaired as a result. DigiMesh does not have source routing capabilities, but
traffic and discovery has a larger route table size to compensate.
methods Zigbee also has the capability to do source routing, where
the route entries are stored on an external microcontroller
or gateway. This provides better support for larger
networks with reduced route discovery overhead.

WIRELESS MESH NETWORKING: ZIGBEE VS. DIGIMESH

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 Zigbee Mesh® DigiMesh®

Over-the-air firmware Yes Yes

Zigbee is only available on 2.4 GHz radios. Most Zigbee DigiMesh is available on 2.4 GHz as well as sub-GHz radios.
Long-range options and devices have a range of less than 2 miles (3.2 km) for This allows for considerably longer ranges (40+ miles).
frequency availability each hop.

Up to 256 bytes when using unicast messaging Up to 1024 bytes, depending on product. Improves
Frame payload and (fragmentation is used in this case). Up to 80 bytes when throughput for applications that send larger blocks of data.
throughput using broadcasts. The NP command enables you to determine specific
payload size limitations.

Zigbee can only send approximately one broadcast per DigiMesh has no restrictions on the number of concurrent
second. Zigbee has a broadcast event table with room for broadcast messages that can be sent on the network.
8 entries; each entry persists for 8 seconds. This is to avoid This makes it suitable for protocols such as Modbus that
Broadcast capabilities broadcast storms or duplicates on a large network. rely on network-wide requests and messaging.

Zigbee is primarily built with unicast messaging in mind.

Zigbee security features: DigiMesh security features:

• 128-bit AES encryption • 128-bit AES encryption. (256-bit AES is available on
some products, such as XBee3 and XTend.)
Enhanced Zigbee-specific security features: • One command (KZ) sets a password that prevents
Security • Centralized or distributed trust center intruders from sending or receiving unsecured remote
• Network key rotation (centralized) AT commands. For added security, this can be used on
• Joining can be restricted a device-by-device basis.
• Install code-derived link key • Simplified preset encryption key, with two configurable
• Out-of-band commissioning parameters.

Interoperability Interoperability with third-party Zigbee devices. Proprietary protocol. No interoperability options.

Direct-Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS). 900 MHz: Frequency-Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS).
Interference Tolerance
2.4 GHz: Direct-Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS).

Two layers: MAC address (64-bit) and network address MAC address (64 bit) only.
(16-bit).
Addressing DigiMesh has the ability to form a data aggregator, which
The coordinator can be easily addressed with a reserved 0 causes remote nodes to route their traffic to a central node.
address.
This allows for a very simple many-to-one configuration.

Standardized diagnostic tools. Zigbee diagnostics are Simplified network setup makes forming and managing a
supported via ZDO requests. DigiMesh network very easy.
Maintenance Complex network formation, routing, and security Robust diagnostic tools can aid in tracking down weak
schemes can make troubleshooting issues more
network links or identifying poor deployments.
challenging.

WIRELESS MESH NETWORKING: ZIGBEE VS. DIGIMESH

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CONCLUSION Choose DigiMesh if you need:
• The ability for all nodes to sleep (enabled with
Zigbee and DigiMesh are excellent mesh networking
synchronized cyclic sleep)
protocols with distinct advantages. Review the following
simplified comparison to help you decide which is right • Simplified network setup and expansion (no
for you: parent/child dependencies)
• Support for longer range options (sub-GHz
Choose Zigbee if you need: options available)
• An open standard-based protocol • Support for broadcast-intense applications
• Potential for interoperability with devices made
by different vendors
• Bi-directional communication with sleeping end
devices

View our Zigbee and DigiMesh products:

• Digi XBee3™ Zigbee 3.0 modules
• Digi XBee3™ DigiMesh® 2.4 modules

Contact a Digi expert and get started today

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www.digi.com

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WIRELESS MESH NETWORKING: ZIGBEE

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