EnOcean Serial Protocols: ESP2 vs. ESP3

This page delves into EnOcean serial protocols, comparing ESP2 and ESP3 and highlighting the key differences between them.

Introduction to EnOcean Technology

EnOcean is a fascinating wireless energy harvesting technology. Unlike many wireless devices, EnOcean devices don’t need batteries to operate. They function in sub-1 GHz frequency bands (868 MHz, 315 MHz, 902 MHz, 928 MHz) and the 2.4 GHz band, which is commonly used for IoT (Internet of Things) applications. The standard specifications are outlined in ISO/IEC 14543-3-1X.

EnOcean and its alliance provide a variety of specifications that are available for download by developers, manufacturers, and testing professionals.

ESP2 and ESP3 are two distinct versions of EnOcean serial protocols. The EnOcean Radio Protocol (ERP) transmits telegrams, which are encapsulated using either ESP2 or ESP3 before being transferred to a UART interface.

ESP2 had certain limitations. Therefore, ESP3 was developed to address these limitations.

What is ESP3?

ESP3 is a serial communication protocol that facilitates communication between a host system and an EnOcean RF transceiver.

Host systems can include microcontrollers, gateways, or PCs.

The communication interface utilizes three wires, with signals similar to UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter): Rx (Receive), Tx (Transmit), and GND (Ground).

It operates similarly to RS232, using software handshake in full duplex mode. ESP3 boasts several functional features, including:

• Higher Baud Rate/Throughput: Allowing for faster data transmission.
• CRC-8 Data Verification: Utilizing CRC-8 (Cyclic Redundancy Check) for improved data security and consistency.
• Subtelegram Reporting: Reports the number of subtelegrams received.
• Received Signal Strength Reporting: Provides information on the received signal strength (RF level).
• “Optional Data” Field: Allowing for future extensions and functionalities.

Difference Between ESP2 and ESP3

The following table summarizes the key differences between the ESP2 and ESP3 serial protocols.