RFZigbee vs. Zigbee PRO: Key Differences Explained
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This page highlights the differences between Zigbee and Zigbee PRO, two popular wireless personal area network (WPAN) technologies. Both Zigbee and Zigbee PRO cater to a wide range of applications, including home automation, building management, and energy efficiency initiatives.
Zigbee PRO enhances the Zigbee network’s scalability by incorporating new capabilities such as “stochastic addressing” and “route aggregation.” Let’s delve deeper into each technology.
About Zigbee
Zigbee is built upon the IEEE 802.15.4 standard. It’s designed for small, low-power digital radio devices intended for personal area networks. Zigbee covers distances ranging from 10 to 100 meters. It employs different physical layers to achieve varying data rates. The Zigbee specifications were standardized in 2003 and revised in 2006, leading to Zigbee being referred to as Zigbee 2006.
About Zigbee PRO
Zigbee PRO is an enhanced version of the Zigbee specifications, finalized in 2007, hence the name Zigbee 2007.
A key difference lies in the routing mechanisms of Zigbee and Zigbee PRO. As a result, Zigbee PRO devices can function as non-routing ZEDs (Zigbee End Devices) on a Zigbee 2006 network, while Zigbee 2006 devices can operate as ZEDs on a Zigbee PRO network.
Ember, a Zigbee IP provider, has opted for Zigbee PRO due to its advanced features compared to Zigbee. This Zigbee IP is known as EmberZNet PRO.
While Zigbee and Zigbee PRO share similarities in technology and applications, the following table summarizes the key differences:
Zigbee vs. Zigbee PRO: Key Differences
| Specifications | Zigbee | Zigbee PRO |
|---|---|---|
| Year of Standardization | 2006 | 2007 |
| Addressing | Tree-based | Stochastic routing, Tree or Mesh |
| Routing | Tree | Mesh |
| Route Aggregation | No | Yes |
| Asymmetric Link Handling | No | Yes |
| Frequency Agility | Optional | Available |
| PAN ID Conflict Resolution | No | Yes |
| Basic Security Provision | Residential Standard | APS Level Encryption |
| High Security Mode | No | Optional Feature |
| Fragmentation | Optional Feature | Optional Feature |
| Commissioning Cluster Feature | Supported | Supported |
| Secure Commissioning | No | Available |
