Choose ZigBee® or DigiMesh® protocol ?
Mesh wireless networks make it possible to extend the collection of basic data such as sensors over large distances. Protocols like ZigBee or DigiMesh have been designed to offer this solution but with the additional challenge of the lowest possible energy consumption, while maintaining exemplary reliability and safety. Of course, the objective was achieved but at the expense of the speed and frequency of sending or receiving data. But this is why we will choose one or the other of the protocols: to obtain basic and simple data such as temperatures, states and many other types of physical quantities that consume little data and bandwidth, cyclically and not necessarily frequently. In summary, the chosen protocol is not designed to monitor a sensor in real time, and even less to broadcast continuous images from a camera.
Although it is technically possible to send an image from a video sensor in a split manner, this is not what will help us choose the ZigBee protocol rather than DigiMesh.





Both Zigbee and DigiMesh offer unique advantages important to different applications.
Overview
Zigbee and DigiMesh are excellent mesh networking protocols with distinct advantages. Review the following simplified comparison to help you decide which is right for you.
Choose Zigbee if you need :
- An open standard-based protocol
- Potential for interoperability with devices made by different vendors
- Bi-directional communication with sleeping end devices
Choose DigiMesh if you need :
- The ability for all nodes to sleep (enabled with synchronized cyclic sleep)
- Simplified network setup and expansion (no parent/child dependencies)
- Support for longer range options (sub-GHz options available)
- Support for broadcast-intense applications
Main differences
Zigbee® Mesh | DigiMesh® | |
---|---|---|
Node types and their benefits | Multiple: Coordinators, Routers, End Devices. End devices can sometimes be less expensive because of reduced functionality. | Single: One homogeneous node type, with more flexibility to expand the network. DigiMesh simplifies network setup and reliability in environments where routers may come and go due to interference or damage. |
Battery Deployed Networks | Coordinators and routers must be mains powered | All nodes are capable of battery operation and can sleep. No single point of failure associated with relying on a gateway or coordinator to maintain time synchronization. |
Over-the-air firmware updates | Yes | Yes |
Range | Most Zigbee devices have range of less than 2 miles (3.2 km) for each hop. | Available on XBee SX with range of up to 40+ miles for each hop. |
Frame payload and throughput | Up to 80 bytes. | Up to 256 bytes, depending on product. Improves throughput for applications that send larger blocks of data. |
Supported frequencies and RF data rates | Predominantly 2.4 GHz (250 kbps) | 900 MHz (up to 250 Kbps), 868 MHz, 2.4 GHz (up to 250 Kbps) |
Security | 128-bit AES encryption. Can lock down the network and prevent other nodes from joining. | Both 128 and 256-bit AES encryption. Can lock down the network and prevent other nodes from joining. |
Interoperability | Potential for interoperability between vendors. | DigiMesh |
Interference tolerance | Direct-Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS). | 900 MHz: Frequency-Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS). 2.4 GHz: Direct-Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS). |
Addressing | Two layers. MAC address (64 bit) and Network address (16 bit). | MAC address (64 bit) only. |
Maintenance | More sniffers and diagnostic tools available on market. | Simpler addressing can help in diagnosing problems and setting up a network. |
ZigBee Nodes
The Zigbee protocol defines three types of nodes: coordinators, routers and end devices. Each Zigbee network requires one coordinator. While all nodes can send and receive data, there are differences in the specific roles they play.
Coordinator
The Zigbee network coordinator is the device responsible for forming the network and routing traffic. 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 center, it can store security keys. After the network is formed, the coordinator has the same capabilities as a router.
Router
A router acts as an intermediate node, relaying data from other devices. There can be multiple routers on the 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.
End Device
An end device cannot route traffic. End devices have sufficient functionality to talk to their parents (either the coordinator or a router) but cannot relay data from other devices. These can be mobile devices, and they are allowed to sleep. Therefore, they can be low-power, battery-driven devices. Every end device must have a parent node in order to communicate with the network. Each parent node can support up to 20 end devices (children).
ZigBee Advantages
- Zigbee is an open standard with interoperability between vendors
- Additional security options
- Trust center
- Network key rotation
- Restricted joining
- Out-of-band commissioning via device registration
- Source routing and many-to-one routing
DigiMesh Nodes
DigiMesh has only one node type. It is a homogenous network, which means all nodes can route data and are interchangeable. There is no parent-child relationship in DigiMesh.
Sleeping routers
Allowing a node to sleep helps to significantly reduce power consumption, which is especially helpful for nodes that are battery powered. Currently, Zigbee allows only end devices to sleep. Routers and coordinators must remain awake and available. Some variants of DigiMesh allow for synchronized cyclic sleep, where all nodes on the network can sleep and wake at the same time, thus allowing every node on the mesh network to be battery-driven. Asynchronous sleep modes are also available, but require always-on routers to be able to communicate.
DigiMesh advantages
- Network setup is simpler
- You have more flexibility to expand the network
- DigiMesh offers better broadcast support
Additionnal differences
Because Zigbee is an open standard, it offers the potential for interoperability with devices made by different vendors. Furthermore, Zigbee offers established profiles for common applications such as energy management and lighting control. A good selection of diagnostic support tools, like RF packet sniffers, is also available. Additionally, the Zigbee protocol is known to be highly secure, when set up correctly. To achieve a high level of security requires additional measures, making Zigbee more complicated to configure. 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 improve throughput for applications that send larger data blocks. Additionally, DigiMesh uses a simplified addressing method, which improves network setup and troubleshooting. Securing nodes on a DigiMesh network requires just a few specific commands, and the use of industry best practices.
Source : Digi®