Zigbee ready to certifiy sub-1GHz devices

The Alliance recently completed its first series of multi-vendor interoperability tests for sub-1 GHz platforms. These platforms will become the Golden Units against which all other platforms seeking certification will be compared. They offer the same underlying functions and robust capabilities as existing ZigBee Compliant Platforms operating at 2.4 GHz, according to the alliance.

"Adding sub-1 GHz ZigBee compliant platforms meets rising market demands for frequency choice," said Tom Herbst, engineering director at Cisco Systems, in a statement.

Atmel Corp., Exegin Technologies and ZMDI are leading this effort in conjunction with ZigBee Alliance's accredited test houses, National Technical Systems, TRaC Global and TÜV Rheinland.

The ZigBee specification has always supported sub-1 GHz platforms, but offering certification of platforms built to the specification requires at least three independent implementations for initial testing and validation.

"Our certification process clearly demonstrates to product manufacturers that platforms from different vendors, operating in the same European and U.S. sub-1 GHz frequencies, will interoperate," said Bob Heile, chairman of the ZigBee Alliance, in a statement.

The Alliance promotes ZigBee as a wireless standard for use in consumer electronic, energy, home, commercial and industrial areas.