Provides a customizable mobile app
IoT solution that handles both long-distance and short-distance simultaneously

Silicon Labs has announced a new software technology option for its Wireless Gecko family that enables simultaneous sub-GHz and 2.4GHz Bluetooth® Low Energy (LE) connectivity on a single chip.

This solution enables commercial and industrial Internet of Things (IoT) applications to integrate both long-range sub-GHz communications and short-range Bluetooth connectivity, simplifying device setup, data gathering, and maintenance.

Additionally, developers can accelerate time to market and reduce BOM cost and size by up to 40% because they no longer need to implement two radios on two complex chips.

Silicon Labs' new Wireless Gecko hardware and software solutions enable users to directly configure, control, and monitor sub-GHz IoT devices using mobile apps and Bluetooth.

By adding Bluetooth LE connectivity to wireless networks in the sub-GHz band, developers can deliver new features like faster over-the-air (OTA) updates and add a scalable location-based services (LBS) infrastructure based on Bluetooth beacons.

From simple point-to-point (P2P) connections to large-scale mesh networks and low-power From low-power wide area networks (LPWANs) to low-speed transmission systems where extended range, robust wireless links, and energy efficiency are key, a variety of proprietary sub-GHz protocols are widely used.

Sub-GHz connectivity is ideal for long-range wireless sensor networks, smart meters, home and building automation, and commercial lighting. Silicon Labs' Wireless Gecko solutions make it easy to add Bluetooth LE connectivity to these sub-GHz applications.

“Sub-GHz wireless protocols are widely used in smart energy, industrial and commercial applications, and Bluetooth technology is ubiquitous across mobile devices,” said Lee Ratliff, senior principal analyst, connectivity and IoT, at IHS Markit. “This trend is creating demand for multi-band, multi-protocol wireless solutions that can bridge the gap between Bluetooth LE and sub-GHz proprietary protocols, allowing legacy applications to leverage the mobile device ecosystem.”

“Silicon Labs’ new software enables users to easily configure and manage a wide range of sub-GHz wireless devices via easy-to-use mobile apps and Bluetooth connectivity,” said Dennis Natale, vice president and general manager of IoT products at Silicon Labs. “Our Wireless Gecko portfolio provides a single-chip solution that reduces design costs, simplifies hardware and software development, and accelerates time to market.”