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Cheap 433MHz ASK modules in commercial applications. Pros and Cons

ipv1

Hi all,

 

I am working on some short range RF sensors that include contact and ADC information. The data is transmitted to a nearby hub/aggregator but the sensor nodes themselves are battery driven and must be lower cost.

 

I have dissected a few door sensors on ebay and amazon and they seem to use 433MHz ASK modules that are quite cheap, albeit, one way and dumb. I understand that logic and flow control must be added externally via a microcontroller/processor but the real question here is...

 

"Should/Can we use 433MHz for commercial applications?"

 

LoRa is a better but a slightly costlier option. There are other Sub-GHz modules out there but they are more difficult to create small batches with.

 

Inputs on the 433MHz module use and suggestions are warranted here.

 

Thanks,

 

IP

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  • Hi Inderpreet,

     

    Depending on your needs, you might find you can't do as much with the 433 MHz modules. The cheap modules can drift a lot, and can't offer multiple channels as easily, since they are not designed to channel hop. Personally I would be looking at other sub-GHz models, or as says, BLE or some other 2.4 GHz protocol. There's commercial stuff using proprietary 2.4 GHz protocols too. Also Zigbee can be popular for certain industries, perhaps chosen because on paper it has a security layer although it's optional from memory. 

    Consumer stuff still uses 433 MHz ASK modules, but sometimes it's dated designs (not because of the chosen frequency of course, but because perhaps radio wasn't a core area of expertise for the manufacturer. I think my home heating system uses such a module, and it's a pretty poor designed solution.

    If you're designing a consumer solution then perhaps it may be the cheapest option admittedly, simply because it's so mature.

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  • Hi Inderpreet,

     

    Depending on your needs, you might find you can't do as much with the 433 MHz modules. The cheap modules can drift a lot, and can't offer multiple channels as easily, since they are not designed to channel hop. Personally I would be looking at other sub-GHz models, or as says, BLE or some other 2.4 GHz protocol. There's commercial stuff using proprietary 2.4 GHz protocols too. Also Zigbee can be popular for certain industries, perhaps chosen because on paper it has a security layer although it's optional from memory. 

    Consumer stuff still uses 433 MHz ASK modules, but sometimes it's dated designs (not because of the chosen frequency of course, but because perhaps radio wasn't a core area of expertise for the manufacturer. I think my home heating system uses such a module, and it's a pretty poor designed solution.

    If you're designing a consumer solution then perhaps it may be the cheapest option admittedly, simply because it's so mature.

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