What's the difference between Synapse RF Engines And Other PlatForm?

[guonaldo]

ZIC2410,PAN4555, PAN4561, MC1321x
In my view ,mainly there is a MCU and a Wireless Module.

What about Synapse RF Engines ?

[BarryTice]

There are several differences between the various platforms, guonaldo. Some of them are more significant than others.

Let's start by making sure we're using the same terminology for everything.

A SNAP module is a radio/processor combination running SNAP software. It can be a manufacturer's chip worked directly into another product, such as a Freescale MC1321x or a PAN4555.

A SNAP Engine is a SNAP module that fits a standard 24-pin footprint and form factor, being generally a little smaller than 3.5 cm square (plus external antenna mount, when applicable). (Some SNAP Engines, such as those now being produced with the CEL ZIC2410, extend beyond the "normal" size for a SNAP Engine, but still fall into this category.)

An RF Engine is a SNAP Engine built by Synapse Wireless using a Freescale MC1321x radio.

The RF Engine was the first available SNAP Engine, but SNAP has been ported to other manufacturers' (e.g., CEL, ATMEL) chips as well. With that in mind, it is also possible to get radio modules, either as SNAP Engines or as stand-alone chips, from the various manufacturers that have the SNAP firmware loaded, allowing users to add the chips to their own circuit boards and still make use of SNAP mesh networking.

Now, I suspect the crux of your question is, "Why would someone want to use a ZIC2410 over a MC1321x over an Atmel Atmega 128RFA1?"

Well, the different chips have different abilities and different limitations.

For example, the Atmel chip has more memory than the ZIC or MC1321x chip, allowing for larger scripts. The CEL and Atmel chips have higher radio speeds available than the Freescale chip. However SNAP Engines based on the ZIC2410 require hardware modification to enable the use of ADC pins, and, from the deeper sleep modes, completely reboot the chip when waking.

The last chapter of the SNAP Reference Manual, which you can download from the forum, gives technical details about the various platforms on which SNAP can run. This manual is a work in progress as we make SNAP available on more platforms. That manual is going to be your best easy reference for the differences between the various platforms and the features you can take advantage of based on the modules you are using.

[kbanks]

Continuing the "loop" Barry started...

Only the ZIC2410 has hardware support for I2S. Only the Si1000 supports 900 MHZ. (etc.)

They are all unique, and you need to choose based on the exact capabilities you need for your application.

[guonaldo]

Barry and Kevin.Thanks a lot!
Your replies are good enough.

Now I believe that my crux is
There are several 'terminology' in all the threads and document files. I just can't
distinguish them from one to another,such as 'RF Engine','SNAP','SNAP Engine','SNAP module' .

I see no clear description about them before the thread.

PS:What does 'It's all Rock, Scissors, Paper...' mean? ^^

[BarryTice]

The terminology can get confusing, for sure.

SNAP is the protocol and software that makes all the parts work together.

A SNAP module is a radio/processor combination running SNAP software.

A SNAP Engine is a SNAP module that fits a particular socket, to make parts somewhat interchangeable.

An RF Engine is a specific hardware combination for a SNAP Engine, based on the MC1321x.

All RF Engines are SNAP Engines, but not all SNAP Engines are RF Engines.

All SNAP Engines are SNAP modules, but not all SNAP modules are SNAP Engines.

All SNAP modules run SNAP software.

As for rock/scissors/paper: http://zh.wikipedia.org/zh/%E7%9F%B3%E5%A4%B4%E3%80%81%E5%89%AA%E5%AD%90%E3%8 0%81%E5%B8%83

An RF Engine (based on the MC1321x) might be better suited to one kind of application than a SNAP Engine based on the ZIC2410, which might be better at some different application than the PAN4555 SNAP Engine, which might be better at some third application than the RF Engine is. In other words, you cannot really say that one particular flavor of SNAP Engine is "better" than another, because each has its own strengths and weaknesses.

[kbanks]

An RF Engine is a specific hardware combination for a SNAP Engine, based on the MC1321x.

Correction - the RF Engine is based on the standalone MC9S08GT60A processor and MC1319x radio.

The MC1321x part is a newer Freescale part that is a "combo" chip. It contains both the CPU and the radio inside a single package.

Although very similar, they are not interchangable. You must run RF Engine code on an RFE, and MC1321x builds on MC1321x based hardware.

Examples of SNAP Engines that are based on the MC1321x are the PAN4555_SE and the PAN4561_SE.

[RFAndy]

I think it would be wise for Synapse to submit a RF comparison matrix so new users can determine what vendor can be used for their mesh design application.