Modern electronic systems cannot function without efficient communication. In every device – from IoT temperature sensors to industrial production units – data must be transmitted, received, processed, and synchronized. Communication standards in electronics encompass both wired and wireless communication. Understanding their characteristics, limitations, and applications is essential in the design and manufacturing of electronic devices and embedded systems.
Wired communication types and characteristics
Wired communication involves transmitting data through physical electrical connections, such as wires, PCB traces, or fiber optics. In electronics, various types of wired connections are used, including serial and parallel interfaces. Serial interfaces transmit data bit by bit over a single channel, which simplifies cabling and allows high signal frequencies. Parallel communication, in contrast, uses multiple wires simultaneously (e.g., legacy data buses in computers), but is now less common due to complexity and space constraints. Common types of wired connections include, for example:
I²C (Inter-Integrated Circuit) – a two-wire bus with a master-slave architecture, enabling communication between multiple devices. It is widely used at the prototyping stage of electronic devices, especially for integrating EEPROM memory, RTCs, or sensors.
SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface) – a four-line interface that supports high-speed full-duplex communication. Typical applications include SD card support, ADC/DAC converters, and graphic displays. Requires separate select lines for each slave device.
UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter) – used for point-to-point communication, where synchronization is achieved via a fixed baud rate without a dedicated clock signal. It underpins standards such as RS-232 and RS-485.
CAN (Controller Area Network) – an industrial bus developed for automotive applications, enabling reliable communication between multiple nodes. Due to its resistance to interference, it is used in robotics and industrial automation, among other fields.
USB (Universal Serial Bus) – handles both data transmission and power delivery. Modern microcontrollers often feature an integrated USB controller, which simplifies the testing of electronic devices and the implementation of user interfaces.
Ethernet – one of the fundamental networking solutions for systems requiring high bandwidth and reliability (e.g., building automation). Modern microcontrollers are equipped with MAC controllers, which facilitates integration with local networks at both the hardware and software levels.
Wireless communication types and characteristics
Wireless communication uses electromagnetic waves to transmit information without a physical medium. The data is modulated into an electromagnetic signal (or a different type of wave, such as infrared) and received by another device equipped with a suitable transceiver module. There are various types of wireless communication, which differ in terms of range, operating frequency, bandwidth, and power consumption. Examples of popular wireless standards include:
Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11) – widely used in IoT applications where Internet connectivity is required. ESP32 modules, often used in our IoT projects, offer high flexibility, though at the cost of energy consumption during Wi-Fi modem operation.
Bluetooth / BLE – short-range communication in the 2.4 GHz band. BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) allows integration of low-power sensors operating for months on a single battery – an ideal solution for smart buildings and wearable electronics.
ZigBee / Thread / Z-Wave – mesh network standards for home and building automation. ZigBee and Thread operate at 2.4 GHz, Z-Wave below 1 GHz. They enable the creation of distributed and stable sensor networks with low power consumption, ideal for smart home and building applications.NFC (Near Field Communication) – used for proximity data exchange and identification. For example, configuring a module via smartphone.
Long-range communication – distributed networks and LPWAN
LTE Cat M1 / NB-IoT – solutions based on LTE network technology, optimized for energy-efficient M2M applications. They are characterized by long range and deep indoor signal penetration. Ideal for transmitting small data packets over long periods.
LoRaWAN – an example of LPWAN (Low Power Wide Area Network) that enables communication over several kilometers. Thanks to LoRa modulation, these systems are used in smart agriculture, logistics, and utility management. However, they require gateway infrastructure. LoRaWAN networks can be public (e.g., TTN) or private, offering deployment flexibility.
Sigfox – an alternative to LoRaWAN, operating in a dedicated operator network. It offers low transmission cost at the expense of very limited bandwidth.
Advantages and disadvantages of communication solutions
Short-range communication (e.g., within a single room or device) mainly involves wireless technologies over short distances (Bluetooth, small-scale Wi-Fi, ZigBee, NFC) and short wired connections (USB, HDMI).
Advantages and disadvantages of short-range communication:
- High transmission speed and low latency.
- Low cost and power consumption (BLE, ZigBee).
- Simple implementation (UART, I²C, SPI).
- Limited range (NFC, BLE).
- Susceptibility to interference in environments with high radio signal density.
Long-range communication enables data transmission over hundreds of meters or even kilometers. It includes, among others, cellular networks (LTE, 5G), LPWAN systems (LoRa, Sigfox), or satellite communication.
Advantages and disadvantages of long-range communication solutions:
- Long transmission range (LoRa, LTE).
- Possibility of operating distributed systems without local infrastructure.
- Lower bandwidth (Sigfox, NB-IoT).
- Higher energy consumption (LTE modules).
What are the key communication protocols and how to choose them?
The selection of the interface depends on several factors:
- Range – from millimeters (NFC), meters (BLE), to kilometers (LoRa)
- Energy efficiency – important in battery-powered systems (BLE, ZigBee, LoRa)
- Bandwidth – video or audio applications require Wi-Fi or Ethernet
- Topology – point-to-point (UART), bus (I²C), mesh network (ZigBee)
- Cost and complexity of implementation – e.g., USB requires precise PCB design
Transmission security and reliability
In electronic communication, the reliability and integrity of transmitted data are crucial. Depending on the interface and protocol used, various mechanisms are implemented to ensure transmission accuracy:
- CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check) – an error detection method based on checksum calculation. Used in protocols such as CAN, USB, Ethernet, and LoRa.
- Detection and retransmission – many protocols (e.g., TCP, BLE, NB-IoT) include mechanisms to retransmit data if an error is detected.
- Collision detection – shared buses (e.g., I²C, CAN) use techniques to detect transmission conflicts, preventing data loss.
- Data synchronization – in asynchronous communication (e.g., UART), start, stop, and parity bits are used to detect frame errors.
In the case of wireless communication, where data is transmitted through the air and can be easily intercepted, transmission security is also important:
- Data encryption – Wi-Fi (WPA2/WPA3), Bluetooth (AES-128 in BLE), ZigBee, and Thread use data encryption to protect against eavesdropping.
- Authentication and pairing – many protocols require key exchange (e.g., BLE pairing, Wi-Fi handshake), which helps restrict access only to authorized devices.
The use of these techniques is essential in industrial systems, IoT, and building automation, where reliability and transmission security are critical.
Communication that delivers – from design to deployment
Choosing the right communication interfaces and protocols plays a key role in ensuring the reliability and functionality of electronic devices. Understanding the differences and intended use of available solutions enables you to design systems optimized for reliability, energy efficiency, and integration with the system environment.
At Device Prototype, we have a team of experts experienced in designing reliable communications – from selecting standards to integrating them with a specific system. If you need support in this area, get in touch with us.
