NXP Semiconductors JN517x-DK005, User Manual

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Chapter 1
Introduction to the Development Kit
12 © NXP Semiconductors 2017 JN-UG-3121 v1.1
1.2 Wireless Network Fundamentals
This section covers the basic concepts that are relevant to the wireless network
protocols supported by the JN517x-DK005 Development Kit, notably IEEE 802.15.4
and ZigBee PRO (which is itself built on IEEE 802.15.4) used in the ZigBee 3.0
standard. For a more complete introduction to wireless networks, refer to the manual
for the relevant protocol (see
Section 3.3 ).
The topics covered are:

Radio frequency - see Section 1.2.1

Network identification - see Section 1.2.2

Node types - see Section 1.2.3

Network formation and topology - see Section 1.2.4

Wireless network protocol stacks - Section 1.2.5
1.2.1 Radio Frequency
The JN5179-based devices of the development kit communicate in the 2400-MHz
radio frequency (RF) band. This is one of the standard RF bands used by the IEEE
802.15.4 wireless network protocol (on which all the supported protocols are based),
and is available for unlicensed use in most geographical areas (check your local radio
communication regulations).
The 2400-MHz band spans radio frequencies 2400 to 2483.5 MHz and is divided into
16 channels, numbered 11 to 26 (the numbers up to 10 are used for other RF bands)
- see
Figure 2 below.
The channel of operation for a network can be specified by the application or,
alternatively, the network can search for the best channel (the one with least detected
activity) at system start-up.
Figure 2: 2400-MHz RF Band
2400 MHz 2483.5 MHz
Ch11 Ch12 Ch26 Ch13 .....
5 MH
z