RF dev't platform targets smart metering, industrial apps

Semtech Corp. has joined with other members of the Wi-SUN Alliance to produce a radio frequency (RF) development platform targeting advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) and industrial applications.

Wi-SUN Alliance is a global industry association that seeks to advance seamless connectivity by promoting IEEE 802.15.4g, a wireless standard specification for Smart Utility Networks.

The development platform includes Semtech's SX1276 Wi-SUN compliant RF transceiver that features its long-range LoRa technology, combined with a Kinetis microcontroller (MCU) from Freescale. Nissin, a contributor member of Wi-SUN, provides a Wi-SUN ready software stack.

"As an active member of the Wi-SUN Alliance, Semtech is promoting not only its RF chips, but also the availability of a ready-to-integrate solution targeting the Japanese AMI market," says Marc Pegulu, VP of Marketing for Semtech's wireless sensing and timing business unit. "For the first time, a Wi-SUN ready platform, including RF transceiver, MCU and software stack is made available to industrial customers building Japan's metering infrastructure."

The Semtech SX1276, a Wi-SUN ready, LoRa-based transceiver with a 168db link budget for maximum range, constitutes the wireless portion of the solution. The LoRa long-range technology, combined with the Nissin software stack, enables customers to reduce infrastructure cost and improve quality of service.

"Thanks to its low-power characteristics, on-chip analogue and security integration, as well as scalability across a wide memory footprint, the Freescale Kinetis MCU architecture is particularly suited for AMI and currently used in many metering applications," said Emmanuel Sambuis, Director for IoT & Connectivity at Freescale Microcontrollers. "When used in conjunction with Nissin software and the Semtech transceiver, Kinetis MCUs offer Freescale customers the best possible combination for performance, cost and time to market."

Nissin builds on 25 years of experience in software development and proven metering experience making it a key element in delivering a complete Wi-SUN ready software stack running on a Freescale MCU and Semtech RF.

Nissin is now positioned to be a key player in the Japan AMI market. Availability of the solution will greatly reduce cost and development time of Nissin customers.