A personal area network (PAN) is a computer network used for data transmission amongst

devices such as computers, telephones, tablets and personal digital assistants. PANs can be used
for communication amongst the personal devices themselves (interpersonal communication), or
for connecting to a higher level network and the Internet (an uplink) where one "master" device
takes up the role as internet router.

A wireless personal area network (WPAN) is a low-powered PAN carried over a short-distance
wireless network technology such as:

INSTEON

IrDA

Wireless USB

Bluetooth

Z-Wave

ZigBee

Body Area Network

The reach of a WPAN varies from a few centimeters to a few meters. A PAN may also be carried
over wired computer buses such as USB and FireWire.

Although a (secured) Wi-Fi tethering connection could be used by only one single user it is not
considered to be a PAN.

Zigbee vs Bluetooth

There is a lot in common between Zigbee and Bluetooth, like both operating in the same
frequency band of 2.4 GHz and belonging to the same wireless private area network (IEEE
802.15). But even if this is the case, they are not exactly competing technologies. Also, there is a
multitude of differences between the two wireless technologies for personal area networks both
application and technical. As will be explained in the article, both technologies aim towards a
different set of devices and applications and different means of designing for those applications.

Whereas Bluetooth is geared towards user mobility and eliminating cabling between short-
distanced devices, zigbee is more oriented towards remote control and automation. Bluetooth
aims at doing away with the cabling between devices that are in close proximity with each other
for example between mobile phone and a laptop or desktop or a printer and a PC. Users with
Bluetooth supported handsets are able to effortlessly exchange documents, calendar
appointments and other files.
Zigbee supports protocols for defining a type of sensor network that controls applications used in
residential and commercial settings such as air conditioning, heating and lighting. It harmonizes
the application software layers specified by the zigbee alliance and the IEEE 802.15 that defines
the physical and MAC protocol layers. Zigbee is anticipated to be able to eliminate electrical
cabling in houses thereby allowing the freedom of wireless light switches.

Technical parameters

Typical joining a network using Bluetooth takes three seconds while for ZigBee it is 30
milliseconds.

Depending on radio class, Bluetooth has a network range of 1 to 100 meters while Zigbee
is up to 70 meters with a maximum network speed of 1M bit per second to 250 M bit per
second respectively.

Bluetooth has a protocol stack size of 250 Kilo bytes and 28K bytes for Zigbee.

Batteries for blue tooth devices are rechargeable whereas for Zigbee they are not re
chargeable but longer lasting.

Summary

1. Zigbee aims at automation whereas Bluetooth aims at connectivity of mobile devices in close
proximity.
2. Zigbee uses low data rates, low power consumption on small packet devices while blue tooth
uses higher data rates, higher power consumption on large packet devices.
3. Zigbee networks support longer range devices and more in number compared to Bluetooth
networks whose range is small.

4. Given Zigbees almost instant network join times(30 milliseconds) its more suitable for critical
applications while Bluetooths longer join time is detrimental (3 seconds).

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