company blog about Supply Silicon Labs Wireless Evaluation Board:BLE,Wi-Fi,Z-Wave,Zigbee and Thread

Supply Silicon Labs Wireless Evaluation Board:BLE,Wi-Fi,Z-Wave,Zigbee and Thread

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I. Core Hardware Platforms: EFR32 and SiWx917 Series SoCs

Silicon Labs' wireless development ecosystem originates from its robust hardware core, primarily comprising the EFR32 series for 2.4GHz multi-protocol applications and the SiWx917 series specifically engineered for Wi-Fi 6.

1. EFR32 Series: The Cornerstone of Multi-Protocol Wireless SoCs

The EFR32 forms the core of Silicon Labs' second-generation wireless development platform, representing a highly integrated system-on-chip (SoC) solution. Designed inherently for multiple wireless standards, it natively supports BT, Zigbee, Thread, Z-Wave, proprietary protocols, and Wi-SUN. A standout feature is its ‘dynamic multi-protocol’ capability, where a single chip shares its radio via time-sharing to run two protocol stacks simultaneously (e.g., BT alongside Zigbee/Thread). This reduces the wireless subsystem's bill of materials (BOM) and footprint by up to 40%. This is crucial for smart home devices requiring direct mobile configuration (BT) while joining local mesh networks (Zigbee/Thread).

2. SiWx917 Series: Ultra-Low-Power Wi-Fi 6 Solution

For high-data-throughput applications requiring direct IP connectivity to the cloud, Silicon Labs introduced the SiWx917 ultra-low-power Wi-Fi 6 and BT LE combo SoC. Engineered from the outset for extreme energy efficiency, this chip can deliver up to two years of operation on a single AAA battery in certain IoT applications. It serves not only as a “Matter-ready” single-chip solution but also integrates exceptional computational capabilities and best-in-class security, making it ideal for devices requiring constant cloud connectivity such as smart cameras and high-end sensors.

3. Future-Ready Third-Generation Platform: SiXG301/302

To address the growing computational and energy efficiency demands of IoT devices, Silicon Labs has launched the first products in its third-generation wireless development platform: the SiXG301 and SiXG302, manufactured using an advanced 22-nanometre process.

SiXG301: Optimised for mains-powered devices such as smart lighting, it supports truly concurrent multi-protocol operation across BT, Zigbee, Thread and Matter, simplifying product variants and reducing costs.

SiXG302: Designed specifically for battery-powered devices, it operates at currents as low as 15 μA/MHz, delivering significantly improved energy efficiency compared to competitors. This makes it an ideal choice for future wireless sensors and actuators.

II. Core Wireless Protocol Support and Latest Developments

Silicon Labs' software stack undergoes continuous updates, ensuring its hardware platforms remain at the technological forefront.

Matter and Thread: As a key contributor to the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA), Silicon Labs delivers comprehensive Matter solutions spanning chips to protocols. Its Simplicity SDK now supports Matter 1.4, introducing a ‘long idle time’ mode for battery-powered devices that substantially extends operational lifespan. Thread 1.4 support delivers enhancements such as DNS notifications and TCP transport.

BT: Beyond supporting the latest BT specifications, its unique BT channel detection feature optimises channel mapping to enhance ranging update rates and reliability during operation.

Zigbee and Z-Wave: The SDK enhances support by extending the APS link key table entries to 254, bolstering security for large-scale Zigbee networks. For Z-Wave, remote support has been expanded to Europe, while the Z-Wave 700/800 series chipsets set new benchmarks in transmission range, node capacity, and power consumption.

Multi-Protocol Concurrency: This represents a core platform advantage. Developers can achieve concurrent operation of Zigbee with Matter/Thread on platforms like the xG26, or true concurrency of Zigbee, BT, and Matter over Thread on the SiXG301, delivering unprecedented flexibility for product design.