I have done a few searches, and I understand the basics of the different forms of device communication, but need some advice on which route to take.
As an engineering student, I'm quite sick of doing nothing practical, and decided to fool around with some different random ideas to see if I can get them to work. I am currently working on an intercom-type system that will reside within my home's current wiring, and cannot decide on which form of communication is most appropriate.
Obviously, sound will be a high priority, and I definitely want the best quality possible. On the other hand, I want speed to be fast, as I may end up using the voice bits to try and interface with my phone's speech software to try out some android application developing.
The third thing I've been looking at is, as in any engineering, price. Looking at WLAN modules, a quick search in digikey yields:
http://www.digikey.com/scripts/dksearch/dksus.dll?KeywordSearch
The Maxim chips seem the cheapest, but from what I've read most people recommend the Microchip:
http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=2885¶m=en547232
Which seem to run at $25-30 a pop. If I want to fill every room in my house, I'd rather not get at high as $20 for one IC on each board. I understand components are highly dependent on scale, but what are the major differences here? I believe the Microchip is a full module, and they have a free API. Does Maxim not have an easy to use API? Would I need to design antenna circuitry with the maxim? How difficult would that be?
On the other hand, if you look at power line transmission, there are also lower priced chips. I haven't heard much about how the programming goes with those, are there dedicated API's? From what I've read, they are also limited a lot more than using WLAN, such as interference or, in the case of X10's systems I read about, neighbors may fight for power bands.
Would it be better to go the non-802.11 RF route? Those seem to be cheaper as well, but then again they also don't seem to have as much laid out for you like some of the WLAN modules do for easy programming etc., and sometimes require more infrastructure.
For power line, I know distance isn't as big a deal inside my house, whereas WLAN may give me troubles, same as other RF bands.
I've also read of people getting high transmission speeds using PLC, higher than WLAN, but whenever I read datasheets for the PLC IC's the highest i've seen is 57,600 baud?
In pricing, most company's websites require you to be a business and high volume to get a handle on their products, does it get much cheaper than that Microchip? How does a small guy get a hold on the cheaper chips?
Sorry for the long post, I'm just trying to be descriptive in the million questions that come up which I cannot find answers to, so that you guys know where I'm at.
Thanks!!
As an engineering student, I'm quite sick of doing nothing practical, and decided to fool around with some different random ideas to see if I can get them to work. I am currently working on an intercom-type system that will reside within my home's current wiring, and cannot decide on which form of communication is most appropriate.
Obviously, sound will be a high priority, and I definitely want the best quality possible. On the other hand, I want speed to be fast, as I may end up using the voice bits to try and interface with my phone's speech software to try out some android application developing.
The third thing I've been looking at is, as in any engineering, price. Looking at WLAN modules, a quick search in digikey yields:
http://www.digikey.com/scripts/dksearch/dksus.dll?KeywordSearch
The Maxim chips seem the cheapest, but from what I've read most people recommend the Microchip:
http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=2885¶m=en547232
Which seem to run at $25-30 a pop. If I want to fill every room in my house, I'd rather not get at high as $20 for one IC on each board. I understand components are highly dependent on scale, but what are the major differences here? I believe the Microchip is a full module, and they have a free API. Does Maxim not have an easy to use API? Would I need to design antenna circuitry with the maxim? How difficult would that be?
On the other hand, if you look at power line transmission, there are also lower priced chips. I haven't heard much about how the programming goes with those, are there dedicated API's? From what I've read, they are also limited a lot more than using WLAN, such as interference or, in the case of X10's systems I read about, neighbors may fight for power bands.
Would it be better to go the non-802.11 RF route? Those seem to be cheaper as well, but then again they also don't seem to have as much laid out for you like some of the WLAN modules do for easy programming etc., and sometimes require more infrastructure.
For power line, I know distance isn't as big a deal inside my house, whereas WLAN may give me troubles, same as other RF bands.
I've also read of people getting high transmission speeds using PLC, higher than WLAN, but whenever I read datasheets for the PLC IC's the highest i've seen is 57,600 baud?
In pricing, most company's websites require you to be a business and high volume to get a handle on their products, does it get much cheaper than that Microchip? How does a small guy get a hold on the cheaper chips?
Sorry for the long post, I'm just trying to be descriptive in the million questions that come up which I cannot find answers to, so that you guys know where I'm at.
Thanks!!