86  Protocol Selection Wizard

Interactive Requirements-Based Protocol Recommendation Tool

86.1 Interactive Protocol Wizard

NoteLearning Objectives

By completing this interactive wizard, you will be able to:

  • Systematically analyze your IoT project requirements across multiple dimensions
  • Receive scored recommendations for 14+ protocols based on your specific needs
  • Compare protocols side-by-side with technical specifications
  • Understand trade-offs between range, power, bandwidth, latency, and cost

86.2 Prerequisites

Before using this wizard, you should understand:


86.3 Step 1: Define Your Application

ImportantStart Here

Answer these questions to help the wizard understand your IoT application requirements.


86.4 Step 2: Technical Requirements


86.5 Step 3: Power and Environment


86.6 Step 4: Business Constraints


86.7 Step 5: Additional Considerations


86.8 Protocol Recommendations

86.9 Detailed Comparison


86.10 Your Requirements Summary


86.11 Protocol Deep Dives

Learn more about each recommended protocol in these detailed chapters:

Protocol Chapter Key Topics
Bluetooth LE BLE Fundamentals GATT, advertising, mesh, beacons
Wi-Fi Wi-Fi Fundamentals 802.11 standards, security, mesh
Zigbee Zigbee Fundamentals Profiles, mesh routing, clusters
Thread Thread Fundamentals Border router, IPv6, Matter
LoRaWAN LoRaWAN Overview Spreading factors, classes, gateways
NB-IoT NB-IoT Fundamentals Coverage, power saving, deployments
LTE-M Cellular IoT Mobility, voice, comparison

86.12 Summary

This interactive wizard helps you systematically evaluate IoT protocol options:

  • 14 protocols analyzed across short-range, LPWAN, cellular, and wired categories
  • Multi-factor scoring considers range, power, bandwidth, latency, cost, and security
  • Personalized recommendations based on your specific requirements
  • Side-by-side comparison for informed decision-making
NoteKey Takeaways
  1. No “best” protocol exists - only best fit for your requirements
  2. Trade-offs are inevitable - long range usually means lower bandwidth
  3. Start with constraints - power and range typically narrow options quickly
  4. Consider total cost - include infrastructure, recurring fees, and maintenance
  5. Plan for scale - choose protocols that grow with your deployment

86.13 What’s Next