1144  Weightless

1144.1 Introduction

⏱️ ~5 min | ⭐⭐ Intermediate | 📋 P09.C17.U01

Weightless is an open-standard LPWAN technology developed by the Weightless Special Interest Group (Weightless SIG), a non-profit standards organization. Unlike Sigfox (proprietary, single operator) or NB-IoT (cellular-licensed), Weightless offers an open standard that any vendor can implement. The technology comes in three variants—Weightless-W, Weightless-N, and Weightless-P—each optimized for different use cases and spectrum allocations.

NoteLearning Objectives

By the end of this chapter series, you will be able to:

  • Understand the three Weightless variants (W, N, P) and their differences
  • Compare Weightless with other LPWAN technologies
  • Explain TV White Space spectrum utilization
  • Evaluate Weightless suitability for different applications
  • Understand the trade-offs between the three variants

1144.2 Chapter Overview

This topic has been organized into three focused chapters for easier learning:

1144.2.1 1. Weightless LPWAN Overview

Introduction to the Weightless protocol family and its variants:

  • Weightless SIG philosophy and open-standard approach
  • Three variants: Weightless-W (TV White Space), Weightless-N (ultra-narrowband), Weightless-P (balanced bidirectional)
  • Use cases: Traffic sensors, environmental monitoring, smart agriculture, asset tracking
  • Variant comparison table with spectrum, data rate, range, and power characteristics

1144.2.2 2. Weightless Technical Implementation

Deep dive into technical aspects with Python implementations:

  • Adaptive Data Rate (ADR) calculator for Weightless-P deployments
  • TV White Space channel availability simulator for Weightless-W
  • Total Cost of Ownership analysis comparing Weightless-P, LoRaWAN, and NB-IoT
  • Power consumption calculations and duty cycle optimization
  • Knowledge checks on performance calculations

1144.2.3 3. Weightless Market Comparison

Market analysis and decision frameworks:

  • Ecosystem analysis: Why LoRaWAN succeeded while Weightless struggled
  • The vicious cycle: No silicon vendors → no chips → high cost → no market demand
  • Decision frameworks for selecting between Weightless, LoRaWAN, NB-IoT, and Sigfox
  • Comprehensive quiz covering market dynamics and technical trade-offs
  • Visual comparison diagrams

1144.3 Quick Reference: Weightless Variants

Feature Weightless-W Weightless-N Weightless-P
Spectrum TV White Space (470-790 MHz) Sub-GHz ISM Sub-GHz ISM (868/915 MHz)
Data Rate 1 kbps - 10 Mbps 100 bps 200 bps - 100 kbps
Range 5+ km 3 km 2-5 km
Direction Bidirectional Uplink only Bidirectional
Power Medium Ultra-low Low
Status Limited adoption Discontinued Active 

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graph TB
    ROOT["Weightless LPWAN<br/>(Open Standard)"]

    ROOT --> W1["Weightless-W<br/>(TV White Space)"]
    ROOT --> W2["Weightless-N<br/>(ISM Band, Ultra-Narrow)"]
    ROOT --> W3["Weightless-P<br/>(ISM Band, Bi-directional)"]

    W1 --> F1["Spectrum: TV bands<br/>Range: 5 km<br/>Data: High<br/>Power: Medium"]
    W2 --> F2["Spectrum: Sub-GHz ISM<br/>Range: 3 km<br/>Data: Low (uplink only)<br/>Power: Ultra-low"]
    W3 --> F3["Spectrum: Sub-GHz ISM<br/>Range: 2 km<br/>Data: Medium<br/>Power: Low (bi-dir)"]

    NOTE["Key Advantages:<br/>✓ No vendor lock-in<br/>✓ Spectrum flexibility<br/>✓ Multiple variants for different needs<br/>✓ Open standard (anyone can implement)"]

    ROOT -.-> NOTE

    style ROOT fill:#2C3E50,stroke:#16A085,stroke-width:3px,color:#fff
    style W1 fill:#16A085,stroke:#2C3E50,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
    style W2 fill:#E67E22,stroke:#2C3E50,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
    style W3 fill:#7F8C8D,stroke:#2C3E50,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
    style F1 fill:#d4edda,stroke:#16A085,stroke-width:1px,color:#000
    style F2 fill:#fff3cd,stroke:#E67E22,stroke-width:1px,color:#000
    style F3 fill:#e2e3e5,stroke:#7F8C8D,stroke-width:1px,color:#000
    style NOTE fill:#e2e3e5,stroke:#16A085,stroke-width:1px,color:#000

Figure 1144.1: Weightless LPWAN Protocol Variants: W, N, and P Specifications

1144.4 Key Takeaways

  • Weightless-P is the most practical variant for new deployments (ISM bands, bidirectional, no TV White Space complexity)
  • Open standard philosophy enables vendor choice but hasn’t translated to ecosystem success
  • Market reality: LoRaWAN and NB-IoT dominate due to larger ecosystems, not technical superiority
  • Consider Weightless for niche applications where open standards and private network ownership are paramount

1144.5 What’s Next

Start with the overview chapter to understand the Weightless family:

Related Topics: - LPWAN Comparison - Side-by-side analysis of all LPWAN technologies - LoRaWAN Architecture - The market-dominant LPWAN standard - Cellular IoT - Next chapter in the LPWAN series