Electronics designers must often face the decision of whether to design a wireless system from scratch using low level chips and modulators, or going with an off the shelf wireless module solution. Designing a wireless system from scratch should be a careful decision, as it requires many complex steps and government certification. High frequency circuit board development involves impedance matching other complex RF design which is not easy even for experienced electrical engineers. Aside from the challenging design, the wireless portion must be FCC certified which can take a long time, delaying the product to market.
A wireless serial transceiver can bring many advantages to both engineers and companies over designing a system from scratch. Wireless modules save both time and money for companies, and allow wireless integration without the usual frustrations. Wireless modules incorporate the complex software or firmware to for reliable data transmission, such as checksums and error handling. The general principle of these modules is to reduce the frustration with complex wireless development, allowing companies to focus on the bottom line for a new product. Some wireless modules offer simple drop-in networking where users can replace existing cables or wires with ease.
These modules can wirelessly transmit digital, analog, or even serial data signals. Many wireless transceiver modules don’t require any programming or configuration and work right out of the box. These transceivers are usually called wireless cable replacement solutions and can be used like a standard wire. These wireless modules are often already FCC and ESTI certified, allowing engineers to bypass further testing for their wireless design. All of these benefits and advantages of using a module allow engineers to avoid the complexities of wireless design, and allow companies to create powerful products in a limited timeframe.
