Wireless Sensor Network Platforms — Datasheets versus measurements

Choosing an adequate Wireless Sensor Network Platform for the intended application domain is of essential importance for successful deployments. Evaluating off-the-shelf WSN platforms by their datasheets can limit the available choices. The real performance however, cannot be judged by just evaluating datasheets. Measurements for crucial performance measures, like serial and radio performance, are necessary. In this work four available platforms have been evaluated. The platforms are compared among each other and to their respective datasheets. Several measurements show significant differences from the advertised performance numbers in the datasheet that can influence performance and successful operation of the protocol stack.