Should I engineer a wireless connection myself, or should I buy a solution?

Q: What’s so hard about engineering an embedded wireless solution that I would want to use an outside supplier? Why would I have RF Monolithics engineer a solution when I do all my engineering in-house?

Q: Should I purchase a separate RF Module and interface it into my equipment, or should I design a single, integrated device that combines embedded wireless capability with my microcontroller and sensors on a single board?

Q: Should I purchase an existing, standard RF module and interface it into my equipment, or should I have a custom module designed with the specific features I want? When is it appropriate to consider a designing a custom module?

Q: Why would I have RF Monolithics engineer a solution when I already have one working?

Q: Why would I use RF Monolithics to manufacture my wireless module since I currently have a manufacturing solution?

Q: Won’t it cost me more to outsource the manufacturing to RF Monolithics?

Q: With an embedded wireless module, where does the embedded application software run? How does it communicate with the wireless module?

Q: What are my alternatives if a standard RF Monolithics’ module doesn’t exactly meet my application requirements?

Q: Who do I contact to get more information about RF Monolithics' wireless connectivity products and solutions? Who do I contact to order products?

Question:
What’s so hard about engineering an embedded wireless solution that I would want to use an outside supplier? Why would I have RF Monolithics engineer a solution when I do all my engineering in-house?

Answer:
Since almost every wireless solution involves one device transmitting and a separate device receiving, wireless solutions are inherently system level designs. Designing a wireless communications system depends on a complex set of engineering analysis that requires significant expertise and experience in radio frequency (RF) communications and communications networking, together with an in-depth knowledge of the application and its requirements. This is often a difficult set of expertise to assemble in one company, and is usually only present in the largest OEM manufacturers. Informed and experienced engineering decisions in the wireless field can create a solution that works, is reliable and is cost effective. On the other hand, attempting to develop wireless systems without sufficient knowledge and experience often results in solutions that perform poorly, and always costs more time and resources to develop than originally forecast. For many companies, wireless connectivity is a feature addition to their product, and usually a new one. Since RF and communications engineering has not been a core expertise for their base business, these companies usually do not have the appropriate engineers in-house. Consequently, most companies that are looking to add a wireless connectivity capability turn to engineering consultants, system integrators, or RF component suppliers for the necessary RF design and network system engineering. With its longstanding experience in designing low power RF solutions across a wide range of applications and wireless technologies, RF Monolithics is one of the most broadly based providers of off-the-shelf and custom wireless connectivity solutions. RF Monolithics has a deep understanding of the spectrum of technology alternatives to help select and engineer the appropriate solution for any specific wireless connectivity application.
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Question:
Should I purchase a separate RF Module and interface it into my equipment, or should I design a single, integrated device that combines embedded wireless capability with my microcontroller and sensors on a single board?

Answer:
Again, the choice of which wireless technology or approach to use to solve a wireless connectivity design goal depends on a number of factors and considerations. The required engineering analysis that can lead to a good design and solution must be done by experienced experts to be successful. Each solution must be designed to meet the unique needs of each specific application. Deciding to buy an integrated wireless module rather than designing an RF communications function from discrete components does not generally reduce the overall engineering design effort and risk. There are significant system and RF design issues that must be addressed before worrying about how a wireless design is going to be implemented. In addition, designing a complete integrated solution that combines transducers, microcontroller, wireless, other I/O and other functions is not always the best solution, although it may appear to be the design with the lowest hardware cost. Other considerations – such as development schedule and time-to-market, serviceability and maintainability, future upgradeability, and anticipated production volumes – may make another design approach more cost effective over the life of the equipment.
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Question:
Should I purchase an existing, standard RF module and interface it into my equipment, or should I have a custom module designed with the specific features I want? When is it appropriate to consider a designing a custom module?

Answer:
The choice of whether to use a standard, existing RF module or a custom module to implement wireless connectivity depends on a number of factors and considerations. A custom module is necessary to deliver a set of features, connections, functionality or form factor not available with a standard module. A custom module specifically designed for the application is often less expensive to manufacture than a general purpose, standard module. On the other hand, custom modules are expensive to design and put into production, so the module volume needs to be very large to justify the investment in custom design. Also, developing a custom module takes considerable time, so a standard module is the preferred approach when there is only a relatively short time to reach a deployable solution.
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Question:
Why would I have RF Monolithics engineer a solution when I already have one working?

Answer:
Existing, working solutions should only be changed for good reasons. Examples of good reasons include: The product incorporating the wireless connectivity design needs to be redesigned anyway to respond to changing market requirements, cost reduction initiatives or new competitive products. There is a desire to upgrade the wireless connectivity solution by incorporating new technology. An entirely new product is being developed, and wireless connectivity appropriate for that specific product needs to be designed in. Most companies do not have the in-house expertise to design wireless connectivity system solutions using the most current technology available. RF Monolithics is an expert in designing wireless solutions that are appropriate for each specific application. 
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Question:
Why would I use RF Monolithics to manufacture my wireless module since I currently have a manufacturing solution?

Answer:
Manufacturing wireless modules with appropriate quality, yield, and cost requires specialized expertise, tools and facilities beyond that generally needed for digital and analog circuit boards. In particular, testing RF components and assemblies as part of the manufacturing process is usually beyond the capabilities of most electronics manufacturers. RF Monolithics has significant experience in transferring wireless system designs to manufacturing, volume manufacturing of wireless devices and modules, and testing RF designs as part of the manufacturing process. RF Monolithics has significant experience in operating a quality manufacturing process for wireless devices and has achieved the ISO 9001 and ISO/TS 16949 certifications. 
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Question:
Won’t it cost me more to outsource the manufacturing to RF Monolithics?

Answer:
In many cases, outsourcing the manufacturing of RF-based modules to RF Monolithics can often be the lowest total cost alternative. RF Monolithics uses reputable low cost manufacturers who are experienced with RF-based products, and RF Monolithics runs a substantial manufacturing volume through those manufacturers. Just on unit cost considerations, RF Monolithics can be the lowest cost alternative. In addition, RF Monolithics operates a manufacturing program with the appropriate manufacturing expertise, quality processes and testing facilities to produce RF systems with consistently high quality. Among other benefits, the RF Monolithics manufacturing program yields a lower overall manufacturing cost by avoiding many of the hidden or indirect costs of lower quality.
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Question:
With an embedded wireless module, where does the embedded application software run? How does it communicate with the wireless module?

Answer:
Embedded application software will usually run in a local microprocessor or microcontroller that connects to sensor and actuator I/O on one side and to the wireless module on the other. The microcontroller running the embedded application communicates with the wireless module over a serial connection. With some wireless modules, the microcontroller on the embedded wireless module is available to be programmed to run local application software. These modules allow a lower cost design for some applications by eliminating the need for a separate embedded application processor.
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Question:
What are my alternatives if a standard RF Monolithics’ module doesn’t exactly meet my application requirements?

Answer: RF Monolithic’s standard embedded wireless modules are designed to serve a wide range of applications with a single, standard product. In many cases, however, the application requirements are sufficiently different and important that a standard product can not be used. Applications may require different form factors, connectors, number and mix of I/O types, mesh behaviors, power supplies, or so on. For situations where a standard module can not meet the application requirements, RF Monolithics can customize an existing module design or even design a fully custom module to provide an optimized solution for the application. 
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Question:
Who do I contact to get more information about RF Monolithics' wireless connectivity products and solutions? Who do I contact to order products?

Answer:
Contact RF Monolithics for additional information and to purchase our products and services. Phone: (800) 704-6079 toll-free in U.S. and Canada
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