STMicroelectronics has extended its certification for its ST8500 G3PLC (Power-Line Communication) Hybrid communication chipset to include all of the US FCC (Federal Communications Commission) band from 10kHz up to 490kHz, addition to the CENELEC A 9kHz-95kHz European band. The upgrade allows more data speeds, improves the flexibility of design, and facilitates the approval process for end-products in line to specific regulations of each country.
The G3-PLC Hybrid profile allows connected, smart devices to select wireless or powerline communication on their own, and then adapt dynamically to ensure constant connectivity and maximum performance. ST’s ST8500 G3-PLC hybrid chipset consists of an ST8500 Protocol controller, a System-on-Chip (SoC) that supports the RF mesh technology for reliable wireless communications for long distances as well as the line driver and the low-power S2-LP high-power IEEE 802.15.4 wireless transceiver.
Apart from smart meters for electricity the chipset also provides durable and reliable connectivity to water and gas intelligent meters as well as environmental monitors lighting controllers, as well as remote sensors for contexts like smart cities, smart building, intelligent infrastructure or smart factory.
To facilitate the development of connected, smart devices that use the G3-PLC hybrid profile for dual PLC and radio frequency connections, ST has created a support ecosystem that includes EVLKST8500GH868 as well as the EVLKST8500GH915 development kits that operate in tandem at 868MHz and 915MHz. Each kit includes an development board for building one node that integrates the S2-LP and ST8500 chipsets along with an STM32G070RB* Host microcontroller. It also allows for the addition of custom functions through Nucleo expanders.
The STSW-ST8500GH framework software is comprised of ST’s G3PLC Hybrid communications stack Protocol Engine and Real-Time Engine modem firmware, and a framework that is based on ST’s renowned STM32CubeMX tool that allows developers to rapidly develop and integrate their application’s firmware.
