Voice over ZigBee wireless sensor network applications

There are many application areas for wireless sensor networks, such as security, health, and emergency. Recent research studies show that, voice over wireless sensor network applications are possible especially for emergency and rescue missions. In this study, by using 6.3 kbps G.723.1 codec, voice over ZigBee wireless sensor networks experiments are made. The results are examined based on packet loss and MOS voice quality metrics. It is shown that, acceptable quality voice over ZigBee networks is possible in an indoor linear mesh topology wireless sensor network containing up to 4 hops, which are between 10-80 meters. In an outdoor single hop network topology, ranging between 10-80 meters, acceptable voice quality is observed up to 60 meters.