Picture this: you’re at home, trying to stream a movie on your laptop in the bedroom, but the Wi-Fi from the living room barely reaches. The picture freezes, the sound drops out. We’ve all been there.
That’s star topology in practice – every device talks directly to one central point. It’s fast and simple, but only as long as you’re within range. Step outside of it, and you’re cut off.
On the other side stands the mesh network, which works in a completely different way. Every device also acts as a repeater – the message spreads through the network like an echo across a square: one shouts, the others repeat. Thanks to this, information reaches places that the central point alone never could. The network is robust and adaptive – if one node fails, others find another path.
But mesh has its own challenges. With dozens or even hundreds of nodes, precise timing is critical. Without it, collisions and delays can occur.
This is where the Czech technology IQRF® comes in – solving these challenges with patented synchronous communication and adding even more on top.
When combining two worlds makes sense
Modern networks often blend both topologies:
- Star gives fast, direct communication where devices are close together.
- Mesh ensures reliable coverage across large buildings, factories, or city infrastructure – for data collection or controlling hundreds of lights at once.
IQRF supports this hybrid approach natively. With its IQMESH® protocol, it synchronizes communication across more than 200 devices in one network – without costly data transfer fees. The architecture is modular and scalable, making it ideal for all kinds of IoT projects.
IQMESH brings:
- Precise synchronization even with 200+ nodes
- Data spreading like a wave – without complex routing tables
- Robustness against outages – the network keeps its structure
- Zero data transfer fees
- Low power consumption
The result? A network that’s fast where it matters – and reliable where it’s critical.
Why should you care?
Perhaps you’re developing your own device, managing a building, or planning smart city infrastructure. Maybe you’re a systems integrator. Or maybe you just want to understand the technologies shaping the world around us.
Listen to Episode 2 and learn:
- The strengths and weaknesses of star and mesh topologies
- When to use one, the other – or both together
- Why IQRF is unique in how it combines them
Whether you’re building IoT devices, designing automation systems, or simply curious about how modern networks work, this episode will give you insights that could save weeks of development – and help you create networks you can truly rely on.
Want to learn more?
If today’s episode caught your interest, check out these resources:
- IQRF Technology – technical details, use cases, and documentation: www.iqrf.org
- MICRORISC – the company behind IQRF and its continuous development: www.microrisc.com
- IQRF Alliance – the global ecosystem of partners and solutions built on IQRF: www.iqrfalliance.org
Coming Up in Episode 3
How can a wireless network survive interference and outages?
In the next episode, we’ll reveal the secret to network resilience – and the key role played by the IQMESH® protocol.
Curious how messages travel like a wave, why the network stays stable even when nodes drop out, and what makes Czech technology IQRF stand out in the world of wireless communication?
We’ll explain it simply and clearly – in the next episode of our podcast.
Note: IQRF technology is continuously evolving. Parameters, features, and technical details mentioned in this episode may change over time.
Smart Wireless: A Guide to the World of IQRF - Episode 2 - Star or mesh?
https://youtu.be/UlV47gSzWoA
https://soundcloud.com/iqrf-iqrf/smart-wireless-a-guide-to-the-world-of-iqrf-episode-2-star-or-mesh