Espressif's ESP32-C5, a RISC-V-based IoT chip designed for low-power Wi-Fi 6 applications, has entered mass production. This chip offers both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi 6 support, along with Bluetooth 5 (LE) for enhanced connectivity options. It features a rich set of peripherals, low power consumption, and is designed for cost-sensitive IoT devices, making it suitable for various applications like smart homes, wearables, and industrial automation. The ESP32-C5 aims to provide developers with a powerful and affordable solution for next-generation connected devices.
MeshCore is a new routing protocol designed for low-power, wireless mesh networks using packet radio. It combines proactive and reactive routing strategies in a hybrid approach for increased efficiency. Proactive routing builds a minimal spanning tree for reliable connectivity, while reactive routing dynamically discovers routes on demand, reducing overhead when network topology changes. This hybrid design aims to minimize power consumption and latency while maintaining robustness in challenging RF environments, particularly useful for applications like IoT sensor networks and remote monitoring. MeshCore is implemented in C and focuses on simplicity and portability.
Hacker News users discussed MeshCore's potential advantages, like its hybrid approach combining proactive and reactive routing and its lightweight nature. Some questioned the practicality of LoRa for mesh networking due to its limitations and suggested alternative protocols like Bluetooth mesh. Others expressed interest in the project's potential for emergency communication and off-grid applications. Several commenters inquired about specific technical details, like the handling of hidden node problems and scalability. A few users also compared MeshCore to other mesh networking projects and protocols, discussing the trade-offs between different approaches. Overall, the comments show a cautious optimism towards MeshCore, with interest in its potential but also a desire for more information and real-world testing.
Apple's proprietary peer-to-peer Wi-Fi protocol, AWDL, offered high bandwidth and low latency, enabling features like AirDrop and AirPlay. However, its reliance on the 5 GHz band clashed with regulatory changes in the EU mandating standardized Wi-Fi Direct for peer-to-peer connections in that spectrum. This effectively forced Apple to abandon AWDL in the EU, impacting performance and user experience for local device interactions. While Apple has adopted Wi-Fi Direct for compliance, the article argues it's a less efficient solution, highlighting the trade-off between regulatory standardization and optimized technological performance.
HN commenters largely agree that the EU's regulatory decisions regarding Wi-Fi channels have hampered Apple's AWDL protocol, negatively impacting performance for features like AirDrop and AirPlay. Some point out that Android's nearby share functionality suffers similar issues, further illustrating the broader problem of regulatory limitations stifling local device communication. A few highlight the irony of the EU pushing for interoperability while simultaneously creating barriers with these regulations. Others suggest technical workarounds Apple could explore, while acknowledging the difficulty of navigating these regulations. Several express frustration with the EU's approach, viewing it as hindering innovation and user experience.
The blog post "ESP32 WiFi Superstitions" explores common practices developers employ when troubleshooting ESP32 WiFi connectivity issues, despite lacking a clear technical basis. The author argues that many of these "superstitions," like adding delays, calling WiFi.begin() repeatedly, or disabling power-saving modes, often mask underlying problems with poor antenna design, inadequate power supply, or incorrect configuration rather than addressing the root cause. While these tweaks might sometimes appear to improve stability, they are ultimately unreliable solutions. The post encourages a more systematic debugging approach focusing on identifying and resolving the actual hardware or software issues causing the instability.
Hacker News users generally agreed with the author's point about the ESP32's WiFi sensitivity, sharing their own struggles and workarounds. Several commenters emphasized the importance of antenna design and placement, suggesting specific antenna types and advocating for proper grounding. Others pointed out the impact of environmental factors like metal enclosures and nearby electronics. The discussion also touched on potential firmware issues and the value of using a logic analyzer for debugging. Some users shared specific success stories by adjusting antenna placement or implementing suggested fixes. One commenter highlighted the challenges of reliable WiFi in battery-powered devices due to the power-hungry nature of WiFi, while another speculated on potential hardware limitations of the ESP32's radio circuitry.
This Nature Communications article introduces a novel integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) system using a space-time-coding metasurface. The metasurface allows simultaneous beamforming for communication and radar sensing by manipulating electromagnetic waves in both space and time. Specifically, the researchers designed a digital coding pattern applied to the metasurface elements, enabling dynamic control of the generated beam. This technique achieves high data rates for communication while also providing accurate target detection and localization. The proposed ISAC system demonstrates significant performance improvements compared to traditional separated systems, offering a promising path toward more efficient and versatile wireless technologies.
Several Hacker News commenters express skepticism about the practicality of the research due to the complexity and cost of implementing the proposed metasurface technology. Some question the real-world applicability given the precise calibration requirements and potential limitations in dynamic environments. One commenter highlights the inherent trade-off between sensing and communication functionalities, suggesting further investigation is needed to understand the optimal balance. Another points out the potential security implications, as the integrated system could be vulnerable to new types of attacks. A few commenters note the novelty of the approach, acknowledging its potential for future applications if the technological hurdles can be overcome. Overall, the discussion revolves around the feasibility and limitations of the technology, with a cautious but intrigued perspective.
This blog post details the author's successful, yet extremely tight, implementation of a full Wi-Fi networking stack (including TLS) on the memory-constrained nRF9160. Using the Zephyr RTOS, they managed to squeeze in lwIP, mbedTLS, and other necessary components, leaving only about 1KB of RAM free. This required careful configuration and optimization, particularly within lwIP, to minimize memory usage without sacrificing essential functionality. The author highlights the challenges of working with the nRF9160's limited resources and shares specific configuration adjustments, such as reducing TCP window size and disabling IPv6, that enabled them to achieve a working Wi-Fi connection. The post serves as a practical demonstration of pushing the boundaries of what's possible on this resource-constrained platform.
Hacker News users discussed the challenges and ingenuity of fitting a full Wi-Fi stack onto the resource-constrained nRF9161. Several commenters expressed admiration for the author's accomplishment, highlighting the difficulty of working with such limited resources. Some questioned the practical applications, given the nRF9161's integrated cellular modem and the availability of smaller, cheaper Wi-Fi microcontrollers. Others suggested potential uses like captive portals or bridging between cellular and local networks. The Zephyr RTOS was mentioned as a contributing factor to the project's success due to its small footprint. One commenter shared their experience with similar memory constraints on embedded systems and offered debugging advice. The discussion also briefly touched on the implications of this achievement for IoT devices and the potential for further development in low-resource Wi-Fi applications.
The IEEE Spectrum article argues that the current trajectory of 6G development, focused on extremely high frequencies and bandwidth, might be misguided. While these frequencies offer theoretical speed improvements, they suffer from significant limitations like extremely short range and susceptibility to atmospheric interference. The article proposes a shift in focus towards utilizing the existing, and largely underutilized, mid-band spectrum for 6G. This approach, combined with advanced signal processing and network management techniques, could deliver substantial performance gains without the drawbacks of extremely high frequencies, offering a more practical and cost-effective path to a truly impactful next-generation wireless network.
HN commenters largely agree that focusing on 6G is premature and driven by hype, especially given 5G's under-delivered promises and niche applications. Several express skepticism about the need for the speeds 6G promises, arguing current infrastructure improvements and better utilization of existing technologies are more pressing. Some suggest focusing on improving coverage, affordability, and power efficiency instead of chasing higher theoretical speeds. There's also concern about the research itself, with comments highlighting the impracticality of some proposed technologies and the lack of clear use cases beyond vague "future applications." A few commenters point out the cyclical nature of these G cycles, driven by marketing and telco interests rather than genuine user needs.
Summary of Comments ( 158 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43851314
Hacker News commenters generally expressed enthusiasm for the ESP32-C5's mass production, particularly its RISC-V architecture and competitive price point. Several praised Espressif's consistent delivery of well-documented and affordable chips. Some discussion revolved around the C5's suitability as a WiFi-only replacement for the ESP32-C3 and ESP8266, with questions raised about Bluetooth support and actual availability. A few users pointed out the lack of an official datasheet at the time of the announcement, hampering a more in-depth analysis of its capabilities. Others anticipated its integration into various projects, including home automation and IoT devices. The relative merits of the C5 compared to the C3, particularly regarding power consumption and specific use cases, formed a core part of the conversation.
The Hacker News post discussing Espressif's ESP32-C5 reaching mass production has generated a moderate number of comments, primarily focusing on comparisons with existing chips and speculation about future applications.
Several commenters discuss the trade-offs between the ESP32-C5 and the ESP32-C3. One commenter points out the C5's advantages in terms of Wi-Fi performance (supporting 802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.0 Low Energy, while the C3 excels in its lower power consumption, making it suitable for battery-powered applications. This comparison sparked further discussion about specific use cases, with some suggesting the C5 is a better choice for applications requiring higher throughput, like streaming audio, while others maintained the C3 remains the preferred option for low-power IoT devices.
Another point of discussion revolves around the absence of a RISC-V core in the ESP32-C5. Some commenters express disappointment that Espressif chose to stick with the Xtensa LX7 core, while others argue that the existing software ecosystem and tooling around Xtensa outweigh the potential benefits of switching to RISC-V, at least for the time being. This leads to a tangent about the maturity and tooling available for RISC-V development compared to more established architectures.
A few comments delve into the potential market impact of the ESP32-C5, particularly its ability to bridge the gap between low-power devices and applications needing more bandwidth. Some foresee the C5 becoming popular in smart home devices and industrial IoT applications, replacing older Wi-Fi standards and enabling more complex functionalities.
Finally, some comments raise questions about the availability and pricing of the ESP32-C5 modules, with some users expressing eagerness to get their hands on them for experimentation and prototyping. There's also a brief mention of the potential for future revisions of the chip with even more advanced features.
Overall, the comments section reflects a general sense of enthusiasm for the ESP32-C5 and its potential, with a healthy dose of pragmatic discussion about its strengths, weaknesses, and potential applications. The discussion remains focused on the chip itself and its surrounding ecosystem, without delving into broader industry trends or unrelated topics.