The PHY Operating Mode ID selects a specific IEEE 802.15.4g SUN PHY mode profile as referenced by the Wi-SUN FAN specification.

It defines:

  • Modulation and coding.

  • Symbol rate and bandwidth.

  • Data rate parameters used on the air interface.

All devices in a PAN must use the same PHY Operating Mode ID for discovery, authentication, and data exchange.

Some products support multiple modes, but a given PAN operates in a single selected mode at a time for interoperability.

If the PHY Operating Mode ID does not match, the demodulator will not decode frames even if the device is on the correct channel.

This command is used to Configure the PHY layer.

Parameter range

The PHY mode ID is a byte where the upper nibble is the PHY type and the lower nibble is the PHY mode.

PHY type

  • 0: FSK

  • 1: FSK with FEC

  • 2: OFDM type 1

  • 3: OFDM type 2

  • 4: OFDM type 3

  • 5: OFDM type 4

PHY mode

For FSK:

Modulation type Lower nibble Modulation scheme

FSK

1 (1a)

50 kbps with 100 kHz channel spacing

FSK

2 (1b)

50 kbps with 200 kHz channel spacing

FSK

3 (2a)

100 kbps with 200 kHz channel spacing

FSK

4 (2b)

100 kbps with 400 kHz channel spacing

FSK

5 (3)

150 kbps with 400 kHz channel spacing

FSK

6 (4a)

200 kbps with 400 kHz channel spacing

FSK

7 (4b)

400 kbps with 600 kHz channel spacing

FSK

8 (5)

400 kbps with 600 kHz channel spacing

OFDM

OFDM1

MCS2-MCS6 (400-2400 kpbs)

OFDM

OFDM2

MCS3-MCS6 (400-1200 kpbs)

OFDM

OFDM3

MCS4-MCS6 (300-600 kpbs)

OFDM

OFDM4

MCS4-MCS6 (150-300 kpbs)

Default

WM defaults to the lowest available value given the lowest settable WC value.

  • NA: 2

  • JP: 2

  • EU_LB: 1

  • IN: 1

Considerations

Selection considerations

  • Lower rate modes: Provide better sensitivity and range at the cost of airtime.

  • Higher rate modes: Increase throughput at the cost of link budget

  • More robust modes: Improve joining reliability in noisy environments and at the cell edge.

  • Higher throughput modes: Reduce network latency and improve capacity when link margins are good.