Comparative Performance Study of ESP-NOW, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Protocols based on Range, Transmission Speed, Latency, Energy Usage and Barrier Resistance

Abstract

This paper discusses and provides comparison results of ESP-NOW, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth as wireless local area network protocols. These protocols have been widely implemented on IoT devices. Inconsequential use of these protocols in areas that are not appropriate according to the characteristics of the protocols will cause problems such as fast battery drain, transmission speed is too wide with small data sent, and so on. For this reason, it is important to conduct a comparative study, to obtain information on the performance comparison of each protocol. We hope that IoT system designers can make it as a reference in the selection of these protocols. This paper will compare each protocol from the point of view of point-to-point transmission using key performance indicators such as maximum range, transmission speed, latency, power consumption, and resistance to obstructions using built-in and external antennas. Experiments were done with an equivalent testing method using the same components or tools. The data obtained were used to compare each protocol using a descriptive quantitative method by presenting the data in numerical, graphical, or descriptive form. The results of this paper are expected to be used as a consideration for which protocol is suitable for its implementation by providing an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of each protocol. A brief analysis of suitable applications for each protocol is provided.