How Many Walls Can ZigBee Penetrate? – N710 Dongle Example

A Little Background

Most ZigBee modules/dongles work in the 2.4 GHz free band. A few years ago, the ZigBee Alliance also launched 868 MHz products, but they never became popular due to frequency restrictions. So today, 99% of ZigBee devices still run on 2.4 GHz.

Let’s use the N710 dongle to see how well ZigBee can go through walls.

What Is the N710 Dongle?

The N710 dongle is a USB wireless module based on the TI CC2538 + CC2592 chipset.

Key specs:

• Transmit power: +22 dBm (with PA – dozens of times stronger than a basic CC2530)

• Receive sensitivity: about -102 dBm

• Antenna: onboard serpentine antenna (IPEX version also available)

A basic ZigBee module without PA (like CC2530) only puts out +4.5 dBm – it struggles with just one wall. The N710 has more than 50 times the power.

Through‑Wall Test – N710 Dongle in Real Life

Test environment: A typical home with brick walls, furniture, and doors.

Comparison: Basic CC2530 module (no PA, serpentine antenna)

Step 1 – No Obstacles

• Distance about 8 meters, same room

  • N710 dongle RSSI: -55 dBm (very strong)

  • Basic CC2530 RSSI: around -65 dBm (still OK)

Step 2 – One 20 cm Brick Wall

• Basic CC2530: RSSI drops to -86 dBm – barely works, occasional packet loss. Effective range drops to about 10 meters.

• N710 dongle: RSSI around -72 dBm – rock solid, no packet loss. Effective range after one wall: 30–40 meters.

Step 3 – Two Brick Walls (with a hallway in between)

• Basic CC2530: mostly dead, only receives a packet every now and then.

• N710 dongle: RSSI around -88 dBm – still stable, though data rate may drop a bit.

Real‑World Project Example

A three‑story villa in Shenzhen was being set up with ZigBee smart home gear. At first they used basic non‑PA ZigBee modules. Devices on the second and third floors kept losing connection.

Then they switched to an N710 dongle as the coordinator (gateway) and placed a few N710 router nodes (using in‑wall switches) on the staircases and in the living room. Result:

• Full signal coverage across all three floors.

• All smart devices (lights, curtains, sensors) worked perfectly from the phone app – no delays, no dropouts.

Tips for Better Wall Penetration

1. Power matters most
   A basic ZigBee module (4.5 dBm) struggles with one wall. Choose a +22 dBm module like the N710 – it can handle two walls easily.

2. Antenna orientation
   The onboard serpentine antenna is not very directional. If you use an external antenna, try to point it perpendicular to the wall – that often improves signal.

3. Use router nodes as relays
   Even with the N710’s power, if you have a three‑story house, add a few router nodes (always‑powered devices) on the stairs or hallways. ZigBee’s mesh network will automatically find the best path.

4. Avoid 2.4 GHz interference
   WiFi and Bluetooth on the same band can hurt wall penetration. Manually set your ZigBee channel to 15, 20, or 25 – these are less crowded than WiFi channels 1, 6, and 11.

One‑Sentence Summary

A basic ZigBee module/dongles barely gets through one wall. The N710 dongle (+22 dBm) easily goes through two walls and covers an entire villa.