The IEEE 802.15.4 offers two options of physical layer depending on the using
frequency. Both are based in direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) methods
easy to implement digitally and also share the packets structure. The physical
layer at 2.4 GHz allows a higher data rate due to a bigger order in the modulation.
As the 2.4 GHz frequency is used globally, we are going to focus the study of the
physical layer on it. The physical layer at this frequency has 16 channels between
2.4 and 2.4835GHz with a wide space between channels (5 MHz) facilitating the
filtering in the transmission and reception. As this frequency band is free and
used by most domestic devices, the physical layer has some functions, as received
energy detection or link quality indicators that are used to choose a channel or
change it in case of interference.