- radius Beacons (~$14):
- + on/off function (press once), small, good config apps to set UUID, minor,major, transmit power, and frequency,(iBeacon default pin=00000000)
- - no beep function
- xy2 find it ($15)
- +: app to find beacon, can make it beep, good to attach to keys, ==> find keys function & plugin triggers arrive at home,
- -: difficult to open, no option to configure power, frequency etc, on/off function
- xy3 find it ($24, 6 for $90)
- +: app to find beacon, can make it beep, good to attach to keys, ==> find keys function & plugin triggers arrive at home,
- -: no option to configure power, frequency etc, on/off function, but default seem to work fine
- - : creates 3 beacons with a different (but similar) MAC numbers. 2 are regular beacons (you should select one and delete the other one) the third comes one when you press the beep button. So this beacon can be used (with the beep MAC and fastDown option) to switch on/ off light when you come home in addition to the regular arrival
- Sanwo ($12)
- + LARGE, difficult to lose
, should have some more functions(NFC..), but could not find it, on/off function (press 5 secs)
- - could not find an app to setup
- + LARGE, difficult to lose
- Tile ($24)
- + has good app for setting parameters, has beep function, transmit power shows VERY strong -2dBm, but it seems to be wrong, receiving signal is equivalent to -60dBm transmit power
- -can not replace battery, app only works with iPhone. In POWERSAVE MODE it send a signal every ~ 5 minutes or when you press the "e" button for 5 seconds or the iPhone apps starts it.IF you run it not in power save mode it works fine with the plugin.
- Pebble Bee ($23)
- + has good app for setting parameters, has beep function, transmit power shows VERY strong +1dBm, but it seems to be wrong, receiving signal is equivalent to -65dBm transmit power
- - none
- JINOU JO-BEC05 ($11)
- + very basic simple beacon
- - tx power ~ -69dBm, the lowest of all beacons tested so far. An app is available, but does not connect to beacon. The beacon has no switch, no beeper ..No functionality, Does not come with battery (CR2032 +$2)
- Jaalee iB004N& iB003($20/$25)
- + VERY large battery, use Jaalee beacon app to configure (iBeacons default pin is 666666 =6*6). to start you need to shake the beacon until it beeps, then select the Jaalee beacon you like to configure (hold it close to the iPhone and select the one with the highest RSSI value), select confirm and switch Beacon State to "ON", has Battery level info in the data
txPower is high +4 .. -20 dBm
- + VERY large battery, use Jaalee beacon app to configure (iBeacons default pin is 666666 =6*6). to start you need to shake the beacon until it beeps, then select the Jaalee beacon you like to configure (hold it close to the iPhone and select the one with the highest RSSI value), select confirm and switch Beacon State to "ON", has Battery level info in the data
- social retail square and round($29)
- + THIN, fit into wallet, The inner parts are Jalee iBeacons, but no app that can configure them
txPower is ~ -59 dBm - USB beacons tested: C3(social retail) and Radius, both work fine (e.g. in a car)
The signal strength is ~ -59dBm the Radius can transmit both iBeacon as well as eddystone signal($23-$29) - iBeacon C1, AAA-Battery was the biggest on the market.They claim > 3years lifetime. Have it in my car works fine. TX-power ~ -59dBm ($22.50)
- Replaceable 4xAA Battery Waterproof IP65 Dustproof Sanwo iBeacon is the biggest on the market.They claim > 5years lifetime. Have it in my car works fine. TX-power ~ -59dBm ($25.99)
- iHere comes with a rechargeable battery, shape looks nice, but it is thicker ($10)
My current favorites (still) are
1. xy + beep function
2. radius + on/off, you can set txPower
3.Replaceable 4xAA Battery Waterproof IP65 Dustproof Sanwo iBeacon ~ 5 years battery life
5. for thinnest: social retail square
if you need the functions: TILE and pebbleBee inNONE power save mode
Karl
attached picture of all tested iBeacons.. from left to right:
Sanwo, Jaalee 03, 04, pebbleBee, Tile, JO-BEC05, radius, xy, social retail round & square
and social retail C1 twice as big as the large green one: