Scatternet
Scatternet Definition
A scatternet is a Bluetooth network that links two or more nearby piconets together. A piconet is a small group of Bluetooth devices connected to a single coordinating device. A scatternet connects multiple piconets so data can move between them, allowing communication across more devices than one piconet can support.
Scatternets are part of classic Bluetooth. In practice, they’re mostly a conceptual network model and are rarely used in everyday products.
How a Scatternet Works
A scatternet forms when one or more Bluetooth devices join multiple piconets at the same time. These shared devices act as bridges between piconets, moving data from one group to another when direct communication isn't possible.
Each piconet has its own timing schedule and frequency-hopping pattern. A shared device can’t communicate with all piconets at once. Instead, it switches between them, briefly synchronizing with one piconet to send or receive data for that specific group. Devices in different piconets don't communicate directly. All data moves through the shared device. Each piconet's main device coordinates traffic within it.
Scatternet vs Piconet
| Feature | Scatternet | Piconet |
| Network scope | Connects two or more piconets | Covers a single Bluetooth group |
| Device connections | Some devices join more than one group | Devices join only one group |
| Communication flow | Passes data through shared devices | Sends data within the group (usually via the main device) |
| Management | Requires more coordination | Simple to manage |
| Real-world use | Rare and mostly conceptual | Common in everyday Bluetooth use |
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FAQ
Scatternets are rarely used in real products. Most modern Bluetooth systems rely on simpler network designs. They mainly appear in research, testing, or teaching examples. Engineers use them to study how Bluetooth devices could connect across multiple small networks. In practice, newer Bluetooth features and other wireless technologies solve the same problems more efficiently.
A scatternet has no fixed device limit. A scatternet has no fixed device limit. In classic Bluetooth, a single piconet usually supports up to 7 active connected devices at a time. A scatternet links multiple piconets, so it can include more devices overall. In practice, scatternets stay small because shared devices must switch between groups, which adds delays and uses more battery.
Not in the classic Bluetooth sense. Scatternets are mainly a concept from classic Bluetooth. Bluetooth Low Energy uses a different setup, and for larger groups of devices, it usually relies on Bluetooth Mesh or other designs instead.
Older Bluetooth documents used “master” and “slave” to label device roles in a piconet. Many older papers still use these terms. Newer Bluetooth materials avoid them and use terms like “central” and “peripheral.” These labels describe who coordinates the connection, not which device is “better.”
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