What Does ANT+ Mean?
ANT+ is an interoperable wireless transfer capability that can be used with the basic ANT protocol. ANT+ is a managed network that is able to collect, transfer and store sensor data. It is mainly used in sports, wellness and home health applications, such as in heart rate monitors, speed sensors and small GPS devices.
As of 2011, ANT+ is used by more than 30 manufacturers in a number of different devices. ANT+ is maintained and promoted by the ANT+ Alliance, a subsidiary of Garmin Ltd.
Techopedia Explains ANT+
ANT+ allows sensor information to be gathered, tracked and transferred anywhere and anytime via wireless communication with other ANT+ products. For example, ANT+ technology can allow a cycle computer to measure a cyclist’s heart rate and speed through sensors and wirelessly transmit that information to a device.
ANT+ signals are transmitted over a 2.4 GHz license-free band, allowing ANT+ devices to provide high-quality wireless communication while taking advantage of low-power, low-cost transceivers. ANT+ is also known for fast over-the-air transmission rates and its ability to work with simple to complex network configurations, including peer-to-peer, star, tree and mesh topologies.
ANT+ has several competitors in the market, including Zigbee, Z-Wave and Bluetooth 4.