IEEE 802.15.4 uses which of the following for accessing the channel?

Solution (By Examveda Team)

Option A: Carrier sense multiple access (CSMA). This option refers to a network protocol that listens to or senses the channel before transmitting data. While CSMA is a fundamental concept for network access, it lacks mechanisms for collision detection or avoidance, making it less suitable for environments where collisions are likely.

Option B: Carrier sense multiple access with collision detection (CSMA-CD). This option is an extension of CSMA that detects collisions after they occur, allowing devices to back off and try again after a random time. CSMA-CD is used in wired networks like Ethernet, but it is not typically suitable for wireless networks, such as those defined by IEEE 802.15.4, due to the challenges in detecting collisions in wireless communications.

Option C: Carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA-CA). This option is a protocol that not only senses the channel before transmission but also includes mechanisms to avoid collisions before they happen. This is particularly important in wireless networks, where collision detection is challenging. IEEE 802.15.4 indeed utilizes CSMA-CA to manage channel access effectively and enhance communication reliability.

Option D: None of these. This option suggests that none of the previous options are correct. However, since CSMA-CA is known to be used in IEEE 802.15.4, this option is not valid.

Conclusion: The correct answer is Option C: Carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA-CA), as IEEE 802.15.4 employs this method to manage access to the communication channel effectively, minimizing the potential for collisions in wireless environments.