Wi-Fi HaLow (IoT-Specific Wi-Fi) =================================== .. toctree:: :maxdepth: 1 :hidden: :includehidden: 802_11ah/802_11ah 802_11ah/mac_functions 802_11ah/mac_timings 802_11ah/packet_formats 802_11ah/power_save 802_11ah/interoperability 802_11ah/physical_rates 802_11ah/ppdu 802_11ah/channels 802_11ah/PHYs 802.11ah: A sub-1 GHz Wi-Fi standard optimized for long-range, low-power wireless communication, ideal for IoT and smart devices. .. list-table:: :widths: 20 60 20 :header-rows: 1 * - Category - Description - Use Case * - MAC Functions - Core MAC layer responsibilities adapted for low-power, long-range communication in sub-1 GHz bands. - Managing reliable wireless connectivity for IoT and embedded devices * - MAC Timings - Extended timing parameters (e.g., longer inter-frame spaces) to accommodate longer range and low data rates. - Coordinating medium access and energy-efficient transmissions over long distances * - Packet Formats - Frame structures optimized for narrowband channels and low throughput. - Efficient parsing and processing for low-power IoT traffic * - Power Save - Advanced power-saving modes tailored for battery-operated devices with infrequent transmissions. - Maximizing battery life while maintaining network responsiveness * - Interoperability - Compatibility mechanisms with other 802.11 standards and legacy devices. - Smooth integration in mixed Wi-Fi and IoT environments * - Physical Rates - Supports data rates ranging from 150 Kbps up to several Mbps using various modulation schemes. - Flexible throughput for low-bandwidth sensor and control applications * - PPDU - Physical Protocol Data Unit format designed for sub-1 GHz operation with extended preambles. - Reliable synchronization and data delivery over long distances * - Channels - Operates in sub-1 GHz license-exempt bands (e.g., 900 MHz ISM band) with narrow channel widths (1, 2, 4 MHz). - Long-range communication with minimal interference and spectrum efficiency * - PHY Overview - Physical Layer using OFDM and other modulation techniques adapted for low-frequency, low-power operation. - Extended range, better penetration, and energy-efficient wireless transmission .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: 802.11ah **Standard:** IEEE 802.11ah (Wi-Fi HaLow, 2016) **Main Features:** - Operates in sub-1 GHz frequency bands (e.g., 900 MHz ISM band) - Supports long-range wireless communication (up to 1 km) - Low power consumption optimized for battery-operated IoT devices - Uses narrow channel widths (1, 2, 4 MHz) for efficient spectrum use - Supports thousands of devices per access point **Use Cases:** - Smart agriculture and environmental monitoring - Industrial IoT and remote equipment telemetry - Smart cities including parking and street lighting sensors - Home and building automation systems - Embedded devices requiring low-data-rate, long-range Wi-Fi connectivity **Related Concepts:** - Sub-1 GHz radio propagation characteristics - Power-saving mechanisms for IoT devices - Narrowband communication and channel planning - Compatibility with legacy Wi-Fi and other low-power wireless standards .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: What You Will Learn in This Section **Discover the technical aspects and deployment of 802.11ah:** * :ref:`Learnings in this section <802_11ah_step1>` * :ref:`Terminology <802_11ah_step2>` * :ref:`Version Info <802_11ah_step3>` * :ref:`802_11ah Version & IEEE Details <802_11ah_step4>` * :ref:`802_11ah Basic Setup on Ubuntu using IPv4 <802_11ah_step5>` * :ref:`802_11ah Basic Setup on Ubuntu using IPv6 <802_11ah_step6>` * :ref:`Reference links <802_11ah_step16>` .. button-link:: ./802_11ah/802_11ah.html :color: primary :shadow: :expand: Jump to "802.11ah Basics" .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: 802.11ah MAC Functions **Standard:** IEEE 802.11ah (2016) **Main Features:** - Handles frame delimiting, addressing, and error detection optimized for low power, long-range networks - Manages reliable wireless communication with energy-efficient retransmissions - Controls medium access adapted for sub-1 GHz and large device densities (e.g., target wake time) - Supports acknowledgment and retransmission schemes for IoT applications - Enables fragmentation and reassembly of frames suited for narrowband operation - Works closely with the Physical Layer to maintain robust long-range connectivity **Use Cases:** - Reliable data delivery in extended-range IoT deployments - Managing medium access for thousands of low-power devices - Supporting power-saving and energy-efficient communication in sensor networks **Related Functions:** - Frame control optimized for sub-1 GHz PHY - Sequence control for ordered packet delivery - Power management and target wake time signaling - Error detection and correction mechanisms tailored for IoT traffic .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: What You Will Learn in This Section **Explore the details of 802.11ah MAC Functions:** * :ref:`Reference links ` .. button-link:: ./802_11ah/mac_functions.html :color: primary :shadow: :expand: Jump to "802.11ah MAC Functions" .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: 802.11ah MAC Timings **Standard:** IEEE 802.11ah (2016) **Main Features:** - Defines extended timing parameters to accommodate longer range and low data rates - Includes Interframe Spaces (SIFS, DIFS, etc.) adapted for sub-1 GHz operation - Specifies slot times and backoff windows for CSMA/CA tailored for large IoT device groups - Supports Target Wake Time (TWT) to optimize device sleep and wake cycles - Ensures collision avoidance and fair medium access in dense sensor networks - Synchronizes MAC and PHY layers for energy-efficient long-range communication **Use Cases:** - Coordinating transmissions in large-scale IoT deployments - Reducing collisions in dense device environments - Supporting battery life extension through optimized timing **Related Timing Parameters:** - Short Interframe Space (SIFS) - Distributed Interframe Space (DIFS) - Target Wake Time (TWT) - Slot time and backoff timers .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: What You Will Learn in This Section **Explore the details of 802.11ah MAC Timings:** * :ref:`Reference links ` .. button-link:: ./802_11ah/mac_timings.html :color: primary :shadow: :expand: Jump to "802.11ah MAC Timings" .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: 802.11ah Packet Formats **Standard:** IEEE 802.11ah (2016) **Main Features:** - Defines MAC and PHY frame structures optimized for sub-1 GHz operation - Includes Frame Control, Duration, Address fields, Sequence Control, and CRC - Supports data, management, and control frames tailored for IoT traffic - Uses narrower bandwidth and longer symbol durations for better reliability - Frame formats support addressing, QoS, security, and power-saving features - Allows fragmentation and reassembly suitable for low data-rate transmissions **Use Cases:** - Structuring wireless packets for long-range IoT communications - Ensuring proper delivery, acknowledgment, and retransmission in low-power networks - Enabling interoperability across diverse IoT devices **Related Frame Types:** - Management frames (e.g., Beacon, Association Request) - Control frames (e.g., ACK, RTS, CTS) - Data frames with QoS and power management extensions .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: What You Will Learn in This Section **Explore the details of 802.11ah Packet Formats:** * :ref:`Reference links ` .. button-link:: ./802_11ah/packet_formats.html :color: primary :shadow: :expand: Jump to "802.11ah Packet Formats" .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: 802.11ah Power Saving Mechanisms **Standard:** IEEE 802.11ah (2016) **Main Features:** - Supports advanced Power Save Mode (PSM) with Target Wake Time (TWT) for scheduled wake-ups - Devices can enter deep sleep states and wake only when needed to conserve energy - AP buffers data and informs devices via beacon frames and TIM/DTIM messages - Enables efficient battery usage for IoT sensors and embedded devices - Coordinates sleep/wake cycles with MAC layer for optimal network performance - Designed to support thousands of devices with minimal power consumption **Use Cases:** - Extending battery life of long-range IoT and sensor devices - Reducing power consumption in large-scale smart city and industrial networks - Balancing device responsiveness and energy efficiency **Related Mechanisms:** - Target Wake Time (TWT) scheduling - Delivery Traffic Indication Message (DTIM) - TIM fields and power management signaling .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: What You Will Learn in This Section **Explore the details of 802.11ah Power Saving mechanisms:** * :ref:`Reference links ` .. button-link:: ./802_11ah/power_save.html :color: primary :shadow: :expand: Jump to "802.11ah Power Saving" .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: 802.11ah Interoperability **Standard:** IEEE 802.11ah (2016) **Main Features:** - Ensures compatibility among diverse IoT devices operating in the sub-1 GHz band - Supports coexistence with other IEEE 802.11 standards and legacy Wi-Fi devices via dual-mode gateways - Defines standardized frame formats and signaling adapted for long-range, low-power communication - Implements Clear Channel Assessment (CCA) and CSMA/CA optimized for low data rate networks - Uses management and control frames to facilitate device association, authentication, and roaming - Facilitates coexistence with other wireless technologies (e.g., LTE, Zigbee) in shared frequency bands **Use Cases:** - Enabling large-scale, multi-vendor IoT deployments - Supporting seamless device handoff in heterogeneous IoT networks - Allowing mixed environment operation with Wi-Fi, cellular, and other IoT radios **Related Mechanisms:** - Standardized management frame interoperability - Frequency band coordination and coexistence - PHY and MAC layer harmonization for IoT devices .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: What You Will Learn in This Section **Explore the details of 802.11ah Interoperability mechanisms:** * :ref:`Reference links ` .. button-link:: ./802_11ah/interoperability.html :color: primary :shadow: :expand: Jump to "802.11ah Interoperability" .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: 802.11ah Physical Rates **Standard:** IEEE 802.11ah (2016) **Main Features:** - Supports multiple physical layer data rates ranging approximately from 0.15 Mbps up to 347 Mbps - Uses OFDM and DSSS/CCK modulation schemes tailored for sub-1 GHz frequencies - Provides configurable bandwidths: 1 MHz, 2 MHz, 4 MHz, 8 MHz, and 16 MHz channels - Adapts data rates dynamically based on signal quality and range requirements - Employs robust modulation to maximize range and reliability at low power - Optimized for long-range, low-power IoT communication with flexible throughput options **Use Cases:** - Low-rate sensor networks requiring extended coverage - Smart metering, agriculture, and industrial IoT applications - Environments demanding balance between range, power consumption, and throughput **Related Concepts:** - Rate adaptation and modulation coding schemes (MCS) - Channel bandwidth flexibility for spectrum efficiency - Trade-offs between data rate, range, and power consumption .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: What You Will Learn in This Section **Explore the details of 802.11ah Physical Rates:** * :ref:`physical_rates in 802.11ah ` * :ref:`Reference links ` .. button-link:: ./802_11ah/physical_rates.html :color: primary :shadow: :expand: Jump to "802.11ah Physical Rates" .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: 802.11ah PPDU **Standard:** IEEE 802.11ah (2016) **Main Features:** - Defines the Physical Protocol Data Unit (PPDU) format optimized for sub-1 GHz bands - Includes a short and long preamble for synchronization and channel estimation - Contains SIGNAL fields specifying data rate, length, and MCS - Payload carries MAC frames encoded using OFDM or DSSS/CCK modulation schemes - Supports variable bandwidth channels (1, 2, 4, 8, 16 MHz) - Enables reliable, low-power long-range wireless data transmission **Use Cases:** - Efficient packet encapsulation for long-range IoT communications - Synchronization between low-power sensor nodes and access points - Robust and energy-efficient wireless communication in harsh environments **Related Concepts:** - OFDM and DSSS/CCK modulation - Variable channel bandwidth and MCS - Preamble types and guard intervals .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: What You Will Learn in This Section **Explore the details of 802.11ah PPDU:** * :ref:`Reference links ` .. button-link:: ./802_11ah/ppdu.html :color: primary :shadow: :expand: Jump to "802.11ah PPDU" .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: 802.11ah Channels **Standard:** IEEE 802.11ah (2016) **Main Features:** - Operates primarily in the sub-1 GHz ISM bands (e.g., 863–868 MHz in Europe, 902–928 MHz in the US) - Supports narrow channels of 1 MHz to 16 MHz bandwidth for flexible deployments - Designed for long-range communication with better penetration and lower interference - Uses channel bonding in some regions for increased throughput - Implements Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) where applicable to avoid interference - Facilitates coexistence with other IoT and legacy devices in unlicensed spectrum **Use Cases:** - Smart metering, agriculture, and industrial IoT requiring long-range coverage - Low-power sensor networks needing robust and interference-free channels - Deployments in rural and urban environments with varying regulatory domains **Related Concepts:** - Sub-1 GHz ISM band regulations and regional channels - Channel bonding and dynamic frequency selection (DFS) - Coexistence strategies with other wireless technologies .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: What You Will Learn in This Section **Explore the details of 802.11ah Channels:** * :ref:`List of channels ` * :ref:`List of channel widths ` * :ref:`List of Bands ` * :ref:`Reference links ` .. button-link:: ./802_11ah/channels.html :color: primary :shadow: :expand: Jump to "802.11ah Channels" .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: 802.11ah PHY **Standard:** IEEE 802.11ah (2016) **Main Features:** - Utilizes OFDM and DSSS/CCK modulation adapted for sub-1 GHz frequencies - Supports data rates approximately from 0.15 Mbps up to 347 Mbps depending on channel bandwidth and MCS - Employs 1 MHz to 16 MHz channel bandwidths with flexible subcarrier spacing - Uses convolutional coding, interleaving, and LDPC for error correction and robustness - Features shorter guard intervals to optimize throughput and latency - Designed for low power consumption and long-range wireless communication **Use Cases:** - Long-range IoT communications requiring reliable PHY layer - Enabling energy-efficient operation of battery-powered devices - Supporting a wide variety of IoT applications with diverse throughput needs **Related Concepts:** - OFDM and DSSS/CCK modulation schemes - Coding techniques: convolutional coding, LDPC - Guard intervals, synchronization, and channel estimation .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: What You Will Learn in This Section **Explore the details of 802.11ah PHY:** * :ref:`Reference links ` .. button-link:: ./802_11ah/phy.html :color: primary :shadow: :expand: Jump to "802.11ah PHY"