802.11ah - Basics
What is IEEE 802.11ah?
IEEE 802.11ah, also known as Wi-Fi HaLow, is a wireless networking standard designed for low-power, long-range communications in sub-1 GHz bands, targeting IoT applications.
When was 802.11ah ratified?
802.11ah was ratified by the IEEE in 2016 as an amendment to the 802.11 family, focusing on extended range and low power.
What frequency band does 802.11ah use?
It operates primarily in sub-1 GHz unlicensed frequency bands such as 900 MHz, providing better range and penetration than 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz bands.
What are the typical data rates supported by 802.11ah?
802.11ah supports data rates ranging roughly from 0.15 Mbps up to 347 Mbps, depending on modulation, coding, and channel bandwidth.
What modulation techniques does 802.11ah use?
It uses OFDM and DSSS/CCK modulation schemes optimized for low-power, long-range wireless communication.
What is the main application area of 802.11ah?
802.11ah is mainly targeted at Internet of Things (IoT) devices, smart meters, sensor networks, and other low-power wide-area networking use cases.
How does 802.11ah achieve long-range communication?
By operating in sub-1 GHz bands with lower frequency, it achieves better signal penetration and extended range compared to higher frequency Wi-Fi standards.
Does 802.11ah support low power operation?
Yes, it includes power-saving mechanisms to extend battery life for IoT devices with infrequent data transmissions.
What channel bandwidths does 802.11ah support?
It supports flexible channel bandwidths: 1 MHz, 2 MHz, 4 MHz, 8 MHz, and 16 MHz, allowing adaptation to different deployment needs.
Is 802.11ah compatible with other Wi-Fi standards?
802.11ah is a separate amendment and operates in different frequency bands, so it is not backward compatible but can coexist with other Wi-Fi technologies.
What kind of devices use 802.11ah?
Typical devices include smart sensors, utility meters, wearable tech, and agricultural monitoring devices needing long battery life and range.
How does 802.11ah handle network scalability?
It supports up to 8191 associated stations per access point, which is much higher than traditional Wi-Fi standards.
What power-saving features are available in 802.11ah?
Features include Target Wake Time (TWT) for scheduling wake-ups and efficient sleep modes for battery conservation.
Can 802.11ah be used for high-throughput applications?
It is optimized for low to moderate data rates and long battery life, so it’s less suited for high-bandwidth applications like video streaming.
What kind of modulation coding schemes (MCS) does 802.11ah use?
It employs multiple MCS levels with convolutional coding and LDPC to balance range, throughput, and reliability.
Does 802.11ah support mesh networking?
Yes, it can be integrated into mesh network topologies to extend range and coverage.
What regulatory domains does 802.11ah operate in?
It is designed to work within various sub-1 GHz ISM bands compliant with regional regulations like FCC (US), ETSI (Europe), and others.
How does 802.11ah improve coexistence with other wireless systems?
By using narrower channels and dynamic frequency selection, it minimizes interference with other IoT and legacy wireless technologies.
What is Wi-Fi HaLow?
Wi-Fi HaLow is the marketing name for IEEE 802.11ah, emphasizing its long-range, low-power Wi-Fi capabilities for IoT.
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