Wi-Fi HaLow Radio Technology 4
What is Wi-Fi HaLow?
Wi-Fi is one of the most popular standard wireless communication technologies used in our
connected world today, along with other wireless communication technologies such as cellular and
Bluetooth®. The Wi-Fi Alliance is the organization that oversees the evolution of various Wi-Fi
technologies which are developed and maintained under the umbrella of IEEE 802.11 standards.
Wi-Fi HaLow is developed and maintained under the IEEE 802.11ah standard. Put simply, Wi-Fi
HaLow is an offshoot of traditional Wi-Fi standards, but the operating frequency band is changed
from 2.4 GHz to a sub-1GHz.
Most home internet routers have two Wi-Fi frequencies: 2.4 GHz and 5GHz. Using 2.4 GHz you can
stay connected when farther from the router, but at lower throughput. Conversely, using 5 GHz you
have to stay closer to the router, but you get higher throughput. The relationship between Wi-Fi
HaLow and 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi is similar to the relationship between 2.4 and 5 GHz Wi-Fi. In general,
changing the operating frequency band allows Wi-Fi HaLow to provide longer range compared to
standard Wi-Fi but with a lower throughput.
Throughout the remainder of this white paper, we will refer to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi as "standard Wi-Fi."
The term "radio" is generically used to encompass all wireless communications, including Wi-Fi
HaLow, Trimble Long Range Radios, as well as home Wi-Fi networks, cellular communications, and
so on.
