Wi-Fi connectivity works through radio waves and different bands are used to exchange information. The bands most used with the 2.4GHzwhose main virtue is to offer a wide range of range, the band of 5GHz which stands out for offering a higher speed with a range lower than the 2.4 GHz and the 6GHz which offers little range and a higher speed than the 5 GHz band.
Since its launch, the Wi-Fi standard was identified based on the nomenclature IEEE 802.11 accompanied by a letter that can be: to, b, g, n, ac, ax and be. But, in addition, there is also a less known and used version that uses the letters oh.
What is HaLow Wi-Fi
The standard IEEE 802.11ahalso called Wi-Fi HaLow or HaLow standard, officially arrived on the market in 2017, it is an evolution of the IEEE 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 6) standard that was launched in 2014 and whose evolution was IEEE 802.11ax launched in 2019, better known such as Wi-Fi 6E.
Wi-Fi HaLow works below the 1 GHz bandspecifically in the 900 MHz band and was initially designed to provide a connectivity solution to home automation devices that do not need a large bandwidth and that, in addition, have very low energy consumption and have no problems passing through walls or any other type of obstacle without losing power and speed.
What is it used for?
However, the evolution of this standard has followed a completely different path than initially expected since very few manufacturers do not offer support for this standard. Router manufacturers only offer support for the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands, so finding a router that works with bands lower than 1 GHz is virtually impossible.
Although according to Wi-Fi Alliance specifications it is compatible with the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, this is not always the case since it depends on the manufacturer of the router and/or device that integrates it. This lack of compatibility is also found in any smartphone, tablet or even PCIe cards for computers.
Fortunately, that does not mean that it has fallen into disuse by any means. Currently, Wi-Fi HaLow is used in the rural area mainly since it has a range much greater than the 2.4 GHz band.
Furthermore, by working on a band that is barely used, they have no other signals to deal with, so, in various tests that have been carried out, it can reach up to 16km of range in open areas and without architectural obstacles that could weaken the signal, but with natural elements such as stones and trees.
This test was carried out in Joshua Tree National Park in the United States, reaching a maximum transmission speed of 2 Mbps, the same speed used by the first 802.11 standard when it was launched in 1997 and known as Wi-Fi 1.
