Wi-Fi HaLow – A New Era of Long-Range Wi-Fi for IoT

The Internet of Things (IoT) has changed how we think about wireless connectivity. Billions of devices are coming online, many of them small, battery-powered, and operating in places where traditional Wi-Fi can’t reach. In these cases, the standard wireless playbook doesn’t always work.

That’s where Wi-Fi HaLow (IEEE 802.11ah) comes in. HaLow brings Wi-Fi into the sub-1 GHz spectrum, delivering longer range, better wall penetration, and lower power consumption, all while keeping the IP-native simplicity that IT teams know. At SGW Designworks, we’ve been putting HaLow through its paces in real-world projects, and the results are compelling.

What Makes HaLow Different

Traditional Wi-Fi delivers high bandwidth, but it’s limited in range and hungry for power. Other IoT protocols like LoRaWAN or Zigbee excel at range and efficiency but sacrifice throughput.

HaLow strikes a balance:

• Extended range – hundreds of meters indoors, up to a kilometer outdoors.
• Better penetration – sub-1 GHz signals reach through walls, concrete, and machinery.
• Moderate throughput – megabits per second, enough for images or even video.
• Wi-Fi compatibility – devices connect natively to IP networks using familiar security standards.

Engineering Considerations

Designing with HaLow brings unique challenges.

• Antenna design: Sub-1 GHz antennas are physically larger, impacting PCB layout and enclosure design.
• Module ecosystem: HaLow is still emerging, and module selection requires careful vetting.
• Certification: FCC Part 15 compliance for transmit power and spectral masks adds steps to the process.
• Power Consumption: While energy use is reduced with HaLow, designing efficient systems is still critical for battery-powered devices.

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Our team plans for these factors early in the development cycle, helping clients avoid costly delays later.

Real-World Testing Insights

Specifications tell only part of the story. Our engineers validate HaLow in the field to uncover how it performs in practice.

• Building penetration: We placed a HaLow node in dense commercial parks and maintained connectivity across multiple floors—something 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi could not achieve.
• Outdoor range: In open environments, HaLow maintained links at long distances, though throughput tapered at the edge. 
• Energy use: We’ve tested the power profile of various HaLow chipsets to know when battery power will work and when it won’t.

These findings are essential when setting client expectations. A data sheet may promise a kilometer of range, but performance depends on real-world conditions.

Where HaLow Fits Best

From our experience, HaLow is a strong choice for:

• Industrial IoT monitoring across facilities.
• Warehouse and logistics systems.
• Agriculture deployments covering large fields.
• Video-enabled devices that need occasional high-data transfers (a confidential client project is one example).

The SGW Perspective

Wireless decisions are about more than picking a protocol. They require balancing power, range, data requirements, and certification pathways. Because we’ve tested HaLow in real deployments, we can advise clients not just on what’s possible,but on what actually works.

Wi-Fi HaLow is more than a new buzzword. It’s a practical, field-tested solution for IoT. And with the right engineering partner, companies can take advantage of its strengths while avoiding common pitfalls.