IEEE 802.11af vs 802.11ah: Key Differences Explained

This article explains the key differences between IEEE 802.11af and 802.11ah, two standards within the IEEE 802.11 Wireless LAN family. Both standards aim to address the growing demand for M2M (Machine-to-Machine) applications and to alleviate data congestion on cellular networks.

Both 802.11af and 802.11ah operate in the sub-1GHz frequency spectrum, enabling long-range communication with low power consumption. Let’s delve into the major distinctions between these two versions and provide resources for further exploration. Keep in mind that 11af generally offers a greater coverage distance compared to 11ah. Both standards can deliver data rates of approximately 600 Mbit/s.

IEEE 802.11af

Here are the main characteristics of IEEE 802.11af:

• Frequency Band: 54 to 790 MHz
• Bandwidth: 6, 7, 8 MHz
• Modulation type: BPSK to 256 QAM
• Channel Architecture: SC, OFDM
• Maximum Data Rate: 26.7 Mbps
• Coverage range: Greater than 1 Km
• Max. transmit power: 100 mWatt

IEEE 802.11ah

The key features of IEEE 802.11ah are as follows:

• Frequency Band: 900 MHz
• Bandwidth: 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 MHz
• Modulation type: BPSK to 256 QAM
• Channel Architecture: SC, OFDM
• Maximum Data Rate: 40 Mbps
• Coverage range: About 1 Km
• Max. transmit power: 100 mWatt