Researchers have developed a hybrid technology that combines Wi-Fi with Long Range technology (LoRa). The so-called WiLo would be particularly interesting for Internet of Things applications.
“Today’s Wi-Fi networks still have too many problems with long-distance communication and excessive power consumption,” said university professor Demin Gao in IEEE Spectrum. LoRa, on the other hand, does have the ability to operate at long distances with limited consumption. The technology is often used in Internet of Things applications, such as networks of long-range sensors used in agriculture or cities.
WiLo combines the two communication protocols to get the maximum benefit from both without having to use additional devices. In tests indoors and outdoors at various distances up to 500 meters, the WiLo technology was successful 96 percent of the time.
Not for commercial use for now
In principle, WiLo already works perfectly on existing routers, but that capability is limited by the mandatory emulation of wifi signals. Through emulation, the researchers manipulate the frequency of data transmission via wifi. This way, it matches the frequency of the long-distance network, because only in this way can wifi devices communicate over long distances.
The major drawback is that Wi-Fi devices have to handle normal communication and that signal emulation at the same time. That causes high spikes in power consumption. Only after addressing and optimizing that stumbling point can they make the technology publicly available.
“To commercialize WiLo, more optimization of energy consumption, data rates and resilience to interference is needed,” Gao said. “The next steps in our development will ensure that the system meets industry standards and that security measures are established for communication with different technologies.”
Long-distance Wi-Fi is on the rise. Recently, Morse Micro set a new Wi-Fi distance world record of a whopping 15.9 kilometers with HaLow technology. It achieved a speed peak of 2 Mpbs. HaLow long-range technology is designed for large outdoor locations with little range. Who knows, maybe one day WiLo will also go on to set a world record.
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