Sub-GHz Wireless Communication Unveiled: Optimal Choice for Low Power and Long-Range Transmission

Sub-GHz wireless communication technology, with its advantages of low power consumption, strong penetration, and long transmission range, has become an ideal choice for a wide range of applications. From smart metering to remote monitoring, and from agricultural IoT to smart cities, Sub-GHz technology is quietly underpinning the communication foundation of the Internet of Everything.

What is Sub-GHz Wireless Communication?
Sub-GHz refers to wireless communication frequency bands below 1 GHz, primarily including 433 MHz, 470 MHz, 868 MHz, and 915 MHz. Compared to the 2.4 GHz band, Sub-GHz has longer wavelengths and lower attenuation, making it more suitable for long-distance, low-bandwidth data transmission.

Common Sub-GHz communication protocols include: LoRa, Sigfox, and Sub-GHz Wi-Fi

Sub-GHz wireless communication also offers the following advantages:
In terms of power consumption, Sub-GHz can reduce transmission energy consumption due to the favorable propagation characteristics of lower frequencies.
In terms of transmission distance, Sub-GHz supports communication over several kilometers or even tens of kilometers, reducing infrastructure deployment costs and meeting the networking needs of large-scale, wide-area IoT applications.
In terms of communication quality, operating in lower frequency bands means Sub-GHz experiences less interference, ensuring more stable and reliable communication.

Within the Sub-GHz wireless communication field, LoRa and FSK are two of the most widely used modulation technologies.
LoRa is a long-range communication technology based on spread spectrum modulation. It combines digital signal processing with forward error correction coding, offering advantages such as long transmission distance, low power consumption, strong anti-interference capability, and high communication reliability—making it particularly suitable for low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) applications in the IoT field.
FSK (Frequency Shift Keying), on the other hand, is a modulation method that transmits data by shifting the frequency of the carrier signal. It features high data rates and strong anti-interference performance, making it more suitable for short-distance, high-speed data transmission scenarios.

In the Sub-GHz wireless communication domain, NiceRF LoRa1120 and LoRa1121 modules are two standout products, both of which have achieved remarkable success and recognition in the field.

Key Features of the LoRa1120 Communication Module

Multi-band support for flexible communication:
The LoRa1120 supports Sub-GHz bands (433/470/868/915 MHz), 2.4 GHz, and S-band (1.9 GHz–2.2 GHz) for satellite communication, enabling greater flexibility in wireless deployment.

Low-power positioning technology:
With integrated GNSS and Wi-Fi scanning, the module can intelligently switch positioning methods depending on the scenario. This allows for continuous positioning while maintaining low power consumption—ideal for battery-sensitive applications.

Hybrid multi-system positioning support:
The LoRa1120 is compatible with both GPS and BeiDou systems. By leveraging GNSS and Wi-Fi collaborative positioning, it enhances both accuracy and acquisition speed, delivering higher stability for IoT devices in complex environments.

Seamless terrestrial and satellite communication:
The module supports seamless switching between ground-based and satellite networks. Positioning calculations are performed through the LoRa Cloud platform, enabling efficient, cloud-assisted location services.

LoRa1121 Series Wireless Communication Module
The LoRa1121 is an ultra-low-power long-range LoRa transceiver that supports Sub-GHz, 2.4 GHz, and satellite S-band connections. It is compatible with LoRa, (G)FSK, and LR-FHSS modulation schemes, and supports both LoRaWAN and Sigfox protocols.

With extremely high receiver sensitivity and configurable transmit power, the LoRa1121 achieves stable communication distances of over 5 kilometers in open environments. The module integrates ESD protection and encryption features, and adopts a compact stamp-hole package, making it easy to embed in various terminal devices. It is particularly well-suited for wireless applications that demand low power consumption and high reliability.

Conclusion
With its unique frequency advantages and outstanding communication performance, Sub-GHz wireless communication is becoming a solid foundation for large-scale IoT deployments. From communication principles and core modulation technologies to the real-world performance of flagship modules, LoRa1120 and LoRa1121 exemplify the power of Sub-GHz technology in long-range, low-power applications, while also showcasing its broad potential in multi-scenario and hybrid network environments.

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