Yes, a Helium miner needs Wi-Fi to connect to the Internet. A miner can also be connected to the Internet using Ethernet. The miner needs a continuous, un-interrupted connection to the Internet so it can do its job.
Why does a Helium Miner need Wi-Fi?
A Helium miner has three main activities:
- transmit beacons to other miners
- listen for beacons (witnessing) from other miners
- transfer data from Helium IoT devices
When a miner (A) is able to successfully hear a beacon from another miner (B), we can say that A has witnessed B. Every beacon contains a small amount of data.
Helium miners also collect data from IoT devices like sensors and tags. Once data from IoT and other miners is collected, the miner sends it to the Helium network using Wi-Fi.
As can be seen in the block diagram above, a miner collects data from LoRa sensors. This data has to be transferred to the Helium network. Wi-Fi is the bridge between the miner and the larger Helium network.
Most miners use either 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz Wi-Fi. However there are exceptions like the Bobcat or older Nebra miners that use only 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much data does a Helium Miner use per month?
A Helium miner can use as much as 150 GB per month. Most of this data has to do with the blockchain. With the move to light hotspots some time in 2022, the amount of data will drop significantly.
What is the difference between LongFi and Wi-Fi?
Communication between Helium Miners and IoT sensors uses LongFi. This is a wireless communication protocol designed to transmit only small amounts of data. LongFi is a combination of both LoRa and the Helium blockchain. It is specifically designed for IoT systems.
By contrast Wi-Fi is used to send large amounts of data associated with movies, web conferencing and more.
Ethernet vs Wi-Fi
A Helium hotspot can be connected to the Internet using either Wi-Fi or Ethernet. An Ethernet connection is more reliable compared with Wi-Fi. Both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi can be impacted by RF interference and this can result in an unstable connection. Ethernet by comparison is a cabled connection and very stable.
Read this post if you’re experiencing issues connecting your miner to Wi-Fi
Can I use a Wi-Fi 6 router for Helium?
Yes, as most Wi-Fi 6 routers will support the 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz IEEE 802.11 ac or 802.11 a/g/n standards that are in miners today.
How much Wi-Fi does Helium Use?
A Helium miner uses up to 150 GB per month. That averages out to approximately 60 kilobytes per seconds (kB/s).