![You, too, can add long-range WiFi to your laptop using this new dongle solution. (Credit: Ben Jeffrey)](https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/wifi_802.11ah_distance_laptop_setup_thumb.jpg?w=400)
The 802.11ah WiFi (HaLow) standard is a fairly new standard that was only introduced in 2017. When measuring bandwidth, it is thought to fall somewhere between the standard WiFi used in homes and offices, and the longer range but lower bitrates of LoRaWAN, ZigBee, etc. Megabits per second. In a recent video, [Ben Jeffery] Learn about currently available 802.11ah chipsets and some products that integrate them.
The main vendors selling these chipsets are TaiXin Semiconductor (TXW8301), Morse Micro (MM6108), and Newracom (NRC7394), and various manufacturers sell modules that integrate them. Some products using these include [Ben] found an Ethernet range extender kit (pictured) that uses a 12V input as a power source along with Ethernet. I ran some distance tests in a quarry and found that I could receive a strong signal at 300 meters without any problem, but adding some trees between the two transceivers attenuated the signal somewhat .
Another interesting product [Ben] What was tested is essentially an 802.11ah-based WiFi extender that creates an 802.11ah link between a server node with an Ethernet socket and a client with a standard 2.4 GHz 802.11n that most WiFi-enabled devices can connect to. Use the. Using this, he was able to provide a stable link of about 10 Mbps through his two exterior walls to a shed near the main house (about 10 meters). What makes 802.11ah so interesting is that it is directly compatible with standard Ethernet and his WiFi protocols and uses the 900 MHz spectrum. Therefore, a wide range of alternative antennas exist that can further extend the range.
(thanks to [Keith Olson] For tip)