New WiFi HaLow Devices Hit 1.5 km in Range Tests — and Could Fundamentally Change Regional Connectivity

WiFi HaLow has the range to solve one of rural Australia's most persistent infrastructure problems — dead signal in sheds, outbuildings, and across open paddocks. The technology has existed for years. What has been missing is hardware that a non-technical property owner can actually install themselves. TX-E, an Australian hardware maker based in regional Victoria, is making a direct attempt to close that gap.

Getting a working internet connection into outbuildings has long been one of the more stubborn problems in rural infrastructure. Standard WiFi tops out at tens of metres through walls and open air. Point-to-point bridges require technical setup and precise alignment. Running cable is expensive and often impractical across large properties. The result is that sheds, workshops, granny flats, and outbuildings on most rural properties remain effectively offline — or connected through compromised workarounds.

WiFi HaLow, the 802.11ah standard operating in the sub-1 GHz band, was designed to address exactly this class of problem. Its longer wavelength allows it to travel further and penetrate obstacles more effectively than standard 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz WiFi. HaLow-capable hardware has been available for several years, but until now it has largely remained the domain of network engineers and IoT developers — the setup complexity alone has placed it out of reach for most property owners.

TX-E's approach is to change that. Its devices run purpose-built embedded firmware rather than the OpenWRT Linux platform used by competing HaLow hardware, and the entire product is designed around a single principle: anyone should be able to install it without technical knowledge.

Setup in Minutes, No Technical Knowledge Required

Most existing HaLow hardware runs OpenWRT — a Linux-based networking platform that, while functional, assumes a level of technical familiarity that most property owners simply don't have. Configuring a wireless uplink, changing default settings, or troubleshooting a dropped connection means navigating a router admin interface that is not designed for a non-technical user.

TX-E configuration is handled through a browser-based setup tool — plug the device into any computer via USB, open a browser, and a web configurator walks through the process. No networking knowledge, no router IP address, no command line. Once configured, there is no ongoing management — firmware updates are delivered through the same web interface.

Boot time reflects the same philosophy. TX-E devices are operational in under five seconds from cold power-on, compared to approximately 60 seconds for OpenWRT-based hardware loading a full Linux operating system. For a device in a remote outbuilding that loses power during a weather event and needs to recover automatically, that difference matters.

The Range Test

TX-E's newly published range test puts real throughput numbers behind the technology. The TX-E Connect - Outdoor was mounted as a base station at four metres height, broadcasting a HaLow hotspot across open ground. Two client devices — the TX-E Connect - Indoor, designed for fixed installation in sheds and outbuildings, and the portable TX-E Roam — were tested at increasing distances out to 1,500 metres.

Connect - Indoor held at 2.9 Mbps symmetrically at the full 1,500-metre mark — sufficient to sustain a video call, a security camera stream, and routine web use simultaneously. TX-E notes the test was limited by the available site rather than device capability. For property-wide connectivity — IoT sensors, gate controllers, weather stations, and security cameras across open ground — the results suggest a single base station could cover most working properties without secondary hardware.

Full throughput figures are published on the TX-E Knowledge Hub.

Built for Australian Conditions

TX-E hardware is rated from -20°C to +75°C. Most competing HaLow devices carry a 0°C to +40°C rating — the same thermal envelope as a standard home router. Corrugated iron sheds in direct Australian summer sun routinely exceed 60°C internally, and alpine regions regularly drop well below freezing overnight. For hardware installed permanently in an uncontrolled outdoor environment, the difference is significant. The Connect - Outdoor is also specified for low power draw, making it practical for solar and battery installations at locations away from mains power.

Market Context

The TX-E product range — Connect - Outdoor, Connect - Indoor, and Roam — is currently available as a limited sample run ahead of full production, with a three to four week lead time from order.

WiFi HaLow adoption remains in early stages globally, with most hardware targeting developer and industrial IoT markets. TX-E's bet is that removing the setup barrier — through embedded firmware, app-based configuration, and hardware built for outdoor Australian conditions — is what finally makes the technology accessible to the property owners who need it most.

If the range test results translate to field performance, the case for WiFi HaLow as a practical DIY solution to shed and property connectivity becomes considerably stronger.

TX-E products are available at tx-e.com.au/shop.