esphome
Support for halow: Component (Wi-Fi HaLow™) for Long-Range ESPHome Devices via SPI
Describe the problem you have/What new integration you would like
I would like to propose the development of a halow: component in ESPHome to support Wi-Fi HaLow™ (IEEE 802.11ah) modules, such as the Alfa Networks AHST7394S based on the NRC7394 chipset, the Quectel/Silex based on the Morse Micro MM8102/MM6108, or many other modules suppliers with a Halow chip. This component would enable long-range, low-power ESPHome setups using a declarative YAML interface, similar to the existing wifi: and ethernet: components.
Please describe your use case for this integration and alternatives you've tried: This feature would be especially useful for smart rural and outdoor deployments where long-range, low-power wireless connectivity is needed. Wi-Fi HaLow™ provides significantly better coverage in areas where traditional 2.4/5 GHz Wi-Fi struggles.
There are currently no off-the-shelf options in ESPHome for using HaLow™ over SPI. LoRa, Zigbee, or cellular solutions are alternatives, but each comes with trade-offs in bandwidth, cost, or complexity. HaLow™ offers a clean, IP-native solution—if the ESP-IDF stack can support a SPI interface to the module.
Additional context
This feature depends on a lower-level host-side SPI transport driver being developed by Espressif in ESP-IDF. I have submitted a formal request to Espressif for this here:
https://github.com/espressif/esp-idf/issues/16037
Once such a driver is available (likely interfacing via esp_netif), ESPHome can build a halow: component on top of it, reusing much of the structure from wifi: or ethernet: components.
Community members interested in contributing or testing this new component are invited to join the discussion. This preparatory request aims to outline feasibility and gather support while the driver layer is under consideration.
A draft architecture and diagram have also been shared to illustrate the stack.
This feature depends on a lower-level host-side SPI transport driver being developed by Espressif in ESP-IDF. I have submitted a formal request to Espressif for this here: espressif/esp-idf#16037
FYI, the latest ESPHome 2025.5.0 also added a new Packet Transport feature that supports UDP Component and UART Bus transports:
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https://esphome.io/components/packet_transport/
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https://esphome.io/components/udp
- https://esphome.io/components/uart
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While it is primarly meant for allowing ESPHome nodes to directly communicate with each over a communication channel I guess it could also be used as a more generic transport mechanism if you for example port that into an Arduino library for the HaLow MCU?
- https://github.com/esphome/esphome/tree/dev/esphome/components/packet_transport
Note that HaLow chipsets are very cheap - one meant for a Seeed Studio Xiao is only 14 USD, and a mPCIe card for a PC to actr as an AP is the same price. This shouldn't have a problem with hardware availability.
