I have no idea how this works, but it's very cool.
Guerra decided to use Aguirre's home as the first location for new "Super WiFi" test gear being developed and tested at Rice. Instead of relying on traditional WiFi frequencies, the Super WiFi project downshifts the signal into an empty TV channel—in this case, channel 29, which has the additional virtue of having empty adjacent channels, as well.
The setup "actually works very well," says Guerra. The longest link he could make with existing point-to-point WiFi connections was 400-500 feet; with the new Super WiFi gear in the TV band, he can reach a mile—and it's not a point-to-point signal. Instead, the transmitter serves up a directional 60 degree beam, and anyone in its path can receive broadband service.
