Method and apparatus for communicating in sub-1 GHz bands according to the IEEE 802.11ac, IEEE 802.11ah and IEEE 802.11af standards

摘要

A first network device including a radio frequency (RF), baseband, and medium access control (MAC) modules. The RF module: based on a predetermined primary mode, selects a first band from bands including a sub-1 GHz, IEEE 802.11ah, and IEEE 802.11af bands; in the first band, receives a radio or intermediate frequency signal; and converts the radio or intermediate frequency signal to a baseband signal. The baseband module: based on the primary mode, selects a secondary mode and a first bandwidth from multiple bandwidths, where the secondary mode has a corresponding data rate and the bandwidths include a bandwidth downclocked from an IEEE 802.11ac or 1 MHz bandwidth; receives the baseband signal from the RF module, where the baseband signal has the first bandwidth; and based on the baseband signal, outputs a frame included in the baseband signal. The MAC module receives the frame from the baseband module at the data rate.