New long-range Wi-Fi HaLow router hits the market for less than $100, up to 10-mile connectivity

[Skye Jacobs]

TL;DR: Morse Micro has introduced the MM-HL1-EXT, a Wi-Fi HaLow router that promises to advance long-range, low-power communication. This device, part of the HaLowLink 1 series, uses the IEEE 802.11ah Wi-Fi HaLow standard to achieve connectivity ranges of up to 10 miles in rural areas and 1.86 miles in urban environments.

The MM-HL1-EXT sets itself apart from conventional Wi-Fi routers by operating in the 900MHz band in the U.S. while also supporting 2.4GHz Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n). This dual-band capability allows the router to function as a standalone access point or an extender, improving connectivity in hard-to-reach areas.

At the heart of the HaLowLink 1 is the MediaTek MT7621A dual-core CPU, complemented by 256MB of DRAM and 32MB of NAND flash storage. The radio module features Morse Micro's MM6108 chipset alongside AzureWave AW-HM593, delivering a transmission power of up to 23 dBm for stable, long-range performance.

The router's connectivity options are equally impressive, with two Gigabit Ethernet ports and support for Ethernet-over-USB. Power and data transmission over Ethernet are facilitated through a USB-C port. Running on the open-source and customizable OpenWrt 23.05 networking platform, the HaLowLink 1 supports online firmware updates, making it adaptable to future needs.

While the HaLowLink 1's Wi-Fi HaLow speeds max out at 32Mbps using an 8MHz bandwidth, its Wi-Fi 4 capability supports speeds of up to 300Mbps at 40MHz bandwidth. This versatility makes it suitable for a wide range of IoT and industrial applications.

In harsh industrial settings, two HaLowLink 1 units can be deployed as a wireless alternative to outdoor and remote installations, effectively replacing Ethernet cabling.

The MM-HL1-EXT has already received certifications for use in North America (FCC), Canada (IC), and Australia (RCM), with Morse Micro actively working to secure certifications for EMEA (868MHz) and Asia.

The MM-HL1-EXT is now available on Mouser for approximately $99. Stock is currently limited, but more units are expected to be available by April 14, 2025. Larger bulk orders have an estimated factory lead time of eight weeks.

Morse Micro's journey in developing Wi-Fi HaLow technology spans nearly a decade. The company demonstrated router hardware capable of providing 2-mile coverage for months while running on coin batteries in tests conducted in February 2024. By September, that range had increased to 10 miles. At CES 2025 in January, Morse Micro showcased Wi-Fi routers capable of delivering 250Mbps over a 10-mile radius.

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New long-range Wi-Fi HaLow router hits the market for less than $100, up to 10-mile connectivity

 

[human7]

Pretty neat! Nice to see it relatively cost effective, too!

 

[Underdog]

10 mile connectivity!
I would be delighted with a range of 50 feet, to get from my router in the house to my workshop.

 

[bviktor]

Pretty pointless (pun intended). You're better off with a point-to-point solution and then a local powerful WiFi 6/7 AP at the ends.

The Unifi airMAX LiteBeam 5AC has a range of 15 km and 450 Mbps throughput, 59 EUR / piece. I use it to share my internet sub with my other apartment nearby, works great.

 

[Inthenstus]

Just bought one, have a park half a mile from my house I’d love good service at. But now that I think of it, I guess my device would need to support this band. Hmm.

 

[sreams]

Pretty pointless (pun intended). You're better off with a point-to-point solution and then a local powerful WiFi 6/7 AP at the ends.

Where I might use this, there is no power at the other end of the "point-to-point", so this absolutely has a point.

 

[Puiu]

Pretty pointless (pun intended). You're better off with a point-to-point solution and then a local powerful WiFi 6/7 AP at the ends.

The Unifi airMAX LiteBeam 5AC has a range of 15 km and 450 Mbps throughput, 59 EUR / piece. I use it to share my internet sub with my other apartment nearby, works great.

This offers a full radius in an easy to use package that doesn't require multiple endpoints (that also need a power plug)

Now... god knows that the actual speeds will be with multiple devices connected at above 5km.

 

[YouShallNotPass]

I wonder if there will be health concern if those RF radiation get overlapped many times due to the extended range.

 

[Skully]

I don't have a need for it. But I'm sure this could be a godsend for some folks if it works as well as advertised.

 

[birthdaymonkey]

I wonder if there will be health concern if those RF radiation get overlapped many times due to the extended range.

We are constantly bathed in non-ionizing radiation from natural and artificial sources. No measurable negative health effects have ever been demonstrated in a real study. There are also these things called radio stations that operate at even greater ranges (lower Hz and much higher power) that have been around for a hundred years without causing any ill health outcomes.

 

[Peculiar]

I wonder if there will be health concern if those RF radiation get overlapped many times due to the extended range.

Interesting question actually. Given how cheap these routers are, I can see future metropolises having millions of them as every Joe will want their wifi everywhere they go.

 

[mbk34]

I could see a use for this in my local park where lots of folk like to sit in the summer and either browse or remote work. What I don't understand is how their devices could communicate with a router that's 10 miles away.

 

[justfreeandsane]

I too was initially quite excited by this product, but then after doing more research found out that only HaLow‑enabled devices can communicate at that 10‑mile distance, and most smartphones and laptops aren’t equipped for HaLow. HaLow is designed primarily for IoT, industrial, and specialized applications, so likely these wont be used by everyone in big cities for their home wifi causing massive amounts long range signals anytime soon.

 

[Puiu]

I too was initially quite excited by this product, but then after doing more research found out that only HaLow‑enabled devices can communicate at that 10‑mile distance, and most smartphones and laptops aren’t equipped for HaLow. HaLow is designed primarily for IoT, industrial, and specialized applications, so likely these wont be used by everyone in big cities for their home wifi causing massive amounts long range signals anytime soon.

Probably for the better