$100 Wireless Router With 10-mile Range Introduced

Wireless technology company Morse Micro has released the MM-HL1-EXT Wi-Fi HaLow router, which provides long-range wireless data transmission with low power consumption. The device is part of the HaLowLink 1 series of products and uses the IEEE 802.11ah Wi-Fi HaLow standard to transmit data up to 10 miles (16 km) in rural areas and up to 1.86 miles (3 km) in urban areas.

Image source: Morse Micro

The MM-HL1-EXT differs from regular Wi-Fi routers in that it operates in the sub-gigahertz range of 900 MHz in the US, which allows data to be transmitted over such long distances. However, this standard is not supported by most devices, but for them the new product supports the traditional 2.4 GHz range and the Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) standard. Support for two frequency ranges allows the router to function as a standalone access point, as well as a signal amplifier, improving the connection in hard-to-reach places.

The MM-HL1-EXT is powered by a dual-core MediaTek MT7621A processor, complemented by 256 MB of RAM and 32 MB of NAND flash memory. The device is equipped with a Wi-Fi HaLow AzureWave AW-HM593 module, which provides it with a transmission power of up to 23 dBm for stable operation over a long distance. The router is equipped with two Gigabit LAN ports and supports Ethernet-over-USB (power and data transfer via Ethernet are carried out via the USB-C port). The new product uses the open and customizable OpenWrt 23.05 network platform. Thanks to this, the MM-HL1-EXT supports online firmware updates, which makes it adaptable to future needs.

Wi-Fi HaLow delivers data rates up to 32 Mbps using 8 MHz bandwidth. In Wi-Fi 4 mode, the router supports speeds up to 300 Mbps using 40 MHz bandwidth. This versatility makes it suitable for a wide range of IoT and industrial applications. In harsh industrial environments, two HaLowLink 1 units can be deployed as a wireless alternative to outdoor and remote installations, effectively replacing a wired network.

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

The MM-HL1-EXT retails for around $99. Supplies are currently limited, but the manufacturer promises to increase them by April 14. Larger wholesale orders for the MM-HL1-EXT will have to wait up to eight weeks to be fulfilled.

Morse Micro has been developing Wi-Fi HaLow technology for nearly a decade. Early last year, the company demonstrated successful data transmission over a distance of nearly 3 km using the technology, using just a pair of button batteries to power the router. By September of that year, the transmission range had been increased to nearly 10 miles. At CES 2025 in January of this year, the company showed off Wi-Fi routers capable of transmitting data at 250 Mbps over distances of up to 10 miles.