Morse Micro announced two Wi-Fi HaLow USB dongle reference designs built on its MM8108 system-on-chip. The company says the designs are meant to enable long-range Edge AI connectivity through a simple USB connection.
The two designs are MM8108-RD09 and MM8108-RD17. Wi-Fi HaLow networks provide native IP connectivity at ranges of up to one kilometer.
RD09 targets routers, access points, and client drivers
The MM8108-RD09 reference design provides native Wi-Fi HaLow connectivity for access points and station products. Morse Micro says OpenWRT drivers are available to enable Wi-Fi HaLow on existing routers and access points with a USB interface.
For client devices, the company says native Windows and Linux drivers are available, along with a macOS application.
RD17 avoids host-side driver installs
The MM8108-RD17 design allows Wi-Fi HaLow integration into client products without installing drivers on the host. When plugged in, the dongle appears as a standard CDC-NCM Ethernet interface to the host.
The design is intended for industrial computers, robotics, point-of-sale terminals, tablets, and Android- or iOS-powered phones. Devices can be authenticated via Wi-Fi Easy Connect using a pairing button.
Access is limited to tier-1 customers
Morse Micro says the MM8108-RD09 and MM8108-RD17 schematics and software are available to tier-1 customers through its sales contacts. The company did not disclose broader availability terms.
Read for device and router teams
For router vendors and device makers, the key detail is that Morse Micro is packaging Wi-Fi HaLow for USB-based integration rather than a fresh host software stack. That lowers the integration burden in the way the company describes it, but the release still limits the schematics and software to tier-1 customers.