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Morse Micro introduced its second-generation MM8108 Wi-Fi HaLow system-on-chip at CES 2025, claiming class-leading reach alongside a peak data rate of 43.33 Mbps. That rate is specified for 256-QAM (MCS9) over an 8 MHz channel; it is not a promise of that speed at the chip’s maximum range. The MM8108 is an embedded component for product developers, not a ready-to-use consumer router. Its “longest reach” positioning is a vendor claim, and practical range depends on the radio configuration, antenna, regulations, and surroundings.
What Morse Micro launched
On January 8, 2025, at CES in Las Vegas, Morse Micro announced the MM8108, its second-generation SoC for Wi-Fi HaLow, the Wi-Fi Alliance name for IEEE 802.11ah. The chip is intended for IoT products that need more reach than conventional Wi-Fi can typically provide while supporting richer data traffic than many low-rate sensor links. The company’s launch announcement describes use cases spanning agriculture, mining, industrial automation, homes, and city infrastructure. Morse Micro’s CES 2025 announcement presents the MM8108 as a step forward from its earlier MM6108.
The headline figures are a maximum PHY data rate of 43.33 Mbps with sub-GHz 256-QAM/MCS9 over an 8 MHz channel, an integrated 26 dBm power amplifier (PA), and a 5 × 5 mm BGA package. The launch materials also list USB, SDIO, and SPI host interfaces. These are chip capabilities, not guaranteed application-level performance or authorization to transmit at a particular power in every market. Microwave Journal’s MM8108 summary and All About Circuits’ coverage and interview report the launch specifications.
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What Wi-Fi HaLow does differently
Wi-Fi HaLow is based on IEEE 802.11ah and operates in sub-1 GHz spectrum, with the specific frequencies available depending on the country. Compared with the 2.4, 5, or 6 GHz bands used by familiar Wi-Fi, lower-frequency signals can generally travel farther and pass through some obstacles more effectively. The actual result still depends on the building materials, antenna placement, interference, and link configuration.
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- ENHANCED TRANSMISSION POWER: The V2 upgrade features an increased transmission power of 27±1 dBm, providing a more stable and robust connection for demanding industrial and smart city applications compared to standard modules.
- EXTENDED LONG-RANGE CONNECTIVITY: Designed for expansive IoT deployments, this module delivers reliable data transmission ranges of up to 1-2km, ensuring effective coverage for remote monitoring, rural internet access, and large-scale asset management.
- POWER-EFFICIENT IEEE 802.11ah STANDARD: Built specifically for battery-operated devices, the 802.11ah protocol enables deep sleep and idle states with minimal wake-up frequency, significantly extending the operational life of your remote sensors and devices.
- VERSATILE MINI PCIE INTEGRATION: The standard Mini PCIe interface ensures seamless compatibility and easy integration into your existing hardware, PCB designs, or legacy equipment upgrades, making it an ideal choice for quick development cycles.
- FLEXIBLE CHANNEL BANDWIDTH: Supporting channel bandwidth options of 1/2/4/8 MHz, this module offers a single-stream maximum data rate of up to 32.5 Mbps, allowing you to balance speed and distance requirements for your specific project needs.
HaLow is not simply ordinary Wi-Fi with a stronger transmitter. Its range and power characteristics reflect the frequency band, channel width, radio design, receiver performance, and power-management behavior together. The MM6108 supports 1, 2, 4, and 8 MHz channel widths; the MM8108 launch’s 43.33 Mbps headline rate is tied specifically to 8 MHz operation. HaLow retains Wi-Fi-style infrastructure and client networking and supports security features including WPA3, but ordinary 2.4/5/6 GHz Wi-Fi phones and laptops do not automatically connect to a HaLow-only network. A gateway or dual-radio system may be needed to bridge networks. Morse Micro’s Wi-Fi HaLow SoC overview describes its product family.
MM8108 specifications and what the figures mean
| Item | Reported MM8108 detail | How to read it |
|---|---|---|
| Wireless standard | IEEE 802.11ah / Wi-Fi HaLow | Sub-1 GHz Wi-Fi for IoT; regional band rules vary. |
| Peak data rate | Up to 43.33 Mbps at 256-QAM/MCS9 on an 8 MHz channel | A peak PHY rate, not guaranteed application throughput or a long-range speed. |
| Transmit amplifier | Integrated 26 dBm PA | A chip specification; finished-product output and EIRP must meet local rules. |
| Receive amplifier | Integrated low-noise amplifier (LNA) | Supports the receiver chain; system results still depend on the full RF design. |
| Host interfaces | USB, SDIO, and SPI | Gives product designers several host-integration options. |
| Package | 5 × 5 mm BGA | Compact package size does not remove board-layout or antenna requirements. |
| Security | WPA3, including SAE; GCMP is also reported in launch coverage | Security implementation and configuration remain part of the finished product. |
| Evaluation hardware | MM8108-RD09 USB dongle reference design and MM8108-EKH19 evaluation kit | Development hardware, not automatically a production-ready network product. |
The PA is a notable integration feature: Morse Micro says it can reduce the need for external RF components in some designs. All About Circuits reports a 26 dBm output figure at 325 mA from a 3.3 V supply and describes the amplifier architecture as a digital power amplifier using a Doherty configuration, polar modulation, and digital pre-distortion. Those are interview-derived technical details, not independent measurements of every implementation. An integrated PA also does not eliminate RF layout, filtering, shielding, antenna matching, thermal design, or product certification work.
How MM8108 differs from MM6108
The MM8108 is an evolution of Morse Micro’s first-generation MM6108, rather than a new wireless standard. Its headline throughput is higher, the PA and LNA are integrated, USB joins SDIO and SPI as a host interface, and the smaller package and host-offload features are intended to ease product integration. The precise comparison is bounded by the published specifications: Morse Micro’s MM6108 data sheet documents its own maximum rate and interfaces, while MM8108 figures come from launch coverage.
Rank #2
- Long-Range WiFi HaLow Module for IoT – 1km+ Coverage, 32.5Mbps Speed: This WiFi HaLow (802.11ah) module features Mini PCIe interface, delivering long-range wireless connectivity up to 1-2km (LOS) and high-speed data transfer (32.5Mbps @ 8MHz). Operating in the Sub-1GHz band (902-928MHz), it ensures stable, low-interference transmission for IoT, smart homes, industrial automation, and remote monitoring. Ideal for battery-powered devices, it reduces power consumption with advanced sleep modes, extending battery life.
- IEEE 802.11ah Certified – Low Power, High Efficiency for IoT Devices: Certified for WFA HaLow (802.11ah), this module supports 1/2/4/8MHz channel bandwidths and 21dBm max output power for reliable performance. Its ultra-low-power design minimizes energy use with hibernate/wake modes, perfect for sensors, asset trackers, and smart agriculture. Built with enterprise-grade security, it ensures secure, encrypted communication for sensitive IoT applications.
- Mini PCIe Interface – Easy Integration & Expansion Board Support: The compact Mini PCIe form factor (50.95x30mm) enables seamless integration into embedded systems, gateways, and industrial PCs. Includes expansion boards for quick prototyping and testing. With wide operating temps (-40°C~85°C) and humidity resistance, it’s built for harsh environments like outdoor surveillance, smart cities, and automation.
- Versatile IoT Connectivity – Smart Home, Industrial & Long-Range Solutions: This WiFi HaLow module enables seamless IoT connectivity across multiple applications with its 1km+ range and 32.5Mbps speed. Perfect for smart home automation, industrial control systems, and rural network deployments, it bridges WiFi HaLow with traditional networks for remote cameras, sensors, and gateways. Supports asset tracking, legacy device upgrades, and network blind spot coverage, making it ideal for low-power, wide-area IoT solutions.
- Reliable Performance – Wide Voltage, Robust Security, Global Compliance: Powered by MM6108IQ chipset and 3.3V supply, it delivers stable connectivity with OFDM PHY/MAC support. Features industrial-grade durability (-40°C~85°C) and anti-interference design for mission-critical systems. Complies with global IoT standards, ensuring compatibility with HaLow-certified devices.
| Specification | MM6108 | MM8108 |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum reported rate | 32.5 Mbps at MCS7, 64-QAM, 8 MHz, with a 4 μs guard interval; MM6108 data sheet | 43.33 Mbps at MCS9, 256-QAM, 8 MHz; MM8108 launch materials |
| Frequency information | 850–950 MHz operating range stated in the data sheet | Specific operating range not stated in the cited MM8108 launch specifications |
| Channel widths | 1, 2, 4, and 8 MHz; MM6108 data sheet | 8 MHz is specified for the launch’s 43.33 Mbps figure |
| Transmit amplification | 8 dBm on-chip output, with external PA or FEM options; MM6108 data sheet | Integrated 26 dBm PA, as reported in launch materials |
| Host interfaces | SDIO 2.0 and SPI; MM6108 data sheet | USB, SDIO, and SPI; MM8108 launch materials |
| Power and security features | Target Wake Time, WPA3, protected management frames, and additional power modes are documented | WPA3-related support is reported in launch coverage; comparable detailed power-mode specifications are not stated in the cited launch materials |
The MM6108 figures above come from its data sheet. The comparison shows why the MM8108’s higher peak rate should not be read as a like-for-like guarantee of greater range or battery life: modulation, output configuration, and product conditions matter.
What “longest reach” means—and what it does not
Morse Micro’s “longest reach” language is a vendor performance claim, not a universal, independently established range record. A distinct, earlier milestone is the company’s January 23, 2024 announcement of a 3-kilometer Wi-Fi HaLow video-call demonstration in San Francisco’s Ocean Beach neighborhood, using MM6108-based production silicon. That demonstration does not establish the MM8108’s range, nor does it guarantee that a different product will reach 3 km. Morse Micro’s demonstration announcement describes the event; it is not a standardized comparison across all competing radios and deployment conditions.
Range must be considered alongside the data rate and reliability a use case needs. The MM8108’s 43.33 Mbps figure uses a high-order modulation scheme and an 8 MHz channel. As signal conditions worsen, a Wi-Fi link generally has to use a more robust, lower-rate mode to maintain communication. A link that carries a small sensor message over a long distance is not equivalent to one that sustains video at that distance.
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- Wi-Fi HaLow Long-distance Transmission: Compliant with IEEE 802.11ah standard. It operates on Sub-GHz band to achieve stable long-range wireless communication for IoT projects.
- Standard Mini PCIe Form Factor: Adopts universal Mini PCIe interface. The standardized module design supports convenient embedded installation for custom gateway hardware.
- Optional Raspberry Pi HAT Base Board: Two versions available, standalone module or module matched with Raspberry Pi HAT. The base enables plug-and-play use on Raspberry Pi series boards.
- Optimized Low Power Design: Supports multiple energy-saving sleep modes. Suitable for battery-powered sensing devices and long-term unattended field monitoring equipment.
- Wide Range of IoT Applications: Perfect for diversified scenarios, including smart agriculture, environmental monitoring, industrial data collection and remote wireless gateway development.
- Regulations: Country-specific spectrum rules, permitted transmit power, channel widths, antenna gain, and emissions limits constrain the finished system.
- Antennas and installation: Antenna type, height, orientation, polarization, cable loss, ground plane, and placement can materially affect link budget. A metal enclosure can severely undermine performance.
- Path and environment: Line of sight, terrain, buildings, foliage, reinforced concrete, underground locations, and metal structures all influence propagation. Sub-GHz operation may help with obstacles, but does not make them irrelevant.
- Interference and reliability: Other sub-GHz equipment, retransmissions, and the required packet-delivery reliability affect the usable link.
- Power and rate: Transmitting at higher power uses more energy, while longer or more demanding links may require lower data rates. Battery life depends on duty cycle, sleep behavior, transmit power, and the rest of the device.
Where an MM8108-based link may fit
HaLow is most compelling when a site needs local wireless coverage over a broader area than conventional Wi-Fi typically provides, while still carrying more data than occasional, tiny telemetry messages. Potential settings include agricultural fields, mines, industrial yards, utility sites, remote infrastructure, smart-city deployments, building automation, and distributed cameras.
Morse Micro also names multiple Ultra HD 4K cameras as a target application. That is an application claim, not evidence that a deployed link will sustain several 4K streams at long range. Camera systems need sustained application throughput and must account for protocol overhead, interference, retransmissions, contention, and rate adaptation. Capacity needs to be validated for the actual camera bitrates, topology, and RF conditions.
Solar-powered or battery-operated sensors may benefit from HaLow’s power-management options, but “low power” alone does not establish a battery-life figure. A product team needs to measure the complete device under its expected sleep, receive, transmit, and application workload.
Rank #4
- Wi-Fi HaLow Standard: Complies with IEEE 802.11ah, operating in the 902–928 MHz band for superior wall and obstacle penetration.
- Long-Range Coverage: Delivers connectivity up to 1 km, making it ideal for smart home, industrial, and large-scale IoT deployments.
- High-Capacity Connections: Supports hundreds of simultaneous device connections to a single access point for scalable IoT networks.
- Advanced Security: Features robust encryption with AES, SHA-256, SHA-384, SHA-512, and WPA3 for secure data transmission.
- Mini-PCIe Form Factor: Industry-standard interface enables easy integration into embedded and industrial systems with minimal footprint.
How HaLow compares with other connectivity choices
| Option | Often a better fit when… | Trade-off to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Conventional Wi-Fi | Devices are within established Wi-Fi coverage, need high short-range throughput, or must work with a broad base of consumer clients. | HaLow may better suit widely distributed IoT nodes, but ordinary Wi-Fi devices are not automatically HaLow clients. |
| LoRaWAN | Messages are small and infrequent, very low device power is the priority, or an existing wide-area LoRaWAN network is available. | HaLow offers higher potential throughput and better fit for richer payloads, firmware updates, or video; it is not automatically the better choice for tiny telemetry. |
| Wi-SUN | A large field-area network, utility deployment, or mesh coverage is central to the design. | HaLow may suit higher-rate Wi-Fi-style IoT traffic; network scale and mesh requirements can favor Wi-SUN. |
| Cellular IoT | Carrier coverage and managed wide-area backhaul matter more than operating a local network. | HaLow can give a site local infrastructure control and avoid cellular subscriptions, but requires the owner to deploy and maintain local connectivity. |
| Ethernet or fiber | Predictable sustained throughput, latency, and interference immunity are essential. | HaLow can avoid cabling in mobile, remote, or difficult-to-wire locations, at the cost of wireless variability. |
The decision turns on payload size, latency, range, duty cycle, gateway density, power budget, network ownership, and the local regulatory environment—not range alone.
What developers can evaluate
At launch, Morse Micro said the MM8108 SoC and two evaluation options were available for sampling and evaluation. That is not the same as broad retail availability or a finished, managed network product.
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- MM8108-RD09: A USB dongle reference design for evaluating HaLow connectivity and integration approaches.
- MM8108-EKH19: An evaluation kit reported to include the MM8108 USB dongle, a Raspberry Pi 4B, power supply, and antenna.
- Custom SoC design: Offers control over product size and integration, but requires RF engineering, drivers and host integration, antenna design, and finished-product compliance work.
The launch announcement does not provide durable public pricing for these evaluation products. Teams should confirm current sampling, distributor access, software support, and regional availability with Morse Micro’s chip information or its sales channels. A reference design or evaluation kit is a development platform, not automatically a certified production device.
Quick Recap
What to validate before choosing it
- Set the link requirement: Define the distance, line-of-sight conditions, required reliability, and application throughput together. Distinguish sensor telemetry from control, updates, images, or video.
- Check the local radio rules: Confirm the allowed band, channel width, transmit power, antenna gain, and finished-product certification requirements for each deployment country.
- Budget power from the workload: Estimate sleep, receive, and transmit time at the intended output power, then verify battery or solar capacity against the real duty cycle.
- Choose the network architecture: Decide whether the system needs an access point and multiple stations, a bridge to Ethernet or conventional Wi-Fi, or another topology. Do not assume HaLow provides mesh or consumer-router behavior without confirming the supported design.
- Test the installation: Evaluate the actual antenna, enclosure, mounting height, obstacles, interference, and traffic mix. Record both usable throughput and packet reliability at the required distance.
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