Plug-in long-range Wi-Fi is making extended connectivity easier to add to existing devices as Morse Micro introduces two Wi-Fi HaLow USB Dongle Reference Designs. Powered by the company’s MM8108 SoC, the dongles can provide native IP connectivity at distances of up to one kilometer. The MM8108-RD09 supports routers, access points and computers through compatible drivers, while the MM8108-RD17 appears as a standard Ethernet interface, allowing devices including industrial computers, robotics, tablets and phones to connect without host driver installation.
For Morse Micro, the reference designs could accelerate Wi-Fi HaLow adoption by reducing the need for manufacturers and service providers to develop entirely new connected hardware. Existing routers and devices can instead gain longer-range connectivity through USB integration. This approach could lower development barriers while expanding potential applications across industrial automation, large properties and IoT deployments where conventional Wi-Fi coverage may be limited.
Image Credit: Morse Micro
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Plug-in Connectivity
- USB-based networking modules create a faster path for legacy hardware to gain modern wireless capabilities without full device redesigns.
- Long-range Iot
- Kilometer-scale Wi-Fi HaLow access expands connected sensing and automation across factories, farms, campuses and large properties where standard Wi-Fi is constrained.
- Driverless Device Integration
- Ethernet-emulating dongles reduce compatibility friction by allowing diverse devices to access extended wireless networks through familiar interfaces.
Sectors Adopting This
- Industrial Automation
- Extended wireless links support flexible machine monitoring, robotics coordination and sensor deployment in facilities where cabling and conventional Wi-Fi coverage are limiting factors.
- Telecommunications
- Service providers gain new potential to extend IP connectivity across hard-to-reach sites using add-on hardware rather than purpose-built infrastructure.
- Smart Property Management
- Large residential, commercial and agricultural properties can benefit from simplified network expansion for security systems, environmental sensors and connected maintenance tools.
