When last we covered IoT connectivity and smart interoperability solutions provider Morse Micro (both here and on Smart City Sentinel, one of our sister sites), the company had announced a new capability; namely, the success of what it has called “the world’s first live demonstration of Wi-Fi CERTIFIED HaLow technology extending three kilometers” (i.e. just shy of two miles).
For context, the Morse Micro team staged this record-setting field test of a long-range video call in San Francisco’s Ocean Beach neighborhood to showcase the ability of sub-GHz Wi-Fi HaLow signals to reach long distances in challenging real-world conditions. The protocol’s unprecedented 3-kilometer range is enabled by Morse Micro’s Wi-Fi CERTIFIED HaLow system-on-chip (SoC) solution, which (as evidenced) offers powerful wireless capabilities for future IoT applications.
Today, we have additional Morse Micro/Wi-Fi HaLow-centric news, this time involving Silex Technology America Inc. (or Silex Technology, for short), a global provider of wireless networking solutions.
Together, Morse Micro and Silex Technology have now introduced a new industrial-grade Wi-Fi HaLow module for IoT applications:
The SX-SDMAH module.
This module combines Silex’s robust wireless features with Morse Micro’s MM6108 Wi-Fi HaLow SoC for maximized wireless range, coverage area and smarter power efficiency for compatible IoT devices.
Initial details include:
The SX-SDMAH module is designed with extended long range (i.e. more than 3 kilometers, which ties in Morse Micro’s aforementioned testing) and also features ultra-low power consumption for target applications including Wi-Fi HaLow access points, gateways, Ethernet wireless bridges, Wi-Fi extenders, IP cameras, 3D scanners, GNSS receiver, vehicle telemetry devices, and high-end sensors.
A more in-depth look at the module (borrowed from the official announcement) includes:
- Sub-GHz 802.11ah Wi-Fi HaLow radio module operating in the 902-928 MHz bands for the U.S. and Canada, with superior penetration of physical barriers
- Long-distance wireless connectivity with 3 km+ range and large network capacity
- 1/2/4/8 MHz channel bandwidth support
- Up to 32.5 Mbps PHY bit rate
- Transmission power of +24 dBm
- Access point and station mode
- SDIO/SPI interface for Linux OS and SPI for FreeRTOS
- Advanced security features including WPA3 and Wi-Fi Enhanced Open
- Surface mount small form-factor module: 17 mm x 18 mm x 2.65 mm with integrated MHF-1 antenna connector
- Industrial temperature range of -40 ºC to +85 ºC
“We’re proud to partner with Morse Micro to deliver next-gen Wi-Fi HaLow modules that will enable Wi-Fi CERTIFIED HaLow products for the growing global demand for long-range, low-power IoT connectivity,” said Satoru Kumashiro, Senior Product Manager at Silex Technology America. “Morse Micro is advancing the Wi-Fi HaLow market with best-in-class Wi-Fi HaLow SoCs that can extend the wireless connectivity of IoT devices to three kilometers, well beyond the reach of conventional Wi-Fi.”
“Silex is a pacesetter in wireless module solutions for the expanding IoT ecosystem, and we are delighted to partner with them in developing the new SX-SDMAH module,” said Phillip Kumin, SVP of Worldwide Sales and Business Development at Morse Micro. "Our collaboration will accelerate time-to-market and simplify the development process for a wide range of IoT products based on the Wi-Fi HaLow IEEE 802.11ah standard. Together, we’re building momentum for Wi-Fi HaLow as the long-range protocol for IoT connectivity."
Edited by
Greg Tavarez
