Morse Micro HaLowLink 2 gateway ships with OpenWrt, Wi-Fi HaLow up to 1km

Morse Micro's HaLowLink 2 gateway has reached general availability through distributors including Seeed Studio, Mouser Electronics, and DigiKey, priced from $129. The device runs OpenWrt 23.05 on a MediaTek MT7621 processor and integrates the MM8108 Wi-Fi HaLow radio, which replaces the previous MM6108 while maintaining software compatibility with the original HaLowLink.

The gateway targets applications requiring extended wireless range by operating in the sub-1GHz frequency band, with specified line-of-sight reach up to 1km and PHY data rates reaching 43.3Mbps on 8MHz channels. Dual-radio architecture pairs the HaLow backhaul with a MediaTek MT7603E 2.4GHz 802.11n radio for local client connectivity, plus dual Gigabit Ethernet ports for wired devices.

Hardware architecture and wireless configuration

• SoC and main radio: MediaTek MT7621 processor paired with Morse Micro MM8108 Wi-Fi HaLow radio via AzureWave AW-HM677 module, replacing the MM6108 from the first-generation HaLowLink.
• Channel configuration: MM8108 supports selectable bandwidths of 1, 2, 4, and 8MHz with MCS levels 0-10; maximum 43.3Mbps PHY rate requires 8MHz channel width.
• Secondary connectivity: MediaTek MT7603E provides 2×2 802.11n at 2.4GHz through internal antennas, enabling local Wi-Fi client access independent of the HaLow backhaul.
• Physical interfaces: Dual Gigabit Ethernet ports, USB-C for power and Ethernet data, SMA antenna connector for HaLow, mode-selection button; 5V/2A power, 88×68×24mm, 102g.
• Software stack: OpenWrt 23.05 with HTTPS web interface, SSH (disabled by default), three operating modes (router/AP/extender), EasyMesh and beta IEEE 802.11s mesh support; mesh unavailable in EU/UK due to regulatory restrictions.

Why it matters

The HaLowLink 2 represents a rare commercial product combining open-source router firmware with Wi-Fi HaLow, giving network administrators and IoT deployers a vendor-supported platform that remains modifiable through OpenWrt's standard toolchain. Regional variants for six markets with appropriate transmit power limits suggest Morse Micro is treating this as a production-ready platform rather than a development kit, potentially accelerating adoption of IEEE 802.11ah in industrial sensing, agricultural monitoring, and remote infrastructure where conventional Wi-Fi range proves insufficient.