September 13, 2024- Sydney, Australia - Morse Micro, a leading fabless semiconductor company specializing in Wi Fi HaLow solutions, announced today that it has successfully utilized 900MHz Wi Fi HaLow to achieve a 16 kilometer (10 mile) video connection during on-site testing. This test marks that Wi Fi HaLow is pushing the limits of Wi Fi technology. Recently, Morse Microelectronics conducted a series of rigorous Wi Fi HaLow tests in Joshua Tree National Park in the United States. The park is renowned for its vast open space and extremely low radio frequency noise, providing an ideal environment for exploring the true performance of Morse Microelectronics' cutting-edge technology.

At the beginning of the test, Morse Microelectronics installed an evaluation kit as an access point (AP) at the edge of a peaceful valley. And the existing MM6108-EKH01 evaluation kit (available on Mouser's official website) was used, which includes a Raspberry Pi 4 with an MM6108-MF08651 Wi Fi HaLow reference module. This evaluation kit outputs a power of 21 dBm (125mW) through a standard 1 dBi low gain omnidirectional antenna, with a total equivalent radiated power of 22 dBm. I chose this kit because Morse Microelectronics aims to test extreme edge connections within Wi Fi HaLow coverage using standard equipment, which can be deployed in battery powered devices such as cameras. Morse Microelectronics did not intentionally use high gain directional antennas or extremely high output power, as this would limit on-site operability. Morse Microelectronics has also decided not to adjust the 802.11ah parameters to further expand the connection range, in order to maintain interoperability and the availability of Wi Fi Certified HaLow.

Searching for Limits: Calculating the Maximum Theoretical Range

To determine the limit, Morse Microelectronics calculated the maximum theoretical range based on the maximum operating time specified in the IEEE 802.11ah standard. Then, the maximum theoretical throughput of the range was calculated, taking into account the module output power, antenna gain, and free space path loss calculation. Using the Friis transmission equation, it is estimated that the signal loss will be 116 dB within a maximum range of 15.9 kilometers (approximately 10 miles).

Data analysis

In the video, it can be seen that Morse Microelectronics used the following formula to calculate the maximum coverage range:

Distance=speed x time

Wi Fi HaLow RF signals propagate at the speed of light, while the slot time specified in the IEEE 802.11ah specification followed by Morse Microelectronics chips is 52 μ s. Considering the subtle differences between devices, the maximum allowable running time achieved by Morse Microelectronics is 53 μ s. Therefore, the maximum theoretical range is 15.9 kilometers (approximately 10 miles).

It is worth noting that in order to provide reliable, compliant, and high-throughput connections, all Wi Fi technologies must comply with some limiting conditions that affect the maximum transmission range, such as slot time, CTS timeout, and ACK timeout. For Wi Fi HaLow, this maximum range limitation is clearly superior to any other Wi Fi technology.

Although theoretically, Wi Fi HaLow signals can propagate hundreds of kilometers away and be detected, the maximum range required by the IEEE 802.11ah standard is still limited by slot time parameters.

From Theory to Reality: Testing Throughput

Next, Morse Microelectronics calculated the theoretical throughput of the maximum transmission range. Using the MCS rate table and based on a signal strength of -94 dBm, it is expected that MCS2 can be achieved at 4 MHz (sensitivity=-95 dBm), providing a throughput of 4.5 Mbps or 4 Mbps UDP MAC throughput.

On site test results

In Joshua Tree National Park, which is close to ideal conditions, Morse Microelectronics achieved an astonishing 2 Mbps UDP throughput within a range of 15.9 kilometers (approximately 10 miles). This is not only about maintaining connectivity, but also about providing meaningful data rates to support practical applications. This technology can be applied to point-to-point communication for portable cameras, walkie talkies for outdoor exploration, IoT solutions for agriculture and mining, and other scenarios where transmission range and reliability are crucial.

The testing of Morse Microelectronics in Joshua Tree National Park shows that Morse Microelectronics' Wi Fi HaLow not only provides excellent data, but also offers true value in the most needed environments. This test demonstrates that Morse Microelectronics can achieve the maximum Wi Fi HaLow theoretical range while still providing excellent and usable throughput. Whether working in remote rural areas or deploying IoT solutions in vast regions, Wi Fi HaLow can continue to operate reliably.