NRC7394 - Wi-Fi HaLow 802.11ah SoC | Newracom | IoT Connectivity
MPN: NRC7394 ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $5.5 | $5.50 |
| 10 | $5.1 | $51.00 |
| 100 | $4.6 | $460.00 |
| 500 | $4.2 | $2,100.00 |
| 1,000 | $3.85 | $3,850.00 |
NRC7394 Overview
A Wi-Fi HaLow SoC is a highly integrated wireless semiconductor that combines an IEEE 802.11ah MAC/baseband with an RF transceiver and host processing functions. IEEE 802.11ah, marketed as Wi-Fi HaLow, extends the familiar Wi-Fi protocol stack down into sub-1 GHz license-exempt bands, trading raw throughput for roughly ten times the range of conventional 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and dramatically lower power draw. In the wireless connectivity hierarchy, it sits between short-range Wi-Fi/Bluetooth and LPWAN technologies such as LoRa, offering IP-native networking with mesh and star topologies.
Key features of the NRC7394 include support for 802.11ah SISO operation with channel bandwidths suitable for low-data-rate, long-range links; operation across the 750-950 MHz regional sub-GHz bands; and low power consumption suited to battery-operated sensors. Its ability to address thousands of concurrent devices per access point makes it well matched to dense sensor deployments where conventional Wi-Fi infrastructure cannot scale.
The SoC architecture integrates the RF transceiver, modem, MAC, and processor subsystem in a single die, reducing bill-of-materials count and board area relative to discrete radio-plus-MCU designs. Newracom supplies host-mode software packages for Linux through its public software repository, enabling integration with gateway and access-point platforms. The device is also the basis of certified modules such as the Murata Type 2HK (LBWA0ZZ2HK), which packages the chipset with matching network and antenna interface for rapid deployment.
Typical applications include smart building sensor networks, smart-city infrastructure, industrial monitoring, agricultural telemetry, and campus-wide access control, where long range, wall penetration, and massive device counts are the deciding criteria. The sub-GHz band provides superior propagation through walls and foliage compared with 2.4 GHz solutions.
When designing with the NRC7394, verify the regulatory channel plan for your target region within the 750-950 MHz range, and follow the manufacturer reference design for RF matching and crystal layout to pass regulatory certification on the first attempt.
This page synthesizes verified distributor data, product-brief specifications, pricing tiers, design notes, and application guidance not found together on the manufacturer datasheet.
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Request AlternativesNRC7394 Specifications
| Wireless Standard | IEEE 802.11ah (Wi-Fi HaLow) |
| Frequency Range | 750 MHz to 950 MHz |
| Radio Configuration | SISO |
| Product Type | Wireless SoC |
| Max Devices per Network | 8000 devices |
| Host Interface Software | Linux host-mode software package |
| Package | QFN-48, 6x6 mm with exposed pad |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
NRC7394 qfn-48, 6x6 mm with exposed pad Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for NRC7394 (qfn-48, 6x6 mm with exposed pad package). Pin numbering, functions, and connection diagrams are defined in the manufacturer datasheet. Refer to it for the exact footprint and soldering guidelines.
No detailed pinout data available for NRC7394.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
NRC7394 is suitable for 6 applications: Smart Building Sensor Networks, Smart City Infrastructure, Industrial Monitoring and Automation, Agricultural Telemetry, Access Control and Campus Security, Wi-Fi HaLow Access Points and Gateways.
Smart Building Sensor Networks
The NRC7394 fits smart building deployments because its sub-1 GHz 802.11ah link propagates through concrete walls and multiple floors where 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi fails, and a single access point can associate up to 8,000 sensors - far beyond practical 2.4 GHz capacity of a few hundred stations. In a typical topology the SoC sits inside battery-powered occupancy, temperature, and air-quality sensors communicating with a Linux gateway over Wi-Fi HaLow. Because 802.11ah is IP-native, sensor data flows directly onto the building IT network with standard Wi-Fi security tooling, eliminating proprietary hubs. Low power consumption extends battery life in sensors that wake, report, and sleep, and the QFN-48 6x6 mm package keeps the radio section compact on small sensor PCBs.
Recommended
Smart City Infrastructure
Smart-city assets such as streetlight controllers, parking sensors, and environmental monitors are dispersed over hundreds of meters to a kilometer - the operating envelope of the NRC7394's 750-950 MHz Wi-Fi HaLow link. A single 802.11ah access point using the NRC7394 can aggregate thousands of street-level endpoints, dramatically reducing backhaul infrastructure compared with cellular IoT subscriptions. The SoC connects to a Linux host in each city gateway via the official nrc7394_sw_pkg software, which presents a standard network interface for municipal management platforms. Because sub-GHz signals resist foliage and rain attenuation better than 2.4 GHz, year-round link reliability in outdoor street furniture is a quantifiable advantage over conventional Wi-Fi silicon.
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Industrial Monitoring and Automation
In factories, the NRC7394's sub-GHz Wi-Fi HaLow signal penetrates metal racking and machinery shadow zones that defeat 2.4 GHz radios, enabling wireless retrofit of vibration, current, and thermal sensors on rotating equipment without new cabling runs. Its support for 8,000 devices per network lets one plant-wide access point serve thousands of condition-monitoring nodes. The IP-based 802.11ah stack integrates with existing SCADA and historian systems through standard networking, and the Linux host-mode software package simplifies gateway development on industrial Linux controllers. Battery-powered sensors benefit from the SoC's low power consumption, and the RoHS-compliant QFN-48 package meets industrial environmental requirements.
Recommended
Agricultural Telemetry
Farms require connectivity across open fields, greenhouses, and orchards where the NRC7394's 750-950 MHz band outperforms 2.4 GHz: sub-GHz signals travel hundreds of meters and pass through crop canopy and irrigation equipment with far less attenuation. Soil-moisture probes, weather stations, and gate controllers report over 802.11ah to a central gateway at data rates adequate for telemetry, while consuming little power from solar-charged batteries. A single Wi-Fi HaLow access point covers an entire mid-size operation and supports thousands of endpoints for future sensor expansion. The IP-native protocol lets growers reuse standard cloud dashboards and MQTT tooling instead of proprietary LPWAN platforms, reducing integration cost.
Recommended
Access Control and Campus Security
Electronic locks, readers, and emergency call points across a campus benefit from the NRC7394's combination of long range, wall penetration, and massive station count: one access point can serve a full building of up to 8,000 credential devices, and the sub-GHz link reaches through stairwells and basements where 2.4 GHz coverage is expensive to add. Because 802.11ah is part of the Wi-Fi family, enterprise security frameworks and certificate-based authentication tooling carry over, supporting audit requirements in security-critical deployments. Battery-powered smart locks draw on the SoC's low power consumption to achieve multi-year operation, and the Linux host software eases integration with existing access-control servers over standard IP networks.
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Wi-Fi HaLow Access Points and Gateways
The NRC7394's primary infrastructure role is as the radio inside 802.11ah access points and routers. Paired with a Linux gateway processor and running Newracom's nrc7394_sw_pkg host software, the SoC operates in AP mode, aggregating up to 8,000 downstream IoT clients. The integrated SISO transceiver and MAC offload reduce host CPU load, and the 750-950 MHz coverage lets one gateway replace multiple 2.4 GHz repeaters in large facilities. Designers should follow the Newracom reference design for RF matching and crystal layout and configure the correct regional channel plan to pass regulatory certification. The RoHS-compliant QFN-48 6x6 mm exposed-pad package supports standard reflow assembly on gateway PCBs.
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Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for NRC7394 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Key Differentiators
- Massive device capacity per network (vs Conventional 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi SoCs)
- Sub-1 GHz range and penetration (vs 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi silicon)
- Integrated single-die SoC architecture (vs Discrete RF transceiver + MCU designs)
Design Notes
Follow the Newracom NRC7394 reference design exactly for the RF matching network between the SoC and antenna, and for crystal and loop-filter component placement. Sub-1 GHz front ends are sensitive to layout parasitics; keep the RF trace 50 ohm controlled impedance, short, and routed away from switching regulators. Verify the regulatory channel plan (750-950 MHz regional allocations) before certification, as permitted bands and power limits differ by country. Using the Murata Type 2HK module instead of a discrete design removes RF layout risk and provides pre-certified radio performance.
The QFN-48 6x6 mm exposed pad is the main ground and thermal path - connect it to a solid ground plane with an array of thermal vias (typically 4x4) directly under the pad. Place 100 nF decoupling capacitors within 2 mm of each supply pin, plus bulk capacitance near the package. Keep the crystal within a few millimeters of its pins with guard ground traces. This layout practice preserves the 802.11ah phase-noise performance on which sub-GHz sensitivity depends and simplifies regulatory spurious-emission compliance.
Two frequent integration mistakes: (1) designing around the older NRC7292 pinout and assuming compatibility - the NRC7394 uses a different package and pin map, so designs must be redone from the NRC7394 reference design; (2) skipping regional band-plan validation, since the 750-950 MHz range spans different regulatory domains and an incorrect channel configuration will fail certification. Also budget for the Linux host software integration early: download nrc7394_sw_pkg from Newracom's GitHub and confirm your gateway processor and kernel version are supported before finalizing the hardware platform.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliance confirmed via JLCPCB component listing (part flagged ROHS in QFN-48_6X6-EP4.3 package). Other compliance statuses not stated in verified data.
