Lithuanian wireless hardware maker 8devices has unveiled the Maca 2, a high-power wireless data radio designed for drone communications, robotics, and defense applications. The compact unit delivers up to 39 dBm of transmit power and achieves theoretical air-to-ground ranges of up to 80 km (50 miles), making it a brute-force alternative to low-power LoRa solutions for scenarios demanding high-bandwidth video feeds.
Rather than relying on spread-spectrum techniques, the Maca 2 concentrates its roughly 8 W of output power into ultra-narrow channel widths ranging from 1.5 MHz to 19.5 MHz, dramatically improving signal-to-noise ratio and resistance to interference. The 2x2 MIMO radio supports data rates up to 300 Mbps at 40 MHz bandwidth and operates across an extended 2152 to 2852 MHz frequency range. A configurable bandwidth asymmetry feature allows operators to allocate 90% of the channel to downstream video while reserving 10% for control inputs, which is particularly useful for unmanned aerial systems.
Under the hood, the Maca 2 runs on a Qualcomm QCA9531 SoC with 128 MB RAM and 32 MB flash. Connectivity includes dual 100 Mbps Ethernet ports, USB 2.0, UART, and programmable GPIOs, with power input accepting 14 to 33 V DC to support 4S through 7S battery packs. The unit measures just 7.3 x 4.7 x 2.3 cm (2.9 x 1.9 x 0.9 inches), weighs 74 grams (2.6 oz), and operates across an industrial temperature range of -40°C to +85°C (-40°F to +185°F). Manufacturing is NDAA and TAA compliant.
The device ships with Robosoft, an 8devices Linux-based platform featuring wireless unidirectional broadcast for improved link stability, frequency hopping to avoid interference, and optional Meshmerize integration for mesh networking with multi-path routing. Configuration is available through both a web GUI and command-line interface.
The Maca 2 is available for pre-order now in three variants: the standard enclosed unit, a development kit with antennas and power supplies included, and a no-enclosure version for compact integrations. Production is expected to begin in April 2026, though 8devices has not disclosed pricing.
