Wi-Fi Modules
Simplify your wireless development with an embedded Wi-Fi™ module
Connecting your product to the internet through Wi-Fi™ integration is simplified with the use of pre-certified Wi-Fi™ modules from LSR. The modules' pre-certified design, small footprint, and rich features make them perfect for network applications such as smart energy, home monitoring, sensor networks, and home entertainment control.
The TiWi-C-W is the first module designed as a part of the TiWiConnect™ platform. This stand-alone WLAN (IEEE 802.11 b/g/n) module provides a powerful solution for customers looking for a simple and fast way to embed Wi-Fi for cloud-connectivity within their products. The TiWi-C-W module's breadth of capabilities ensures a straight-forward integration with your product design, acting as a pre-loaded cloud agent for the TiWiConnect™ platform.
TiWi-SL, which features TI’s Simplelink™ technology, enables 802.11. b/g communication in a single FCC/IC/CE certified module. The only industrial-temp rated module based on Texas Instruments' WiLink 6.0 technology, TiWi-SL also offers the best radio performance at 20 dBm WLAN output power and up to -89 dBm receiver sensitivity.
TiWi-BLE, along with its dual-band counterpart TiWi5, have set the standard for pre-certified Wi-Fi™ + Bluetooth® module performance. Optimized to work with an external microprocessor, the TiWi-BLE module provides the fastest path to adding 2.4 GHz wireless capability to your product. For specialized applications or settings, the TiWi5 provides the additional capability of communicating in the 5 GHz band. With TiWi-C-W, TiWi-SL, TiWi-BLE and TiWi5, LSR has your wifi module needs covered!
- Size: 10.5 mm x 10.5 mm x 1.35 mm
- Host Interface: UART
- Development Architecture: Integration directly into M3 processor, or simple integration over UART interface to external microcontrollers or microprocessors
- Industrial Temp Range: -40 to +85 °C
- Certifications: FCC, IC, CE
- Continue reading about the TiWi-C-W Wi-Fi Module: 802.11 b/g/n WLAN Module
- Size: 14 mm x 21 mm x 2.3 mm
- Host Processor Requirements: Microcontroller or microprocessor with a serial port (SPI) + 6 KB Flash, 3KB RAM, utilizing TI’s CC3000 SimpleLink™ technology to provide Wi-Fi functionality directly on the module
- Host Interface: SPI
- Industrial Temp Range: -40 to +85 °C
- Certifications: FCC, IC, CE
- Continue reading about the TiWi-SL Industrial Wi-Fi Module
Wi-Fi + Bluetooth Modules
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Size: 10 mm x 10 mm x 1.2 mm (SIP)
- Hardware Interfaces: Dev Board with SD card form factor for simple connectivity with Freescale i.MX 6 and other platforms
- Industrial Temp Range: -40 to +85 °C
- Certifications: FCC, IC, ETSI, Giteki, RCM
- Continue reading about the Sterling-LWB Wi-Fi + Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) Module
Size: 15.5 mm x 21 mm x 2 mm (U.FL)
- Size: 18 mm x 13 mm x 1.9 mm
- Host Interface: SDIO
- Host Processor Requirements: Microprocessor to run WLAN TCP/IP stack
- Industrial Temp Range: -40 to +85 °C
- Hardware Interfaces: SDIO (WLAN), UART, and Advanced Audio Interface (Bluetooth®)
- Certifications: IC, ETSI, Giteki, FCC Bluetooth Grant, FCC WLAN Grant, SAR Testing, SAR Testing EU
- Continue reading about the TiWi-BLE Bluetooth + Wi-Fi Module
- Size: 18 mm x 13 mm x 1.9 mm
- Host Processor Requirements: Microprocessor to run WLAN TCP/IP stack
- Hardware Interfaces: SDIO (WLAN), UART, and Advanced Audio Interface (Bluetooth®)
- Industrial Temp Range: -40 to +85 °C
- Certifications: FCC, IC, CE
- Continue reading about the TiWi5 Bluetooth + Wi-Fi WLAN 802.11 a/b/g/n Module
- Technology: The Wi-Fi module uses Qualcomm Atheros AR6003 - supports IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n and the Bluetooth module uses the CSR8510 Bluetooth chip
- Bluetooth Interface: CSR CSR8510 Bluetooth 4.0 dual-mode (EDR+BLE)
- Chip Set: Atmel 400 MHz ARM 9, P/N AT91SAM9G25-CU
- Certifications: FCC, IC, CE
- Continue reading about the 45 Series on Lairdtech.com
- Technology: 802.11r + CCKM support for rapid roaming and true TX/RX Diversity with 2x2 MIMO
- Bluetooth Version: Bluetooth v2.1 with EDR, Bluetooth 4.0 (Bluetooth Low Energy)
- Chip Set: Wi-Fi: Qualcomm Atheros QCA6004. Bluetooth: Cambridge Silicon Radio Ltd. (CSR) CSR8811 A08
- Certifications: FCC, IC, ETSI, Giteki, RCM
- Continue reading about the 50 Series on Lairdtech.com
Wi-Fi Module Selection Guide
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Description |
Stand-alone 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi module with ARM Cortex-M3 apps processor |
Wi-Fi SPI interface with embedded firmware, drivers, and TCP/IP stack |
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Frequency Band |
2.4 GHz |
2.4 GHz |
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Host Processor Requirements |
Development Architecture: Integration directly into M3 processor, or simple integration over UART interface to external microcontrollers or microprocessors |
Microcontroller or microprocessor with a serial port (SPI) + 6 KB Flash, 3KB RAM |
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Hardware Interfaces |
UART |
SPI |
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Size (mm) |
10.5 mm x 10.5 mm x 1.35 mm |
14 mm x 21 mm x 2.8 mm |
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Antenna |
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Certifications |
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Wi-Fi + Bluetooth Module Selection Guide
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Description |
2.4 GHz Wi-Fi with Bluetooth 2.1+ EDR, BLE 4.1 |
Wi-Fi with Bluetooth 2.1+ EDR, BLE 4.0 and ANT+ |
Wi-Fi with Bluetooth 2.1+ EDR, BLE 4.0 and ANT+ |
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Frequency Band |
2.4 GHz |
2.4 GHz |
2.4 and 5.8 GHz |
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Host Processor Requirements |
Microprocessor to run WLAN TCP/IP stack |
Microprocessor to run WLAN TCP/IP stack |
Microprocessor to run WLAN TCP/IP stack |
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Hardware Interfaces |
SDIO (WLAN) and UART (Bluetooth®) |
SDIO (WLAN), UART, and Advanced Audio Interface (Bluetooth®) |
SDIO (WLAN), UART, and Advanced Audio Interface (Bluetooth®) |
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Size (mm) |
10 mm x 10 mm x 1.2 mm (SIP) |
13 mm x 18 mm x 1.9 mm |
13 mm x 18 mm x 1.9 mm |
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Antenna |
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Certifications |
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(All pending.)Your Wi-Fi Design Strategy Impacts FCC Certification Costs & Effort
In the US, any product that transmits data wirelessly must comply with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The FCC sets the standards for EMC performance for any Wi-Fi-enabled product, and you cannot sell or market your product in the US until the proper certification and approval has been received.
However, the amount of time, cost, and engineering effort involved in certifying your new wireless product to meet these standards can vary significantly based on your design strategy! Let’s look at 3 options and the differences in certification costs:
In this scenario, your design would integrate a Wi-Fi radio (typically an IC) directly into the circuitry of your product design, along with whichever type of antenna you choose to utilize. In this case, you would be responsible for having both Intentional Radiation and Unintentional General Emissions testing performed on your product at an accredited lab in order to meet FCC requirements.
| Intentional Radiation | General Emissions | |
| Product Model 1 | $6-9K | $1-3K |
| Product Model 2 | $6-9K | $1-3K |
| Product Model 3 | $6-9K | $1-3K |
| Total Cost: $7-12K per Product Model | ||
If you are looking to use the same wireless technology across your line of new products, you can reduce certification costs and effort by changing your design strategy. You would first design a Wi-Fi module and then use that same module across the entire product line. This “Single Modular Approval” approach spares you the cost of the Intentional Radiation testing for each product in the line. Note that the FCC has numerous requirements that must be satisfied to qualify for this Single Modular Approval, and you would need to invest additional engineering time and costs (in addition to the certification efforts) to develop such a module on your own.
| Modular Design | $6-9K | ||
| Product Model 1 | $1-3K | ||
| Product Model 2 | $1-3K | ||
| Product Model 3 | $1-3K | ||
| Total Cost: $6-9K for Certification + $1-3K per Model | |||
For many manufacturers with annual volumes of under 100,000 units, the most cost effective solution is to utilize a commercially-available Wi-Fi module instead of designing their own. If your design properly utilizes a certified module and the appropriate antenna, then all that is required for FCC certification is the Unintentional General Emissions testing of the end product. This saves you not only the cost of the Intentional Radiation testing, but the significant design costs and risks of integrating a Wi-Fi radio directly into your design.
| Certified Module | $0 | ||
| Product Model 1 | $1-3K | ||
| Product Model 2 | $1-3K | ||
| Product Model 3 | $1-3K | ||
| Total Cost: $1-3K per Product Model | |||
FCC Certification is required to market and sell any wireless product in the US. In many cases, utilizing a commercially-available certified Wi-Fi module is the best design strategy to minimize the overall cost, time, and effort that goes into completing this critical milestone in your product development.