RN171
2.4 GHz IEEE Std. 802.11 b/g Wireless LAN Module
Features:
• Complete, Embedded 2.4 GHz IEEE 802.11 b/g
Wireless LAN Module
• 14 General Purpose Input/Output (GPIO) Pins
(Four GPIOs shared with UART)
• Eight Analog Sensor Inputs
• Small Surface-Mount Module: 1.050” x 0.700” x
0.125” (26.67 mm x 17.78 mm x 3.18 mm)
• Integrated Crystal, Internal Voltage Regulator,
Matching Circuitry, Power Amplifier
• Integrates Easily into Final Product – Minimizes
Product Development, Provides Quicker Time to
Market
• Configured using Simple ASCII Commands
• Networking:
- Supports Infrastructure and SoftAp
Networking Modes
- Built-in Networking Applications: TCP, UDP,
DHCP, DNS, ICMP, ARP, HTTP Client, and
FTP Client
- Complete On-Board TCP/IP Networking
Stack
- Unique MAC Address
- Upgrade Firmware Over the Air using FTP
- Supports Wi-Fi
®
Protected Setup (WPS)
FIGURE 1:
RN171 MODULE
Media Access Control (MAC)/Baseband
Features:
• Security: WEP-128, WPA-PSK (TKIP),
WPA2-PSK (AES)
Operational:
• Operating Voltage: 3.3V (typical)
• Temperature Range: -40C to +85C Industrial
• Low-Current Consumption:
- Rx mode: 40 mA
- Tx mode: 120 mA at 0 dBm
- Sleep: 4 µA
Power Management:
•
•
•
•
Ultra Low-Power Sleep Mode (4 uA)
Perfect for Portable Battery Operated Devices
Battery Boost Control Circuitry
Real-Time Clock for Time Stamping, Auto-Sleep,
and Auto-Wake
RF/Analog Features:
• Frequency: 2.412 to 2.462 GHz
• Modulation:
- 802.11b Compatibility: DSSS (CCK-11,
CCK-5.5, DQPSK-2, DBPSK-1)
- 802.11g: OFDM
- Receive Sensitivity: -83 dBm Typical
- Power Output: 0 to +12 dBm
Antenna:
• External Antenna Connection via RF Pad
• Certified Antenna Types: Chip, Whip, PCB Trace,
and Wire
Over-the-Air Data Rate:
• 1-11 Mbps for 802.11b
• 6-54 Mbps for 802.11g
Compliance:
• Modular Certified for the United States (FCC) and
Canada (IC)
• European R&TTE Directive Assessed Radio
Module
• Australia, New Zealand, Korea, Taiwan
Applications:
•
•
•
•
Remote Equipment Monitoring
Telemetry
Industrial Sensors
Home Automation
2014-2016 Microchip Technology Inc.
DS70005171B-page 1
RN171
Table of Contents
1.0 Device Overview .............................................................................................................................................................................. 3
2.0 Circuit Description (Hardware Interface) .......................................................................................................................................... 9
3.0 Application Information................................................................................................................................................................... 11
4.0 Regulatory Approval....................................................................................................................................................................... 15
5.0 Electrical Characteristics................................................................................................................................................................ 21
Appendix A: Revision History............................................................................................................................................................... 23
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DS70005171B-page 2
2014-2016 Microchip Technology Inc.
RN171
1.0
DEVICE OVERVIEW
The RN171 is a standalone, embedded 802.11 b/g
Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) module. The
module incorporates an on-board TCP/IP networking
stack, cryptographic accelerator, power management
subsystem, real-time clock, versatile sensor interface,
2.4 GHz transceiver, and RF power amplifier (see
Figure 1-1).
With the RN171, designers can embed
Wi-Fi and networking functionality rapidly into virtually
any device.
The RN171 provides cost and time-to-market savings
as a self-contained internet-enabling solution. The
module has been designed to provide designers with a
simple Wi-Fi solution that features:
•
•
•
•
•
Ease of integration and programming
Vastly reduced development time
Minimum system cost
Long battery life
Maximum value in a range of applications
The module has a small form factor, which makes it
easy to integrate. Additionally, the module is compati-
ble with standard pick-and-place equipment.
The RN171 is ideal for a vast range of applications that
require long battery life, moderate processing power,
moderate data throughput and occasional Wi-Fi
connectivity, such as:
•
•
•
•
•
Real-Time Locationing Systems (RTLS)
Industrial and home automation
Health and fitness monitoring
Telemetry
Security
Additionally, the module is perfect for mobile wireless
applications such as asset monitoring and sensor
applications.
The RN171 can independently maintain a low-power
wireless network connection. Ultra-low power usage
and flexible power management maximize the mod-
ule’s lifetime in battery-operated devices. A wide oper-
ating temperature range allows use in indoor and
outdoor environments (industrial temperature range).
When operating in Sleep mode, the module minimizes
battery usage while still being able to respond to certain
events, including internal timers and events on the sen-
sor interfaces. Applications that make efficient use of
the sleep state can extend battery life to multiple years.
The RN171 has modular device approval for operation
in the United States (FCC) and Canada (IC). The
RN171 module is an R&TTE Directive assessed radio
module for operation in Europe.
The RN171 is configured with a simple ASCII com-
mand language. The “WiFly
Command Reference,
Advanced Features and Applications User's Guide”
(DS50002230) contains a complete listing and
instructions of the ASCII command interface.
In the simplest configuration, the module requires only
power, ground, and UART TX and RX connections.
The RN171 module can interface to low-cost microcon-
trollers using only two wires, UART TX and RX.
The RN171 has a versatile sensor interface that can be
used to monitor analog signals such as temperature,
audio, motion, and acceleration.
FIGURE 1-1:
RN171 BLOCK DIAGRAM
RN171
External
Antenna
2.4 GHz
TX/RX
128-KB
RAM
2.4-GHz
Radio
32-Bit
CPU
2-MB ROM
Flash
Memory
Timers
SPI
GPIO
UART
VDD IN
VDD BATT
2-KB NVM
802.11 b/g
MAC/PHY
2.4-GHz
PA
Crypto-
accelerator
SPI
ADC
Power
Management
GPIO
Sensor Interface
SDIO
2014-2016 Microchip Technology Inc.
DS70005171B-page 3
RN171
1.1
ASCII Command & Data Interface
1.2
Interface Description
The “WiFly
Command Reference, Advanced Features
and Applications User's Guide”
(DS50002230) pro-
vides a complete description of the ASCII command
and data interface for the RN171 module.
Figure 1-1
shows the RN171 pin diagram.
Figure 1-3
shows the microcontroller to RN171 interface.
Table 1-1
describes the RN171 pins.
FIGURE 1-2:
RN171 PIN DIAGRAM
RN171
(Top View)
FIGURE 1-3:
MICROCONTROLLER TO RN171 INTERFACE
MCU
RN171
TX
RX
RTS
CTS
RX
TX
CTS
(1)
RTS
(1)
Note 1:
Hardware flow control signals CTS and RTS should be used for
baud rates of 115200 or greater.
DS70005171B-page 4
2014-2016 Microchip Technology Inc.
RN171
TABLE 1-1:
Pin
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
GND
ISP_TX
ISP_RX
GPIO8/SD_D3/SS
GPIO7/SD_D2
GPIO6/SD_D1/INT
GPIO5/SD_D0/MISO
VDD
GPIO3
GPIO2
GPIO1
GND
SPI_CS
SPI_MISO
SPI_SCK
SPI_MOSI
FLASH_POWER
GND
GND
GND
GND
ANT
GND
GND
GND
GND
SENSOR0
SENSOR1
SENSOR2
SENSOR3
SENSOR_POWER
VDD
PIN DESCRIPTION
Symbol
Type
Power
DO
DI
DIO
DIO
DIO
DIO
Power
DIO
DIO
DIO
Power
DO
DI
DO
DO
Power
Power
Power
Power
Power
AIO
Power
Power
Power
Power
AI
AI
AI
AI
Power
Power
Ground reference
In-system programming transmit
In-system programming receive
General purpose I/O 9
(2,3)
/SDIO clock/SD-SPI slave SCLK
General purpose I/O 8
(2,4)
/SDIO D3/SD-SPI slave select
General purpose I/O 7
(2,4)
/SDIO D2
General purpose I/O 6
(2,4)
/SDIO D1/SD-SPI slave INT
General purpose I/O 5
(2,4)
/SDIO D0/SD-SPI slave MISO
General purpose I/O 4
(2,4)
/SDIO CMD/SD-SPI slave MOSI
Positive supply
General purpose I/O 3
(2,3)
General purpose I/O 2
(2,3)
General purpose I/O 1
(2,3)
Ground reference
SPI master chip select to internal Flash memory chip select. (Do not
connect.)
SPI master data Input to internal Flash memory data output. (Do not
connect.)
SPI master clock to internal Flash memory clock. (Do not connect.)
SPI master data output to internal Flash memory data input. (Do not
connect.)
Internal Flash memory power. (Do not connect.)
Ground reference
Ground reference
Ground reference
Ground reference
RF antenna. 50Ω impedance
Ground reference
Ground reference
Ground reference
Ground reference
Sensor interface 0
(5)
Sensor interface 1
(5)
Sensor interface 2
(5)
Sensor interface 3
(5)
Sensor power
Positive supply
Description
GPIO9/SD_CLK/SCLK
DIO
GPIO4/SD_CMD/MOSI
DIO
Note 1:
Pin type abbreviation: A = Analog, D = Digital, I = Input, O = Output.
2:
Refer to Electrical Specifications for GPIO voltage and current limitations.
3:
Digital input/output (bidirectional) 8 mA drive, ~83 K internal pull-down. 3.3V tolerant. Reset State:
Pull-down.
4:
Digital input/output (bidirectional) 24 mA drive, no internal pull-down. 3.3V tolerant. Reset State: High-Z.
Do not allow to float.
5:
Analog input. 0-400 mV (Do not exceed 1.2V DC)
2014-2016 Microchip Technology Inc.
DS70005171B-page 5