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Plug It In!
Let's take your Wi-Fi module for a test drive using an i.MX RT platform. This guide contains different modules from third parties that enable NXP Wi-Fi SoCs on i.MX RT EVKs.
1.1 Get familiar with the Hardware
The links below will take you to the Getting Started website for your evaluation board; it will guide you with detailed instructions to download and install the required software.
Select your i.MX RT platform.
Note: Be sure to select "NXP Wi-Fi" middleware when building your SDK.
1.2 Connect your Wi-Fi Module
Select the Wi-Fi platform to display a module that enables it and how to connect it to an i.MX RT EVK.
Note: Some Wi-Fi modules will require an uSD adapter.
1.3 Attach the USB cable to your i.MX RT EVK
Power up the board by plugging the micro USB cable in your board as described in your board's Getting Started page.
The following section will help you load and run a Wi-Fi example. Make sure you have installed the software provided by the i.MX RT Getting Started section and that your Wi-Fi module is connected to your i.MX RT board.
88W8801
The 88W8801 is a highly integrated, single-band (2.4 GHz) Wi-Fi 4 1x1 System-on-Chip (SoC), specifically designed to support High Throughput (HT) data rates for WLAN products. The device provides the combined functions of Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) and Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) baseband modulation, Medium Access Controller (MAC), CPU, memory, host interfaces and direct conversion WLAN RF radio on a single integrated chip. For security, the 802.11i security standard is supported through several protocols. For video, voice and multimedia applications, 802.11e Quality of Service (QoS) is supported. Generic interfaces include SDIO 2.0 interface for connecting WLAN technologies to the host processor.
AzureWave AW-NM191NF platform
The AW-NM191NF is a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi radio module, which is highly integrated wireless local area network (WLAN) solution that enables a high performance, cost effective, low power, compact solution that provides SDIO or USB interface to host processor.
This module is based on the chipset 88W8801. A high level of integration and full implementation of the power management functions specified in the IEEE 802.11 standard minimize system power requirements by using AW-NM191NF.
The uSD-1216 adapter enables uSD interface support to AW-NM191NF module.
| Wi-Fi chip | AzureWave Module | uSD Adapter Board |
|---|---|---|
| NXP 88W8801 | AW-NM191NF | uSD-1216 (AW-NM191NF-uSD) |
Visit module manufacturer for more information about this Wi-Fi module.
AW-NM191NF-uSD connection
Connect AW-NM191NF-uSD adapter to your board.
AW-NM191NF-uSD + i.MX RT 1060 with Antennas and Power Supply
88W8977
The 88W8977 System-on-Chip (SoC) is a highly integrated single-chip solution that incorporates both WLAN (2.4/5 GHz) and Bluetooth® technology, and the SoC is specifically designed to support the speed, reliability, and quality requirements of next-generation products. An IEEE 802.11n compliant dual-band system-on-chip offering Wi-Fi data rates up to MCS 7 (150 Mbit/s), the 88W8977 is designed to offer the smallest footprint and lowest bill of materials (BOM) for devices such as Wearables, Internet of Things (IoT) and Smart Home markets. It also provides for 3-way coexistence for WLAN, Bluetooth and ZigBee operation with ZigBee Solutions.
Panasonic PAN9026 platform
The PAN9026 is a 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz ISM band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth radio module, specifically designed for highly integrated and cost-effective applications. This module is based on the chipset 88W8977 supporting 802.11a/b/g/n simultaneous station, access point. Integrated power management, a fast dual-core CPU, 802.11i security standard support, and high-speed data interfaces deliver the performance for the speed, reliability and quality requirements of products.
| Wi-Fi chip | Panasonic Module |
|---|---|
| NXP 88W8977 | PAN9026 |
Visit module manufacturer for more information about this Wi-Fi module.
PAN9026 module interface
Connect PAN9026 module to your board.
Build and Run Wi-Fi demo from the SDK
2.1. Explore the MCUXpresso SDK Wi-Fi example application
The MCUXpresso SDK comes with several example applications, Wi-Fi examples are grouped under: <SDK_Install_Directory>/boards/<EVK board>/wifi
Browse the Wi-Fi documentation folder available in the SDK folder for more information about the demos.
2.2 Building and debugging Wi-Fi example from MCUXpresso SDK
The NXP Wi-Fi Applications User's Guide document provides step-by-step instructions on how to configure, build and debug the Wi-Fi demos for the toolchains supported by the SDK.
The wifi_iperf demo is one of the Wi-Fi examples applications available in the SDK. It implements several useful features that can help you as a reference on your development, such as: Scan the visible access points, connect to an access point, start your own access point, print network information, enable deep sleep operation and run a throughput test.
Use the guide below to learn how to load, build and debug the wifii_iperf demo application in MCUXpresso IDE.
To learn more about all Wi-Fi example applications and additional features supported by the Wi-Fi module, browse to the Wi-Fi documentation folder available in the SDK folder.
Building and running a Wi-Fi demo
The MCUXpresso SDK provides a collection of Wi-Fi example applications.
Follow these steps to import, configure, build, debug and run a Wi-Fi demo example through MCUXpresso IDE. This guide will use i.MX RT 1060 as reference, but similar steps apply to
other EVKs.
1. Import SDK to your MCUXpresso workspace
- Open the MCUXpresso IDE.
- Switch to the ‘Installed SDKs’ view within the MCUXpresso IDE window.
- If you haven’t imported the SDK into MCUXpresso IDE, drag and drop the SDK for your development board (in zip format) into the “Installed SDKs” section. You will get the following pop-up. Click on OK to continue the import.
- The SDK will now appear in the Installed SDK's view as shown below:
2. Build the application
The following steps will guide you to build and run the wifi_iperf application using MCUXpresso IDE.
The following steps will guide you through the wifi_cli application using MCUXpresso IDE.
The wifi_iperf application demonstrates how to implement different features.
- Perform a Network scan
- Connect to an Access Point
- Start your own Access Point
- Enable Deep Sleep operation
- TCP and UDP throughput measurements acting as a server or as a client
- Print network information
- Locate the Quickstart Panel in the lower left-hand corner.
- Click on ‘Import SDK example(s)…
- Select your evaluation board, and click on Next.
- Use the arrow button to expand the wifi_examples category and click the checkbox next to wifi_iperf to select that project. Then, click on Finish.
- By default, the project is configured to use the PAN9026 Wi-Fi module (SD8977). If you are using another module, ie. AW-NM191MA (SD8801), follow these steps to modify the project configuration:
- b) Go to C/C++ Build → Settings → MCU C Compiler → Preprocessor
- c) Replace the WIFI_BOARD_PAN9026_SDIO symbol with WIFI_BOARD_AW_NM191MA.
- Apply and Close.
- Select the project and build it.
- The project should build without problems.
a) Open project’s Properties.
3. Build the application
- Make sure that the Wi-Fi module is attached to the EVK and connect your board to your computer.
- Download the application to your i.MX RT-EVK.
- Select the debug probe of the board connected to your PC
- Before you start your application, open a Serial Terminal application (ie. PuTTY, TeraTerm). You can find instructions to setup a Terminal application on the EVK’s Getting Started website → Section 2: Get Software → PC Configuration.
- Click on the Resume button to start the application.
- You should see the output of the application.
- Click on ‘Terminate’ button to stop the debugging session
Refer to ‘NXP Wi-Fi Demo Applications for i.MX RT platforms User Guide.pdf’ document available in the SDK for detailed instructions to run all Wi-Fi demos.