User manual

WiFly GSX/EZX
www.rovingnetworks.com WiFly-RN-UM 11/9/2011
809 University Avenue • Los Gatos, CA 95032 • Tel [phone] • [e-mail]
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1. Introduction
This user guide is applicable to the RN-131 and the RN-171 modules and finished products designed by
Roving Networks using these modules. While there are some hardware differences, the same ASCII
command set applies to the RN-131 and the RN-171 modules. The RN-XV is built using the RN-171
module and as such all hardware features of RN-171 apply to the RN-XV.
More details on the hardware differences between the RN-131 and the RN-171 module can be found on the
website www.rovingnetworks.com.
In terms of the firmware, certain specific commands apply to either the RN-131 or the RN-171 module.
Command
Description
RN-171
RN-131
set wlan tx <value>
Sets the TX output power
YES
NO
set wlan external <value>
Selects the antenna (on-board chip antenna v/s
U.FL. connector)
NO
YES
For detailed hardware specifications on the RN-131 and RN-171, please refer to their respective data sheets.
2. Overview
The “WiFly” radio module is a complete standalone embedded wireless LAN access device. The device
has on board TCP/IP stack and applications, requiring only 4 pins (POWER, TX, RX, GND) to design in.
Once initial configuration is set, the radio can automatically access the Wi-Fi network and send/receive
serial data over UART.
 Fully Qualified and Wi-Fi Certified 2.4GHz IEEE 802.11b/g transceiver
 Ultra-low power:
o RN-131: 4uA sleep, 35mA Rx, 210m Tx at 18dBm (TX power not configurable)
o RN-171: 4uA sleep, 35mA Rx, 185 mA Tx at 12dBm (Tx power configurable)
 Small, compact surface mount module
 Antenna Options:
o RN-131: On board ceramic chip antenna and U.FL connector for external antenna
o RN-171: RF pad
 8 Mbit flash memory and 128 KB RAM
 UART and SPI slave hardware interfaces
 10 general purpose digital I/O
 8 analog inputs (14 bit, 400mV)
 Real-time clock for wakeup and time stamping/data logging
 Accepts 3.3V regulated or 2-3V battery with on board boost regulators