User`s guide
RN-WIFLYCR-UG
www.rovingnetworks.com Version 1.2r 4/30/13 page 5
Chapter 1. Introduction
1.1 OVERVIEW
The Roving Networks WiFly radio module is a complete, standalone embedded wire-
less LAN access device. The device has an on-board TCP/IP stack and applications,
and in the simplest hardware configuration requires only four pins (power, TX, RX, and
ground). Once you have performed the initial configuration, the device automatically
accesses a Wi-Fi network and sends/receives serial data.
This user manual is applicable to standalone RN131 and RN171 modules, as well as
Roving Networks products based on these modules. For example, the RN171XV
device incorporates the RN171 module; therefore, all RN171 hardware features apply
to the RN171XV. Although there are some differences, the RN131 and RN171 modules
support the same ASCII command set. Table 1-1 compares the RN131 and RN171
module features.
Refer to the RN131 and the RN171 data sheets on the Roving Networks website at
http://www.rovingnetworks.com for more details on their hardware differences and for
detailed hardware specifications.
1.1.1 Features
• Fully qualified and Wi-Fi certified 2.4-GHz IEEE 802.11 b/g transceiver
• FCC, CE, IC certified, and RoHS compliant
• Ultra-low power:
- Intelligent, built-in power management with programmable wakeup
- Accepts 3.3-V power supply or 2- to 3-V battery when using boost regulators
- RN131: 4 uA sleep, 35 mA Rx, 210 m Tx at 18 dBm (Tx power not configu-
rable)
- RN171: 4 uA sleep, 35 mA Rx, 185 mA Tx at 12 dBm (Tx power configurable)
• Antenna options:
- RN131: On-board ceramic chip antenna and U.FL connector for external
antenna
- RN171: RF pad
• Hardware:
- 8-Mbit flash memory and 128-Kbyte RAM, 2-Kbyte ROM, 2 Kbyte battery-
backed memory
- General-purpose digital I/O pins (RN131: 10 GPIO pins, RN171: 14 GPIO
pins)
TABLE 1-1: COMPARING THE RN131 & RN171
Feature RN131 RN171
Output power (P
MAX
) 18 dBm (fixed) 12 dBm (programmable)
Lowest power 18 dBm 0 dBm (< 100 mA Tx current)
On-board antenna Yes No
Accurate sleep timer Yes (32 kHz) No (+/- 10% error)
GPIO pins available 10, GPIO4 – 13 (GPIO1 – 3 are not available for use) 14, GPIO1 – 14