WiFi Plus Click

How does it work?

WiFi Plus Click is based on the MRF24WB0MA, a 2.4GHz, IEEE standard 802.11b/g/n compliant WiFi module from Microchip. The MRF24WB0MA uses a 4-wire SPI interface with an interrupt feature, has 14 channels selectable individually or domain-restricted, and DSSS Modulation. With a data rate of 1000Kbps and -91dBm sensitivity at 1Mbps, integrated low-phase noise digital VCO, RF frequency synthesizer, PLL loop filter, and PA, it makes a perfect solution for WiFi applications. As for MAC, the MRF24WB0MA features automatic MAC packet retransmit, hardware CSMA/CA access control, automatic ACK, FCS creation and checking, WEP, WPA-PSK, WPA2-PSK security, and more.

Considering that the MRF24VB0MA does not have a hardware TCP/IP stack, for this reason, another component is added to this Click board™, the MCW1001, a companion controller with an on-board TCP/IP stack and 802.11 connection manager also from Microchip. The MCW1001 has built-in WiFi connection management messages and operates seamlessly with the MRF24WB0MA over the 4-wire SPI interface. Apart from their communication, the MCW1001 also controls other features of the main module, such as access to hibernation mode, write protection, reset, and interrupt. On the other hand, for its communication with the host MCU, the MCW1001 uses the UART interface with commonly used UART RX/TX pins and hardware flow control pins UART CTS and RTS (Clear to Send, and Ready to Send). These optional signals can be used by setting the J1 and J2 jumpers.

Additional options this board has are other used pins of the mikroBUS™ socket. In addition to the already mentioned Reset feature, this Click board also uses three GP pins (GP0, GP1, GP2), routed to the AN, PWM, and INT pins of the mikroBUS™ socket, giving them access to a general purpose I/Os of the MCW1001.

This Click board™ can be operated only with a 3.3V logic voltage level. The board must perform appropriate logic voltage level conversion before using MCUs with different logic levels. However, the Click board™ comes equipped with a library containing functions and an example code that can be used, as a reference, for further development.

Specifications

Pinout diagram

This table shows how the pinout on WiFi Plus Click corresponds to the pinout on the mikroBUS™ socket (the latter shown in the two middle columns).

Notes	Pin					Pin	Notes
General-purpose I/O	GP0	1	AN	PWM	16	GP1	General-purpose I/O
Reset	RST	2	RST	INT	15	GP2	General-purpose I/O
	NC	3	CS	RX	14	TX	UART TX
	NC	4	SCK	TX	13	RX	UART RX
	NC	5	MISO	SCL	12	RTS	UART RTS
	NC	6	MOSI	SDA	11	CTS	UART CTS
Power Supply	3.3V	7	3.3V	5V	10	NC
Ground	GND	8	GND	GND	9	GND	Ground

Onboard settings and indicators

WiFi Plus Click electrical specifications