Silex SX-ULPAN-EVK User guide

2016/03/03

Index

This is the startup guide for SX-ULPAN-2401-EVK, an evaluation board for the

SX-ULPAN-2401 wireless module.

Note: Specifications are subject to change.

1. Introduction

The SX-ULPAN is an ultra-compact and low power wireless LAN module with

Qualcomm Atheros QCA4000 series radio. The module provides not only drivers

and supplicants to add WLAN functions to your product, but also other functions

to offload network protocol layers such as IPv4/IPv6, TCP/IP, HTTP, DNS, DHCP,

and so on. This allows MCU (Micro Controller Unit) with limited CPU

performance, ROM, RAM to get reliable Wi-Fi with ultra-low power consumption.

It offers device manufacturers to add reliable Wi-Fi to their tablets or other

IoE/IoT products.

2. Features

 IEEE802.11a/b/g/n (2.4GHz,5GHz Dual-Band)

 1 x 1:1 stream, 20MHz band width mode is supported

 On board PCB antenna and U.FL connector for external antenna

 Surface mount type

 Host I/F:SPI

 Security: WPS, WPA, WPA2, TKIP, AES Hardware engine

 IPv4/v6, TCP/UDP offload support

 Simple HTTP/DNS/DHCP protocol offload support

3. Specifications

Radio Spec: IEEE802.11a/b/g/n

HT20 supported, No concurrent use of 2.4/5GHz.

Channel(2.4GHz) １-13ch

Channel (5GHz) 36-48ch, 52-64ch, 100-140ch, 149-165ch

Antenna on-board antenna and External antenna (U.FL)

Dimensions 15.0 x 20.0 x 2.2mm

Weight 1.5g

I/F SPI (Slave)

Operating Temp. -40-+85℃, 10-95 ％RH(No condensation)

Storage Temp. -40-+105℃, 10-95 ％RH(No condensation)

Security Open / WPA-PSK / WPA2-PSK

*Enterprise is not supported as of now.

WPS2.0 STA: Enrollee, AP: Registrar

External registrar function is not supported

Access Point 10 station support, Hidden-SSID mode

Performance 10Mbps

Offload functions

IPv4, IPv6, TCP, UDP

HTTP Server / Client

DNS Client

DHCP Server / DHCP Client

ICMP

SSL Client

SNTP

4. Setup Environment

SX-ULPAN-2401-EVK Accessories

The package includes a PCB for NXP Tower System and a PCB antenna.

Figure 1: SX-ULPAN-2401-EVK Figure 2: Option Antenna

* The binary files (for evaluation) and documentation can be downloaded from our

website below.

URL:

What you need to prepare

Procure the following before evaluating the ULPAN-2401-EVK.

Hardware

Please prepare following;

Figure 3: TWR-ELEV Figure 4: TWR-K22F120M

 NXP

 Tower System Board “TWR-ELEV”

 Kinetis K22F120M MCU Board “TWR-K22F120M”

 Cable

 microUSB cable (included with the TWR-K22F)

 miniUSB cable

 LAN cable

 RS-232C cross cable

 Windows PC

 Windows 7 is recommended.

 Access Point

 IEEE802.11n-supported AP is recommended

Software

 Qualcomm Atheros

 “IoE Wi-Fi QCA4004 Platform Dev Kit SP140/144 (v3.3.4)”

 Terminal software

 TeraTerm, etc.

5. Evaluation Board Configuration

EVK board and block diagram are shown below.

Figure 5: SX-ULPAN-2401-EVK

Figure 6: SX-ULPAN block diagram

SW1: Reset Button

Currently not to be used.

SW2: Configuration for Reset / Bootstrap

Bit 1-4: Reset: QCA4004 CHIP_PWD_L (Chip Reset) input signal

Bit 5-8: Bootstrap：QCA4004 bootstrap option HM[0:1]

SW3: Configuration for UART signal multiplex/de-multiplex

Bit 1-3: CN9 DSUB9 connection signal: TXD/RXD connection

Bit 4-6: CN9 DSUB9 connection signal: RTS/CTS connection

Bit 7-8: ULPAN UART0 - TWR-ELEV UART0/1 selection

SW4: Configuration of IRQ

Bit 1-8: QCA4004 HSPI_INT to TWR-ELEV IRQ connection

CN2-4: Test Point for SX-ULPAN

Not to be used.

CN5-8: Test Point for UART

Not to be used.

CN09: DSUB9 Plug

Use for a console.

CN10: USB Mini-B

Not to be used.

CN11: Test Point for Power Supply

Keep pins 5-6, 7-8 & 9-10 short-circuited.

6. Setup (Hardware)

Assemble and initialize the Tower System.

Set Switch and Jumper

See the below red squares for SW settings. Refer to the SX-ULPAN-EVK

specifications for details.

Figure 7: DIP Switch and Jumper pin

Jumper settings for TWR-K22F120M are as follows;

J22: 2-3 short circuited (Switch2 Reset Target MCU)

J29 & J30: 1-2 short circuited (UART1 TX/RX Tower Elevator)

Attach to Tower System

Attach the TWR-K22F120M and the SX-ULPAN-EVK to the TWR-ELEV.

Connect Cables

Connect the miniUSB (power supply), OpenSDAv2 and Console to the Tower

System.

① Connect miniUSB of TWR-ELEV (PRIMARY) for power supply.

② Connect RS-232C-Cross cable to SX-ULPAN-EVK and PC for console.

Serial communication setting: 115200N81

Install terminal software (e.g. Teraterm) on the PC.

③ Connect the TWR-K22F120M and the PC with the microUSB cable.

This is used to upload the firmware (binary file) through OpenSDAv2 to

the TWR-K22F120M.

①

Develop & Console (PC)

Access point

microUSB (OpenSDA)

②

③

RS232 Serial (for Control)

miniUSB (for Power)

7. Setup (Software)

This is how to prepare software.

 silex

Download binary files and documents from silex

website.

URL:

http://silexamerica.com/products/support/embedded-wireless/sx-ulpan-evk/

 Terminal software

Install the terminal software that can be

connected to a serial port.

URL:

https://osdn.jp/projects/ttssh2/

 Qualcomm Atheros

Download and install “IoT Wi-Fi QCA4004

Platform Dev Kit SP140/144 (v3.3.4)” from the

Qualcomm Atheros Developer site to evaluate

performance.

URL:

https://developer.qualcomm.com/mobile-development/development-devices/io

e-wifi-development-platform/tools-and-resources

8. Firmware

Transfer the binary file of evaluation demo application to the TWR-K22F120M. The

following steps show how to transfer with OpenSDAv2 Mass storage device.

A) Write the Binary file

① Connect the TWR-K22F120M OpenSDA USB port and the PC via

microUSB. The TWR-K22F120M will be recognized as a storage device

named “TWR-K22F120M”.

② Copy and paste the binary file downloaded from our website to

“TWR-K22F120M” in My Computer.

③ Firmware transfer completes when the copying ends.

*If TWR-K22F120M’s BOOTLOADER has DEBUG-APP_Pemicro_v108.SDA,

no TWR-K22F120M storage device will be displayed in My Computer.

Download the file “OpenSDA Firmware (MSD & Debug)” from the website

below to change the BOOTLOADER.

http://www.pemicro.com/opensda/

9. Evaluation

After firmware has been loaded, you are ready to start the evaluation. This section

will walk you through instructions from booting as a station to connecting the radio

to an AP for your evaluation/performance tests. Please refer to the command

reference for details and other modes/commands.

A) Booting

① Turn on the TWR-ELEV (Switch lever position: top).

② Push the TWR-K22F120M SW2 (a reset button).

③ Open the COM port with the terminal software.

Serial communication settings: 115200N81

SX-ULPAN-2401-EVK

192.168.0.1

PC to check throughput

192.168.0.10

Ethernet

AP

SX-ULPAN-SSID

B) Configure IP Address

When it boots successfully, you will see shell> on the console. Set the IP address

first. The following sample uses 192.168.0.1.

C) Configure Region Code

Above example is for connection as station. Refer to the command

specifications for settings for Access Point mode or other countries’ domain

code.

*Note: For the US, changing the domain code is not allowed by the Wireless

Radio Act.

D) Connect to an Access Point

Once it boots as an STA. The following command shows how to connect to an AP

with WPA2-AES, using the SSID “SX-ULPAN-SSID”.

E) Ping Check

After connecting the AP, check communications with ping. The following example

is sending a ping to the PC (192.168.0.10) to measure throughput. With a

response returned, the wireless LAN is successfully connected.

F) Throughput Test

This is how to run receiving and sending tests.

Receiving Test

Execute the following test command on the console of the

SX-ULPAN-2401-EVK.

Execute the throughput test program using PC’s Command Prompt.

shell> benchrx tcp 5555

Finish the throughput test program.

Sending Test

Execute the following test command on PC Command Prompt.

Execute the throughput test program on serial console of SX-ULPAN-2401-EVK.

shell> benchquit

Silex SX-ULPAN-EVK User guide

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