Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) has become one of the most widely used short-range wireless technologies due to its high transmission speed, long effective range, and high compatibility. For product designers, selecting the appropriate Wi-Fi chip is crucial. This article will review the Wi-Fi chips and parameters from manufacturers such as Broadcom and TI.
Wi-Fi is a technology that allows electronic devices to connect to a wireless local area network (WLAN). The full name of Wi-Fi is Wireless Fidelity, also known as the 802.11 standard, which typically uses 2.4 GHz UHF or 5 GHz SHF ISM radio frequency bands. Connecting to a wireless local area network is usually password-protected; however, it can also be open, allowing any device within the WLAN range to connect. Wireless Fidelity is a brand of wireless network communication technology owned by the Wi-Fi Alliance, aimed at improving interoperability between wireless network products based on the IEEE 802.11 standard.
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Wi-Fi Technology
Advantages of Wi-Fi Technology
(1) Wide coverage of radio waves
The coverage of radio waves is extensive. Bluetooth technology has a very small coverage radius of about 50 feet (approximately 15 meters), while Wi-Fi can reach about 300 feet (approximately 100 meters).
(2) Fast speed and high reliability
The 802.11b wireless network specification is a variant of the IEEE 802.11 network specification, with a maximum bandwidth of 11 Mbps. In cases of weak signal or interference, the bandwidth can be adjusted to 5.5 Mbps, 2 Mbps, and 1 Mbps. This automatic bandwidth adjustment effectively ensures network stability and reliability.
Disadvantages of Wi-Fi Technology
Wi-Fi technology can only be applied in specific mobile Wi-Fi technology scenarios. Compared to wired networks, wireless networks experience signal degradation as the distance from the node increases. The inherent transmission speed of Wi-Fi technology at 11 Mb/s may reduce to only 1 Mb effective rate for terminal users due to increased distance. Additionally, wireless signals are easily obstructed by building walls, and radio waves may undergo varying degrees of refraction, reflection, and diffraction when encountering obstacles, leading to signal interference. Wireless signals are also susceptible to interference from other signals operating on the same frequency and from lightning.
Wi-Fi networks can easily become saturated and are vulnerable to attacks because they do not require explicit permission to use wireless network frequencies. The security of Wi-Fi networks is subpar. The 802.11 standard provides an encryption algorithm called WEP, which encrypts data transmitted wirelessly between network access points and host devices to prevent unauthorized users from eavesdropping, attacking, or intruding on the network. However, due to the lack of physical structure protection inherent in wired networks, and unlike wired networks that require a connection before access, if a network is unprotected, anyone within the signal coverage can access your network using a wireless network card, consuming your bandwidth and potentially leaking your information.
The Main Wi-Fi Chip Manufacturers Include:
1. Broadcom (USA)
2. Atheros (USA, acquired by Qualcomm)
3. Marvell (USA)
4. TI (Texas Instruments, USA)
5. Ralink (Taiwan, acquired by MediaTek)
6. Realtek (Taiwan)
7. Shanghai Lexin
8. Beijing New Coastline
9. Beijing Shengde Micro
10. Shenzhen Southern Silicon Valley
11. Shanghai Lankai
12. Shanghai Qingke (supplies Wi-Fi modules)
1. Broadcom (USA)
Broadcom Corporation was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in Irvine, California, USA, with offices and research facilities in North America, Asia, and Europe. Broadcom is a leading global semiconductor company for wired and wireless communication, providing the industry’s broadest and best-in-class system-on-chip and software solutions for manufacturers of computing and networking devices, digital entertainment, broadband access products, and mobile devices. Its products enable the transmission of voice, data, and multimedia in home, office, and mobile environments.
1. BCM4325
Standard: 802.11a/b/g
Frequency Band: 2.4/5GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 150Mbps
Function: WiFi + BT2.1 + FM
Applications: Gaming devices, laptops, portable audio/media/gaming devices, printers
Notes: Used in iPhone 4, HTC, LG, and SAMSUNG phones.
2. BCM4329
Standard: 802.11a/b/g/n
Frequency Band: 2.4GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 300Mbps
Function: WiFi + BT2.1 + FM
Applications: Portable audio/multimedia/gaming devices
3. BCM4330
Standard: 802.11a/b/g/n
Frequency Band: 2.4/5GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 150Mbps
Function: WiFi + BT4.0 + FM
Applications: Smartphones, tablets, network players, etc.
Notes: Used in iPhone 4S.
4. BCM4390
Standard: 802.11b/g/n
5. BCM4334
Standard: 802.11b/g/n
Frequency Band: 2.4/5GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 150Mbps
Function: WiFi + BT4.0 + FM
Applications: Smartphones, tablets
Notes: Used in iPhone 5, core chip of Murata 331S0171 module.
6. BCM4335
Standard: 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
Frequency Band: 2.4/5GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 433.3Mbps
Function: WiFi + BT4.0 + FM
Applications: Smartphones, tablets, network players, etc.
Notes: Used in Samsung phones i9500, note3, 19508, Galaxy S4, HTC One.
7. BCM4336
Standard: 802.11b/g/n
Frequency Band: 2.4/5GHz
Function: Single WiFi
8. BCM4339
Standard: 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
Frequency Band: 2.4/5GHz
Function: WiFi + BT4.0
Applications: Low-end smartphones, tablets or PCs, used in nubia Z5S.
9. BCM4343W
Standard: 802.11b/g/n
10. BCM4383
Frequency Band: 2.4GHz
11. BCM40181
Standard: 802.11b/g/n
Frequency Band: 2.4GHz
12. BCM43340
Standard: 802.11a/b/g/n
Frequency Band: 2.4/5GHz
Function: WiFi + BT4.0
13. BCM43241
Standard: 802.11a/b/g/n
Frequency Band: 2.4/5GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 300Mbps
Function: WiFi + BT4.0 + FM
14. BCM43341
Standard: 802.11g/n
Frequency Band: 2.4/5GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 150Mbps
Function: WiFi + BT4.0 + NFC + FM
15. BCM43362 + MCU
Standard: 802.11b/g/n
Frequency Band: 2.4/5GHz
Function: Single WiFi
16. BCM43364
Standard: 802.11b/g/n
17. BCM43438
Standard: 802.11b/g/n
18. BCM43907
Standard: 802.11a/b/g/n
2. Atheros (USA, acquired by Qualcomm)
Atheros was founded in 1999 by Dr. Teresa Meng from Stanford University and Dr. John Hennessy, the president of Stanford University and founder of MIPS, in Silicon Valley. Atheros provides chipsets based on the IEEE 802.11a 5-GHz standard using OFDM wireless network technology and has expanded into Bluetooth, GPS, Ethernet, and other fields. Qualcomm announced the acquisition of Atheros for $3.1 billion at CES 2011.
1. AR1021x
Standard: 802.11a/b/g/n
Frequency Band: 2.4/5GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 300 Mbps
2. AR9271
Standard: 802.11b/g/n
Maximum Transmission Rate: 150Mbps
Applications: Laptop wireless network cards, external wireless network cards
3. AR9285
4. AR9331
Standard: 802.11n
Frequency Band: 2.4GHz
Function: Single WiFi
Applications: Main chip for wireless routers
5. QCA9531
Standard: 802.11n
Frequency Band: 2.4GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 300Mbps
Applications: Wireless routers
6. QCA6174
Standard: 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
Frequency Band: 2.4G/5.8G
Function: WiFi + BLE4.1
7. QCA9377
Standard: 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
Frequency Band: 2.4G/5.8G
Function: WiFi + BLE4.1
8. QCA4004
Standard: 802.11n
Frequency Band: 2.4GHz/5GHz
Function: WiFi + MCU
Applications: Smart home, Internet of Things
3. Marvell (USA)
Marvell Technology Group Ltd., now renamed Marvell, was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Silicon Valley, with a research and development center in Shanghai, China. It is a leading global semiconductor manufacturer providing a complete set of broadband communication and storage solutions, focusing on high-speed, high-density digital data storage and broadband digital data network markets, and engaged in the design, development, and supply of mixed-signal and digital signal processing integrated circuits.
1. 88W8686
Standard: 802.11a/g/b
Frequency Band: 2.4/5GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 150Mbps
Function: Single WiFi
Applications: Handheld terminals
2. 88W8688
Standard: 802.11a/g/b
Frequency Band: 2.4GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 150Mbps
Function: WiFi + BT3.0 1X1
Applications: Mobile phones supporting WLAN/Bluetooth, digital cameras, and printers supporting WLAN/Bluetooth.
3. 88W8782
Standard: 802.11a/g/b/n
Frequency Band: 2.4GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 150Mbps
Function: Single WiFi
Applications: Consumer electronics (TVs, DVD players, Blu-ray players, etc.), mobile phones, and other mobile applications.
4. 88W8797
Standard: 802.11ac
Frequency Band: 2.4/5GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 300Mbps
Function: WiFi + BT4.0 + FM
Applications: Tablets, smart phones, digital video players, set-top box digital TVs.
5. 88W8801
Standard: 802.11n
Frequency Band: 2.4GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 72Mbps
Function: Wi-Fi + MCU 1×1
Applications: Internet of Things, smart homes, used in Xiaomi smart modules, Broadlink smart home products.
6. 88MW300
Standard: 802.11b/g/n
Frequency Band: 2.4GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 72.2Mbps
Function: WiFi + MCU
4. TI (Texas Instruments, USA)
Texas Instruments (TI) was founded in 1947 and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, USA. TI is the world’s largest manufacturer of analog circuit components and a leading multinational semiconductor company, known for developing, manufacturing, and selling semiconductors and computer technology, primarily engaged in innovative digital signal processing and analog circuit research, manufacturing, and sales.
1. TI CC3200
Standard: 802.11b/g/n
Frequency Band: 2.4GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 150Mbps
2. WL1831
Standard: 802.11b/g/n
Frequency Band: 2.4/5GHz
Function: WiFi + BT4.0
3. WL1833
Standard: 802.11a/b/g/n
Frequency Band: 2.4/5GHz
Function: WiFi + BT4.0
4. WL1801 Standard: 802.11b/g/n
5. Ralink (Taiwan, acquired by MediaTek)
Ralink Technology was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Hsinchu, Taiwan, with a research and development center in Cupertino, California, USA. Ralink’s products are recognized for their excellent throughput, extended range, low power consumption, and consistent reliability required for Wi-Fi, mobile, and embedded applications. On March 16, 2011, MediaTek (MTK) acquired Ralink through a stock swap, officially integrating Ralink as a wireless technology business group under MediaTek on October 1, 2011.
1. MT7688A
Standard: 802.11a/b/g/n
Frequency Band: 2.4GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 300Mbps
Function: WiFi + CPU
2. MT7688K
Standard: 802.11a/b/g/n
Frequency Band: 2.4GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 150Mbps
Function: WiFi + CPU
3. MT7688
Standard: 802.11a/b/g/n
Frequency Band: 2.4GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 150Mbps
Function: WiFi + CPU
4. MT7688AN
Standard: 802.11a/b/g/n
Frequency Band: 2.4GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 150Mbps
Function: WiFi + CPU
5. MT7681
Standard: 802.11b/g/n
Frequency Band: 2.4/5GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 433Mbps
Function: WiFi + MCU
Applications: Small devices such as light bulbs, door locks, sockets, IoT.
6. MT7681N
Standard: 802.11b/g/n
Frequency Band: 2.4/5GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 150Mbps
7. MT7601UN
Standard: 802.11b/g/n
Frequency Band: 2.4GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 150Mbps
8. MT7601
Standard: 802.11b/g/n
Frequency Band: 2.4GHz
Function: Single WiFi
9. MT3332
Standard: 802.11b/g/n
Frequency Band: 2.4GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 300Mbps
10. MT7610 11. MT7620A
Standard: 802.11b/g/n
Frequency Band: 2.4GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 300Mbps
12. MT7620N
Standard: 802.11b/g/n
Frequency Band: 2.4GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 300Mbps
Function: Single WiFi
13. MT7632U
Standard: 802.11a/b/g/n
Frequency Band: 2.4/5GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 300Mbps
Function: Single WiFi
14. MT7662U
Standard: 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
Frequency Band: 2.4/5GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 867Mbps
Function: Single WiFi
15. RT5572N
Standard: 802.11a/b/g/n
Frequency Band: 2.4/5GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 300Mbps
Function: Single WiFi
16. RT2700E 17. RT2070 18. RT3070
Standard: 802.11b/g/n
Frequency Band: 2.4GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 150Mbps
This chip is used in Wi-Fi modules.
19. RT3072 20. RT5350
Standard: 802.11b/g/n
Frequency Band: 2.4GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 150Mbps
Function: Single WiFi
Applications: Home networking device APSoC, router
21. RT5350FT
Standard: 802.11b/g/n
Frequency Band: 2.4GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 150Mbps
22. RT5370
Standard: 802.11n
Frequency Band: 2.4GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 150Mbps
Function: Single WiFi
Applications: Home networking device USB 2.0 interface, PC-end USB 2.0 interface single chip
23. RT5372
Standard: 802.11b/g/n
Frequency Band: 2.4GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 300Mbps
24. RT5572
Standard: 802.11n
Frequency Band: 2.4/5GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 300Mbps
Function: Single WiFi
25. MT5931
Standard: 802.11n
Frequency Band: 2.4GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 150Mbps
Function: Single WiFi
Applications: Smartphones, handheld terminals
6. Realtek (Taiwan)
Realtek Semiconductor was established in 1987 and is located in the Hsinchu Science Park in Taiwan. Its product line spans communications networks, computer peripherals, multimedia, ultra-wideband technologies, etc. Core technologies include: analog and digital mixed design, circuit design and process technology, system expertise, and silicon intellectual property (IP).
1. RTL8189ETV
Standard: 802.11b/g/n
Frequency Band: 2.4GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 150Mbps
2. RTL8189FTV
Standard: 802.11b/g/n
Frequency Band: 2.4GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 150Mbps
3. RTL8189ES
Standard: 802.11b/g/n
Frequency Band: 2.4GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 150Mbps
4. RTL8188
Standard: 802.11b/g/n
Frequency Band: 2.4GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 150Mbps
5. RTL8188ETV
Standard: 802.11b/g/n
Frequency Band: 2.4GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 150Mbps
6. RTL8188FTV
Standard: 802.11b/g/n
Frequency Band: 2.4GHz
7. RTL8188CTV
Standard: 802.11b/g/n
Frequency Band: 2.4GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 300Mbps
8. RTL8188EUS
Standard: 802.11b/g/n
Frequency Band: 2.4GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 150Mbps
9. RTL8188CE
Standard: 802.11b/g/n
Frequency Band: 2.4GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 150Mbps
10. RTL8192DU
Standard: 802.11a/b/g/n
Frequency Band: 2.4GHz + 5GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 300Mbps
11. RTL8192EU
Standard: 802.11b/g/n
Frequency Band: 2.4GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 300Mbps
12. RTL8192CU
Standard: 802.11b/g/n
Frequency Band: 2.4GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 300Mbps
13. RTL8192CE
Standard: 802.11b/g/n
Frequency Band: 2.4GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 300Mbps
14. RTL8711AM
Standard: 802.11b/g/n
Frequency Band: 2.4GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 150Mbps
15. RTL8711AF
Standard: 802.11b/g/n
Frequency Band: 2.4GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 150Mbps
16. RTL8723BS
Standard: 802.11b/g/n
Frequency Band: 2.4GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 54Mbps
17. RTL8723BU
Standard: 802.11b/g/n
Frequency Band: 2.4GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 150Mbps
18. RTL8811AU
Standard: 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
Frequency Band: 2.4/5GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 433.3Mbps
19. RTL8812AU
Standard: 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
Frequency Band: 2.4/5GHz
Maximum Transmission Rate: 867Mbps
20. RTL8187SE
Standard: 802.11b/g
20. RTL8187SE
Standard: 802.11b/g
Applications: Main control chip for wireless network cards, 1. Wireless serial bus adapter 2. Wireless notebook mini-card adapter
21. RTL8123BS
Standard: 802.11b/g/n
Frequency Band: 2.4GHz
22. RTL8123BU
Standard: 802.11b/g/n
Frequency Band: 2.4GHz