STM32 and wifi direct module, which stack ?

[Thomas Laurenson]

Posted on May 17, 2017 at 16:52

Hi everyone,

Pretty new to WiFi I have some beginner questions:

I want to build a small system using a STM32 that should connect to a smartphone using WiFi direct to upload/dowload pictures and other sort of documents.

I'm looking for a wifi module that uses SDIO also, as I want to be at full speed,  serial to wifi module would be easier to uses but I don't want to be limited by the UART speed.

I was thinking about using a LILY-W1 module from u-blox as it does WiFi direct.

So, using this kind of module, do I have to code a WiFi stack for the STM32 by myself ?

does the LwIP TCP/IP stack is suitable for SDIO WiFi module ? can I do WiFi direct from it ?

thanks,

Thomas.

[Tesla DeLorean]

Posted on May 17, 2017 at 20:32

https://forum.u-blox.com/index.php?qa=10857&qa_1=stm32-and-lily-w1

 

I suspect the biggest complication would be the use of the SDIO peripheral on the STM32 in this fashion, and if you can find anyone with direct/relevant experience there.

The STM32 can sustain some pretty high baud rates on short on-board connections between modules.

ST just announced a low cost Cortex-M4 based WiFi part, 2MB of FLASH, running Micro Python.

http://blog.st.com/spwf04-low-power-wi-fi-micropython-applications/

 

[Thomas Laurenson]

Posted on May 18, 2017 at 18:54

After some research, it as been done before obviously.

As it is how the WICED module / particule photon is made.

https://docs.particle.io/datasheets/photon-datasheet/

 

http://www.usish.com/english/products_wiced.php

 

A wifi tranceiver connected to a STM32 via SDIO for WLAN, and I bet this is how SPWF01/04 are made too, and all other same kind of wifi module.

while these are powerful tools if used as stand alone like the 

SPWF04 can be

 , they often miss some interfaces and GPIO  that I need for ma applications

:(

.

[Tesla DeLorean]

Posted on May 18, 2017 at 19:22

These things are prevalent on eBay, just don't know how much of the stack you have access too, and if it offer the modes desired.

https://www.seeedstudio.com/EMW3162-WiFi-Module-p-2122.html

 

[Thomas Laurenson]

Posted on May 18, 2017 at 00:03

Hum ok I see, thanks.

[S.Ma]

Posted on May 18, 2017 at 18:52

Or find a wifi module with AT command set witg spi support. Driving directly a wifi rf front end will be challenging if malfuncting when coexisting with the application.

[Thomas Laurenson]

Posted on May 18, 2017 at 18:57

I guess that will be my choice yes, but I will have to downgrade my network speed expectation as with SPI I'll never reach 50+Mbps for data transfers.