Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2013 10:18 pm Post subject: RN-171 WiFly module
Hello All
I recently purchased a RovingNetworks RN171 WiFi module for $29 from mouser. Here is my first impressions of the unit.
If you need a way to connect your project with a wifi network these modules are an easy way to do that at a lo price. The only connections needed to get it working is Vcc (3.3V), Gnd, serial Rx & Tx. You also need some sort of antenna, I used a one inch piece of wire that seems to work fine. I had some difficulty hand soldering to the small SMD connections, One of the LED pads broke off. A breakout board version would be nice but I saved a few dollars by connecting it up by hand.
Once it is wired up your micro-controller talks to it with simple serial commands. The following commands are all that are needed to connect to my home network with WPA encryption.
Commands to connect to network:
$$$ 'enter command mode.
set wlan channel 2 'my wifi channel.
set wlan ssid HomeWiFi 'name of wifi network.
set wlan phrase Password 'network password.
set ip dhcp 1 'get ip and gateway from access point.
set wlan auth 2 'use WPA1 encryption.
set sys autoconn 1 'it will connect at startup.
save 'saves the above settings.
exit 'leave command mode.
That's all, next time it was powered up it connected to my network.
After getting connected to the wifi network I tried to make a TCP connection to my computer. I wrote a small program for my PC that just listened for a TCP connection on port 5000. Then using the following command the WiFly module connect to the PC.
Commands to open a TCP/IP connection:
$$$ 'enter command mode.
open 192.168.1.101 5000 'connect to PC on port 5000.
Some of the pros and cons of the unit are:
Pros:
Easy connections.
Easy setup.
Will get SNTP time from a time server.
Will do "FTP".
Cons: <--- see edit below.
Does not serve web pages.
Does not connect to mail sever.
I wish it cost less.
So my first impression is very good. It is going to do the job I needed it for.
I hope you find this information useful.
Best Regards,
Dave
EDIT:
I've been looking around the web to learn more about the RN171 and it appears I was wrong about it not serving
web pages. I've found examples of it doing just that in other languages. I don't know how to do that myself so if anybody can tell me how that might be done I would like some help.
There really isn't any code needed. I just used a terminal program to configure the wifly. Then a PC program written in xojo to connect over the internet. I don't use the wifly anymore because my remote device no longer has internet access.
Sorry, I wish I had more to offer but that's all there is to it.
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