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References: <394878.84106.qm@web36808.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 06:41:22 +0100
Message-ID: <3ace41890905252241y2f02c889u1ebc9a3aea64ccdd@mail.gmail.com>
Subject: Re: Suggestions on low-cost Linux/ARM-friendly WiFi module or
	chipset...
From: Hin-Tak Leung <hintak.leung@gmail.com>
To: Jean-Pierre Poulin <jeanpierrepoulin@yahoo.com>
Cc: linux-wireless@vger.kernel.org
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252
Sender: linux-wireless-owner@vger.kernel.org

Well, Realtek has a few small device-on-a-chip solutions; driver
support (and ARM in particular) is a bit sketchy though, so you'd need
to be careful which one to go with.

On Tue, May 26, 2009 at 4:43 AM, Jean-Pierre Poulin
<jeanpierrepoulin@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> Hello,
>
> May I obtain your recommendation on a Linux + ARM friendly WiFi module or chipset?
>
> The solution we?re looking for must have the following features:
> - WiFi features: 802.11b + 802.11g with WPA & WEP encryption.
> - Driver: Binary driver built for Linux+ARM9 *or* Driver source buildable for Linux 2.6.28.2
> - Electronic Interface: SDIO (strongly) preferred, then parallel bus, then SPI, and least preferred: USB
> - Physical interface: SMD-mounting (strongly) preferred, then SD-card, then USB stick
> - Size: Smaller the better (especially on ?thickness?), but not critical.
> - Power efficiency: Irrelevant / Not critical.
> - Cost: Extremely critical!!
> - Range: The greater the better, but low-cost is much more important.
> - Antenna considerations: Small built-in chip antenna preferred.  External whip antenna a minus.
>
> Working backwards on this from the currently available drivers (we?re building our Linux image ontop OpenWRT for the $2.80 NXP LPC313x), the following drivers are ?easily accessible? in OpenWRT? but we have yet to find the low-cost manufacturers that can provide the physical WiFi solution itself?
>
>
> kmod-libertas............................ Marvell 88W8015 Wireless Driver
> kmod-mac80211..................... Linux 802.11 Wireless Networking Stack
> kmod-mac80211-hwsim........................ mac80211 HW simulation device
> kmod-p54-common................................. Prism54 Drivers (COMMON)
> kmod-p54-usb....................................... Prism54 Drivers (USB)
> kmod-rt2500-usb............. Ralink Drivers for RT2x00 cards (RT2500 USB)
> kmod-rt2800-usb............. Ralink Drivers for RT2x00 cards (RT2870 USB)
> kmod-rt2x00-lib.................... Ralink Drivers for RT2x00 cards (LIB)
> kmod-rt2x00-usb.................... Ralink Drivers for RT2x00 cards (USB)
> kmod-rt73-usb................. Ralink Drivers for RT2x00 cards (RT73 USB)
> kmod-zd1211rw....................................... Zydas ZD1211 support
>
> In addition, searching through the list of drivers at Linux Wireless, we were impressed by the comprehensive selection but ? as device prices are not listed ? it is very difficult to ascertain which inexpensive WiFi solution can run on our board.
>
> Finally, as the cost of the total WiFi solution is so important, our ?upper range? for cost is about $11 per interface (1K qty), as our ?plan B? is simply to insert one of the many $13 USB-WiFi interface (such as those found on eBay) inside the product enclosure.  Some questions:
>
> Q1: Given our above-stated needs? which do you recommend: the ?module approach?, the ?chipset approach? or the ?insert consumer product? approach?
>
> Q2: What is the ?most famous? / ?most supported? Linux/ARM-friendly low-cost WiFi solution currently available?
>
> Q3: Can you recommend some low-cost (Taiwanese / Chinese) WiFi manufacturers that supplies low-cost Linux-compatible solutions?
>
> Q4: For reference, what do you think is the cost of the ?absolute lowest cost? WiFi solution currently available?
>
> Many thanks for any hint / suggestion you can provide!
>
>    Jean-Pierre
>
>
>
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