A Closer Look at WIZnet WizFi360 Module

A Closer Look at

WIZnet WizFi360 Module

Contributed by WIZnet

The WizFi360 is a low-cost Wi-Fi solution which not only is Azure Certified and supports AWS SDK Examples, but also the official Wi-Fi Shield on Arm Open-CMSIS-pack and Keil Studio Cloud; and furthermore, comes in a Raspberry Pi Pico compatible board form-factor. In this article, we will explain the main features of WizFi360 modules and evaluation boards.

What Is the WizFi360?

WizFi360 enables microcontrollers to connect to 2.4-GHz Wi-Fi using IEEE 802.11b/g/n standards. The module has been designed to provide designers with a simple Wi-Fi solution. For easy migration from ESP8266, WizFi360 supports Espressiflike AT command list.

The following attributes of WizFi360 were extracted from its datasheet [1]:

> Wi-Fi 2.4G, 802.11 b/g/n > Station/SoftAP/SoftAP+Station operation modes > UART/SPI interface > “Data pass-through” and “AT command data transfer” mode > Baudrate up to 2 Mbps with 16 common values > Support firmware upgrade by UART

Download/OTA (via WLAN) > Industrial grade (operating temperature range: -40°C ~ 85°C) > CE, FCC, KC, K-MIC(TELEC), RoHS,

REACH certification

WizFi360 comes in two options: with onboard pattern antenna or u.fl connector. WIZnet also provides internet-offload (io) modules with various form factors (Figure 1). WizFi360io-C is an interface board with SMW200-06 connector and 5 V support, WizFi360io-H is a pin-header type interface board with 2.00 mm pin header.

WIZnet also provides various evaluation boards for easy project prototyping (Figure 2). Arduino-compatible WizFi360EVB-Shield can be used for experiments, tests and verifications of WizFi360. Lately WIZnet released the RP2040-based WizFi360-EVB-Pico — a Raspberry Pi Pico clone but with Wi-Fi connectivity.

Accelerate Internet of Things Solutions

WizFi360 is a small but powerful module that supports SSL using MbedTLS library. With its help, users can easily connect WizFi360 to cloud or MQTTS broker. In October 2019, WIZnet announced it had joined Microsoft Azure Certified for Internet of Things (IoT), ensuring customers get IoT solutions up and running quickly with hardware and software that has been pre-tested and verified to work with Microsoft Azure IoT services.

WizFi360 in Various Ecosystems

DIY enthusiasts and hobbyists can easily develop their application for WizFi360 using WizFi360 Arduino library currently maintained by our friends in Kocoafab [2]. Furthermore, as WIZnet implemented Espressif-like AT commands, users may even use WiFiEsp library, for more details and guide refer to [3].

WizFi360-PA WizFi360-CON WizFi360io-C WizFi360io-H

Figure 1: WizFi360 comes in two options: with onboard pattern antenna or u.fl connector. Also, WIZnet provides internet-offload (io) modules with various form factors.

Figure 2: WIZnet provides various evaluation boards for easy project prototyping.

For RP2040 family boards, WIZnet already released C/C++ SDK and sample codes [4]. CircuitPython and MicroPython SDK are currently being prepared.

WIZnet joined ARM ecosystem in 2015, when WIZwiki-W7500 was certified by Arm Mbed. To continue and prosper partnership between two companies, WizFi360 was selected as one of the official shields for official Wi-Fi Shield on Arm Open-CMSISPack and Keil Studio Cloud development.

We at WIZnet are trying to provide as many tools and example codes as possible to ease developers’ work.

How to Procure?

Despite global silicon and semiconductor shortage, WIZnet is doing its best not to increase prices for their products. Unlike many manufactures, in March 2022 prices for WizFi360 were lowered up to 20% globally.

Furthermore, WIZnet launches new direct sales service [5] online storefront for VAR (value-added-resellers) partners and UCC (user-created-content) makers. WizFi360 is one of two products currently being sold through this service. It is necessary to fill out the contact form to get the most reasonable price and best lead time.

Interested in Testing WizFi360? Join WizFi360 Design Contest!

WIZnet is holding a WizFi360 design contest. To celebrate the launch of WizFi360-EVB-Pico, we are offering a free sample (WizFi360 module, WizFi360-EVBMini or WizFi360-EVB-Pico) to all participants. It’s a great opportunity to bring your own ideas to life with a variety of provided open source and examples. Join our contest and win 1 of 30 iPad Pros. Follow the link [6] for more details.

To Conclude

In this article, we’ve taken a closer look at WizFi360 Wi-Fi module and how it is being used for development of various applications in different ecosystems. Since its release, WIZnet already sold more than 1 million modules globally.

WiFi module WizFi360 is a perfect choice for mobile wireless applications such as remote monitoring and sensor applications. Ease of integration and programming can vastly reduce development time and minimize system cost. Depending on your project needs, WIZnet is ready to offer firmware customization services. Should it be custom AT-command or application-specific program, we are ready to support all!

220277-01 Other WIZnet Wi-Fi Modules

Since 2015 WIZnet released a few Wi-Fi modules using chips from various manufacturers. In the current lineup there are: • WizFi630S [7] - gateway module that integrates 1T1R 802.11 Wi-Fi, a 580 MHz CPU, Ethernet PHY, USB2.0 host, SD-XC, I2S, I2C and more GPIOs; • WizFi310 [8] - small size wireless module for the highest level of integration, featuring 802.11b/g/n. This module is included in Ubidot supports boards. Information about other modules can be found on WIZnet’s website www.wiznet.io.

About WIZnet

WIZnet is a fabless IT company that provides Internet processors for the IoT. WIZnet is the sole innovator to patent the hardwired TCP/IP technology into a microprocessor chip in 2001. Since then, a yearly average of 10 million WIZnet chips have been used in various embedded Internet devices worldwide. Since establishing a loyal brand image with customers, WIZnet cooperates with 70 distributors worldwide with branch offices in USA, China, and India for competitive project marketing and faster technical support.

WEB LINKS

[1] WizFi360 datasheet: https://docs.wiznet.io/Product/Wi-Fi-Module/WizFi360/documents [2] Arduino Library: www.arduino.cc/reference/en/libraries/wizfi360/ [3] WiFiEsp library: https://github.com/wizfi/WizFi360EVB-Arduino [4] C/C++ SDK and sample codes for RP2040: https://docs.wiznet.io/Product/Open-Source-Hardware/wizfi360-evb-pico/ [5] Direct sales service: https://direct.wiznet.io [6] Contest and free Sample: https://maker.wiznet.io [7] WizFi630s: www.wiznet.io/product-item/wizfi630s [8] WizFi310: www.wiznet.io/product-item/wizfi310