Summary of THE NEW AIR602 WIFI MODULE, A CHEAP MODULE DESIGNED FOR IOT APPLICATIONS
The Air602 is a tiny WiFi module from SeeedStudio based on the WinnerMicro W600 (ARM Cortex-M3, 1 MB flash, 2.4 GHz WiFi). At 10×12 mm it lacks an onboard antenna, provides 12 pins (7 usable I/O), supports UART/I2C/SPI/I2S/RTC and hardware crypto. SeeedStudio also offers a dev board with a PCB antenna and USB, exposing 5 pins; toolchain support remains limited.
Parts used in the Air602 module project:
- Air602 WiFi module (based on WinnerMicro W600)
- WinnerMicro W600 SoC (ARM Cortex-M3, 1 MB flash)
- Onboard PCB antenna (included on SeeedStudio development board)
- USB connectivity (on SeeedStudio development board)
- Power supply pin +3.3V
- Ground pins (2)
- Antenna pin (on module)
- Reset pin
- UART interfaces (dual UARTs)
- I2C interface
- SPI interface
- I2S interface
- RTC (real time clock) support
- Hardware cryptography support
The ESP8266 had been in the tech scene for over four years now and has seen various competitors like the RTL8710 or, more recently, the RDA5981. But none of them has really been able to knock off the ESP8266 from its throne. The ESP8266 is seen by most as being “good enough.” So the need to switch to a new chip is not necessary. Regardless this, SeeedStudio has developed a new chip, the Air602 module.
Its the latest of hardware WiFi chip to hit the market. Modeled on the WinnerMicro W600, an Arm Cortex-M3 with 1MB of Flash on-chip with 2.4GHz WiFi support, the Air602 module has a tiny 10×12 mm footprint less than half the size of the ESP-01 which measures 24.8 × 14.3 mm and this is partially because the module has no onboard antenna or antenna socket.
The W600 has dual UARTs, I2C, SPI and I2S interfaces, and supports RTC and hardware cryptography. The Air602 module has limited pinouts, offering 12 pins. Two of these pins are dedicated to ground pins, one to +3.3V power, one to the antenna, and one reset pin, that leaves only seven available for I/O, which are shared between the two UARTs with SPI available as a secondary option and a single GPIO pin.
SeeedStudio is also offering an Air602-based development board if an antenna-less module is not persuasive enough for the user. The board is equipped with the missing antenna in the form of an onboard PCB antenna and USB connectivity. However, pin availability is even more limited, with one of the two UART connections taken for the USB. Only 5 pins are broken out by the board. This is still better than the ESP-01 breakout, and a lot easier to manage when it comes to the wiring. The real obstacle of the board is the development toolchain, just like in the early days of the ESP8266.
Read more: THE NEW AIR602 WIFI MODULE, A CHEAP MODULE DESIGNED FOR IOT APPLICATIONS
- What is the Air602 module based on?
The Air602 is based on the WinnerMicro W600 SoC, an ARM Cortex-M3 with 1 MB flash and 2.4 GHz WiFi. - How big is the Air602 module?
The module measures 10×12 mm. - Does the Air602 module include an onboard antenna?
The Air602 module does not include an onboard antenna or antenna socket. - What interfaces does the W600 support?
The W600 supports dual UARTs, I2C, SPI, I2S, RTC, and hardware cryptography. - How many pins does the Air602 module expose and how many are usable for I/O?
The module exposes 12 pins; after power, grounds, antenna, and reset are accounted for, seven pins remain available for I/O. - What additional features does the SeeedStudio development board provide?
The SeeedStudio development board adds an onboard PCB antenna and USB connectivity. - How many pins are broken out by the SeeedStudio development board?
The development board breaks out five pins. - Is the Air602 development experience straightforward like ESP-01?
No, the development toolchain is limited and presents challenges similar to the early days of the ESP8266.
