Integration and troubleshooting: Sterling LWB+ radio module

Konsulko engineers are often asked to evaluate radio modules and other hardware that may be used with one of our customers’ custom boards for an upcoming embedded product. 

Recently, for two separate clients, we completed a detailed review of two WiFi/Bluetooth modules based on the Infinion CYW43439, manufactured by Ezurio (formerly Laird Connectivity and Boundary Devices). Ezurio hardware seems to be a popular choice, especially in the US, but Konsulko has no commercial relationship with the company and has made a purely technical evaluation.

Konsulko Senior Engineer Darko Alavanja has written this Integration and Troubleshooting Guide focussing on the Sterling LWB+ with WiFi 4 and Bluetooth 5.2 support. It has SDIO 2.0 and HCI HS-UART interface with a few additional GPIOs for turning on the module’s WiFi and/or BT regulators, sleep operation etc.

The Sona IF-513 module is M.2 form factor module that that supports Wi-Fi 6E + Bluetooth® 5.4 and uses SDIO 3.0 and HS-UART. It has a similar setup to Sterling LWB+ with one important quirk discussed in the Guide.

Topics include:

• Hardware setup
• GPIOs
• SDIO interface – WiFi
• HCI UART interface – Bluetooth
• Yocto Build Setup
• Kernel config
• Device tree setup
• Runtime validation

The troubleshooting section addresses:

• Kernel build issues
• Power sequencing
• Module response to SDIO commands
• SDIO data lines

You may download the guide to Integration and Troubleshooting of a Sterling LWB+ radio module here.

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