2.4 ghz WiFi ID

[tazntex]

I was just on mouser's web site thinking of order one Darrel after you mentioned adhoc, I've gotten pretty comfortable using the 16f628a in my projects and am looking at the 18f's to experiment with when I purchased the module mentioned earlier from Microchip the data sheet mentioned the 18F's prior to the TCP/IP V6 and thereafter 24F's? and higher. The '628 has really been fantastic for me to learn with any suggestions for the 18f's? I am curious about how to connect to ethernet but before I ask anymore questions on that I want to do a little more research.

Thanks again Mackrackit, Darrel and Normnet for your help.

[Darrel Taylor]

"adhoc", I knew I should have looked up the spelling.

I thought I saw something about a Rabbit Hunt ... I think they would be perfect.
One module can connect to other modules, and it returns signal levels for each device it finds.
Zeroing in on something wouldn't be too hard at all.

They are not a Web Server. They don't serve up webpages. (Although your program can).
But you can connect to other things on the net.
Synchronizing time is automatic, so it's great for clocks.

I think the best part is that two modules can connect to each other without the need for a wireless router (adhoc).
I haven't seen a better way to connect two PICs wirelessly. 802.11/G, can't get much faster than that.
Of course you are limited to 1 megabaud from the USART, and it's not secure in adhoc mode.

The 16F628 will work fine with it.
A 12F1822 (8-PIN) will work just as well.

@ 4uA sleep current, it can keep your batteries in good shape.

Sorry for what sounds like a commercial, but I've been having fun with the RN-171.
And I guess Microchip knew a good thing when they saw it, and bought them. I didn't know that.

[Archangel]

The '628 has really been fantastic for me to learn with any suggestions for the 18f's?
Thanks again Mackrackit, Darrel and Normnet for your help.

Hi Tazntex,
If you like the 628a, you will love the 16F648A, same chip same data sheet twice the memory for about 30 cents more.

[Christopher4187]

Not too much information about these. Can anyone tell me if the RN-171 can connect to a smart phone via wifi? I'm guessing that would be ah-hoc mode?

[Christopher4187]

After reading some, I can't figure out which module is better - RN-171 or MRF24WB0MB? I'll be using an 18F4550 and I'd like to run a simple webpage where I can control and monitor stuff. I'd also like the module to be a standalone unit where I can use my phone to connect to it. I've used the Netburner PINK ethernet module in the past but I doubt these two modules are similar. What is a better unit to use?

[Normnet]

After reading some, I can't figure out which module is better - RN-171 or MRF24WB0MB? I'll be using an 18F4550 and I'd like to run a simple webpage where I can control and monitor stuff. I'd also like the module to be a standalone unit where I can use my phone to connect to it. I've used the Netburner PINK ethernet module in the past but I doubt these two modules are similar. What is a better unit to use?

The Roving Networks RN-171 has the TCP/IP stack built in making it far easier to use than Microchips MRF24WB0MB unless you are coding in C and using Microchips free stack library.

Norm

[Christopher4187]

Thanks for the reply. I'm just entering the world of wifi with my projects so I have a few more questions.

Am I not reading the datasheet correctly or does the RN-171 not have SPI? If not, can I use something other than a USART to communicate with it? The reason I ask is because I'm using the USART for another chip. I don't know if it's like SPI where the USART pins go to high impedance mode when the CS line is deasserted.

I can't code in C but is it needed for the MRF24WB0MB?

Regarding the TCP/IP stack, both datasheets state they include one. Why is it so much harder to use the Microchip MRF24WB0MB as opposed to the RN-171?

For both models, can you use them to communicate with a identical model (peer to peer) and also through the internet?

[HenrikOlsson]

Hi Christopher,
Looking at the datasheet for the MRF24WB0MB it's my understanding that it does NOT contain the TCP/IP stack. On page 7 it says

The MRF24WB0MA/MRF24WB0MB modules are designed to be used with Microchip’s TCP/IP software stack.

The combination of the module and a PIC running the TCP/IP stack results in support for IEEE Standard802.11 and IP services.

So if I don't read that completely wrong you need to run a TCP/IP stack in the PIC you're using to drive the MRF24WB0MB. Alternatively you can pair it up with the MCW1001A which I suspect is just a PIC preprogrammed with Microchips TCP/IP stack and some user interface code. What you'll end up with would then be something like this.

You don't NEED to code in C to use MRF24WB0MB directly with a PIC but the free Microchip TCP/IP stack is written in C and to use THAT you'll need to write your application in C. Obviously you COULD develop your own TCP/IP stack in PBP but that is a monumental task and then some. Fred Eady (I think) has posted some TCP/IP code for PBP on this forum in the past but I have no idea what's implemented and in what state it is.

The RN-171 on the other hand does seem to have the TCP/IP stack already implemented within the module and if you look at the features you'll see

•Hardware interfaces: UART and SPI Slave

And in the datasheet it says

• Host data rates up to 921 Kbps TX, 500 Kbps RX for the UART, up to 2 Mbps over the SPI slave

Please note that I don't have any experience with either module. I do have a MRF24WB0MB + MCW1001A module but haven't done anything with it.

/Henrik.