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@xxxxxxxxx> 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 > > > > -- > To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-wireless" in > the body of a message to majordomo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > More majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html > -- To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-wireless" in the body of a message to majordomo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx More majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html
