8Devices, a Lithuanian company specialized in the development and manufacturing of electronic equipment, is known for their Carambola and Carambola2 WiFi modules powered by Ralink and Qualcomm Atheros WiSoCs. The company has now introduced a new dual band WiFi module called Rambutan that comes in commercial and industrial temperature range through respectively Qualcomm Atheros QCA9557 & QCA9550 SoCs.
Rambutan and Rambutan-I modules specifications:
- SoC
- Rambutan – Qualcomm Atheros QCA9557 MIPS processor @ 720 MHz
- Rambutan-I – Qualcomm Atheros QCA9550 MIPS processor @ 720 MHz
- System Memory – 128 MB DDR2
- Storage – 128 MB Flash
- Connectivity
- WiFi – 802.11 a/b/g/n, 2.4 or 5 GHz, 2×2 MIMO, 300 Mbps data rate, 21 dB per chain output power; 2x u.FL connectors
- Ethernet – Atheros AR8032 10/100M Ethernet PHY
- 68x half holes with
- 2 x USB 2.0 host port
- 2 x serial port
- 1x 100 Base-T Ethernet port; 1000 Base-T Ethernet port (SGMII interface)
- I2S, SPI, I2C, GPIO, PCIe, MDIO
- Power Supply – +3.3V DC; max power consumption: 3.7 W
- Dimensions – 46.9 x 31.8 mm
- Temperature Range – Rambutan: 0 – 65° C; Rambutan-I: -40 – 85° C
Beside the wider temperature range, Rambutan-I features QCA9550 SoC with the following advantages over QCA9557:
- 5 and 10 MHz channelization supported in a 4.9 GHz frequency band only
- Loopback mode to assist FIPS AES certification
- High Tx power accuracy at lower power level
- Small packet size (96 Bytes) in AES encryption at full packet rate
- 8 bits spectral analysis resolution
The modules run OpenWrt with the source code to be provided on 8devices’ github account, while support is handled through their forums. The company also offers Rambutan development kit with a baseboard for the module with some interesting features and expansion for this kind of board:
- Ethernet – 1x 1000 Base-T Ethernet port, 1×100 Base-T Ethernet port
- USB – 1x USB Type-A socket, 1x Mini USB Type-A socket for serial console and power
- Expansion:
- 2x 20-pin 2.54 mm pitch through holes for I/Os such as GPIOs, USB, UART, SPI, JTAG, …
- Mini PCIe socket
- Misc – reset and user buttons, DIP switch for bootstrap options, 2x integrated antennas
- Power Supply – 5V via mini USB port
- Dimensions – 125 x 77 mm (estimated)
Rambuta can be purchased now for $35, Rambutan-I for $49, and Rambutan development kit for $79. You’ll find more information, include a product brief, a datasheet, and the development board’s schematics on 8devices Rambutan’s product page.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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