u-blox MAYA-W2 is a tri-radio IoT module supporting dual-band WiFi 6, Bluetooth Low Energy 5.2, and IEEE 802.15.4 (Thread and Zigbee) connectivity based on the NXP IW612 or IW611 chipset introduced last January.
The module is offered with a PCB antenna, u.FL connectors, and/or antenna pins, supports up to 600 Mbps link speed, and targets industrial and consumer mass-market applications in industrial automation, smart building & energy management, healthcare, smart home, and more.
u-blox MAYA-W2 highlights:
- Wi-Fi 6
- 802.11ax dual-band 2.4 and 5 GHz
- Up to 600 Mbit/s throughput
- Output power EIRP – 18 dBm
- Operation modes: Access point (up to 16 stations), station, Wi-Fi direct (combinations)
- Bluetooth 5.2
- Dual-mode Bluetooth classic and Bluetooth Low Energy 5.2
- LE Audio
- Output power EIRP – 20 dBM
- Bluetooth profiles and services – Bluetooth HCI
- 802.15.4 radio
- Supports Thread and Zigbee
- Support for the Matter protocol
- Variants with PCB-antenna, U.FL connectors, and antenna pins
- I/Os – 1x UART, 1x SDIO, 1x PCM; IW612 only: SPI
- Security – Secure boot and secure OTP; WPA3 security
- Supply Voltage – 3.3V (3.0 to 3.6V)
- Dimensions – 10.4 x 14.3 x 1.9 mm
- Temperature Range – -40 to +85°C
Four models are offered with a combination of antennas and chip configurations:
- MAYA-W260-00B – NXP IW611 chip with 2x U.FL connectors for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
- MAYA-W261-00B – NXP IW611 chip with 2x antenna pins for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
- MAYA-W266-00B – NXP IW611 chip with 1x antenna – pin or embedded PCB antenna – for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
- MAYA-W271-00B – NXP IW612 chip with 2x antenna pins for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth/802.15.4.
I had never heard about IW611, and it’s not on the NXP website at all at this time. But based on the specifications above, it looks to be similar to IW612 minus the 802.15.4 radio.
u-blox M2-MAYA-W2 card offers the same features as the module, but in an M.2 Type 2230 Key E form factor, and compatible with NXP i.MX evaluation and development boards. Upgrading WiFi 4 design to WiFi 6 should be easy, at least is you’re using the u-blox MAYA-W1 Wi-Fi 4 since the new MAYA-W2 is pin-to-pin compatible. Open-source Linux and Android are available as part of the NXP i.MX BSPs, while FreeRTOS software drivers are pre-integrated into the MCUXpresso software development kit (SDK).
As far as I know, there are no WiFi 6 IoT modules on the market right now, although there have been announcements for Laird Sterling 70 Series modules, Tuya AXBU module, and ESP32-C6 2.4 GHz WiFI 6 SoC, none appear to be available at this time. There’s certainly no other tri-band WiFI 6/Bluetooth/802.15.4 IoT module that I can think of.
u-blox MAYA-W2 is not available either, but at least we know samples of the module and evaluation kits will be available starting in June 2022. More details can be found on the product pages for the module and M.2 card, as well as the press release.
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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