Raytac AN7002Q – A smaller nRF7002 Wi-Fi 6 module for industrial IoT applications

IoT solutions company Raytac has introduced the AN7002Q Wi-Fi 6 module series, which integrates Nordic Semiconductor’s nRF7002 chipset and is designed for Industrial IoT, smart home, healthcare, consumer electronics, and automotive applications. They can be paired with Raytac’s MDBT53 Bluetooth LE modules based on the nRF5340 multiprotocol SoC, supporting Wi-Fi and Bluetooth LE solutions.

The AN7002Q is a low-power Wi-Fi 6 module supporting dual-band 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz operation with a maximum PHY data rate of 86 Mbps (MCS7). It is compatible with IEEE 802.11ax, a/b/g/n/ac standards, and connects to a host SoC or MCU via SPI or QSPI interfaces. The module also supports coexistence with Bluetooth LE, Thread, and Zigbee systems, making it ideal for IoT applications.

Previously, we covered the Abluetech PTR7002, a low-power wireless module based on the Nordic Semiconductor nRF7002. The PTR7002 has a slightly larger size and offers more GPIO options, while the AN7002Q is more compact, featuring 10 GPIO pins in its module package. If you’re interested in this product, you can check it out for more details.

Raytac AN7002Q module specifications:

• Chipset – Nordic Semiconductor’s nRF7002
  • Low-power Wi-Fi 6 supports dual-band 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz
  • Transmit power – Maximum 20 dBm for 2.4 GHz and 13 dBm for 5 GHz
  • Receiver sensitivity: -96.5dBm @ 2.4GHz and -90.5dBm @ 5GHz
  • Antenna port – Single-ended 50 Ω supports 20 MHz wide channels, 1×1 SingleInput Single-Output (SISO) operation
  • PHY data rate – Up to 86 Mbps (MCS7)
  • Operational modes – Station, Wi-Fi Direct, Soft AP(Wi-Fi 4 operation only) and simultaneous station + soft AP/Wi-Fi Direct/station modes
• Interface
  • Connects to host SoC or MCU via SPI or Quad SPI (QSPI)
  • Dedicated 3-wire or 4-wire coexistence interface for other radio protocols
• Antenna and RF Channels
  • Chip antenna for AN7002Q, PCB antenna AN7002Q-P and u.FL connector for AN7002Q-U
  • 2.4 GHz RF Channels – Ch1-Ch14 (Channel 14 is only available in Japan with 11b modulation)
  • 5 GHz RF Channels – Ch36/40/44/48/52/56/60/64, Ch100/104/108/112/116/120/124/128/132/136/140, Ch149/153/157/161/165/169/173
  • IEEE WLAN Standard – IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax
• Pinout – 25-pin standard SMD package with pads (0.6mm x 0.4mm) at the bottom with
  • 10x GPIO
  • 1x Debug, 1x Reset
  • VBAT, VDDIO and GND
• Additional Features
  • Target Wake Time (TWT)
  • Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA)
  • Basic Service Set (BSS) Coloring
  • Supports WMM and WMM-Power Save
• Security
  • Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 6, Wi-Fi CERTIFIED, Wi-Fi Enhanced Open
  • Supports WPA3, WPA2, WPA (Personal and Enterprise)
  • Protected Management Frames
• Power supply: 2.9V to 4.5V
• Current consumption
  •  Transmit current – Maximum 252mA @ 2.4GHz / 260mA @ 5GHz
  • Receive current – 60mA @ 2.4GHz / 56mA @ 5GHz
  • Shutdown current – 1.7μA
  • Sleep current – 15μA
• Operating temperature: -40°C to +85°C
• Dimension – 18 x 11 x 2.2 mm for AN7002Q-P
• Weight – 0.79 g (±0.02 g) for AN7002Q-P

For optimal RF layout, ensure that the “No Ground Pad” area is as wide as possible, regardless of PCB size, and maintain this area in the corresponding position of the antenna on each layer of the PCB. Additionally, positioning the module near the edge of the PCB will provide better performance than placing it at the center.

The AN7002Q module is designed to support radio coexistence and can be used alongside other nRF Series devices. For example, when paired with Raytac’s MDBT53 series, it enables a combined Bluetooth LE and Wi-Fi solution. In this setup, the nRF5340 acts as the host and serves as the common interface for the entire wireless system.

The AN7002Q module is well-suited for various applications, including IoT and smart home devices, as well as gateways and border routers. It is also ideal for industrial IoT sensors, controllers, and sports or fitness monitoring devices. Additionally, the module supports wireless payment systems and health monitoring devices. With Wi-Fi location capabilities through SSID scanning, the AN7002Q offers a versatile solution for a wide range of wireless communication needs.

The company has not provided pricing details at this time, but the module will be available on their eBay store in the future. You can visit its product page for more information about the nRF7002-based IoT module.

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