Microcontroller with WiFi Module

Microchip and Olimex (and maybe others) offer adapter-boards with 
MRF24WB0MA Wifi-modules. It should be rather easy to connect such a 
module to any µC with SPI (and maybe UART) and any evaluation-board 
where these interface-lines are accessible. Microchip also offers 
software (TCP-IP) which can be used directly with their 
controllers/compilers but it doesn't look that difficult to port the to 
other architectures. (Just from looking into documentation, code and 
schematics, no first-hand experience)

Hey,

thank you for your fast answer :) .

So just that I get it right - this means when I chose a microcontroller 
there is no need for it to support Ethernet "from stock" ? It is enough 
when it has the desired CAN-Controller and a SPI or UART interface?

Whats about an small embedded linux board with integrated wifi?

I guess a CAN-driver should be available, so you just have to take care 
about how to access the CAN from wifi.

The board i mentioned is called Carambola and you can get more detailed 
informations from http://www.8devices.com/

Hey,

well, I am always open to new suggestions. So I lookep up the board you 
mentioned, but as far as I can tell it unfortunately does not have a 
CAN-Controller. So this would actually mean that I need in addition to 
the driver I also need a seperate board with a CAN Transceiver and a CAN 
Controller. I actually wanted to avoid that.

But I am still a bit wondering about the other possibility (you 
mentioned first). So if my Eval-Board has a SPI interface, i can just 
get a WiFi Module which can be controlled over SPI? Then there will 
(hopefully) some drivers and maybe also a TCP/IP implementation which I 
can use?

Yes you are right concerning the CAN-Controller question, the Carambola 
and the dev board as well don't have a CAN-Interface.

But i suggest you to take a look to a project which is linked in forum 
from 8devices (http://lnxpps.de/can2udpe/openwrt/).
There you will find a solution regarding the CAN-Interface topic which 
will be used to control his model trains.
Of course he uses another hardware, but he uses the same linux 
distribution so it should be quite easy to adapt this to Carambola.

Regarding the hardware, i would suggest you to design your own board, 
which will at least contain the power supply and the CAN-Interface and 
Carambola header similar to the dev board, maybe something else if you 
need.

Well I actually have to say I prefer the first option you mentioned. I 
already looked up the WiFi Module you mentioned  (MRF24WB0MA).

According to the data sheet, microchip offers an already implemented 
TCP/IP Stack to download. So since the PIC32 Microcontrollers were 
already an option to me, I think I will go this way.

Take a look at the Flyport Module, www.openpicus.com

This is a Pic24 Microcontroller with Microchip Wireless Lan Module

Hey there,

the problem with those boards is, that I would need some external CAN 
hardware.

Actually I found myself more confident in getting an Eval-Kit with an on 
board CAN-Transceiver and a Microcontroller (e.g. PIC24 or PIC32) which 
is capable of sending CAN messages.

Regarding the WiFi module I would like to ask two more question - what 
is the best way to go for a rookie?

Going for the suggested WiFi module ->
http://www.microchip.com/wwwproducts/Devices.aspx?dDocName=en548014#documentation

There I have to download and adapt the TCP/IP stack from microchip 
myself. Also in the documentation it says that the integeration of this 
needs "cooperative multitasking" - I can see why this is needed, but how 
hard is this to implement in my own code?

The other opportunity would be to take another WiFi Module like this ->
http://www.microchip.com/wwwproducts/Devices.aspx?dDocName=en558370

There it says the TCP/IP stack has already been implemented? What does 
that exactly mean? That I can request to send/receive data from the 
module right over SPI without even caring about the implementation of 
TCP?

I hope my questions don't sound to dumb but I really have a hard time 
finding some accurate information about this.

Side-Note: "Martin" and "Martin Thomas" are different persons.

I have not worked the mentioned Wifi-Modules. From the documentatoin it 
seems that using the RN171 is very similar to GSM Modules with embedded 
TCP/IP-Tack. Usually such modules are rather easy to use and the 
embedded stack frees processing time on the main controller. So for an 
easier start modules like RN171 might be easier to use. Cons: modules 
with embedded stack may be less flexible in terms of connection and 
tranfer options and maybe more expensive (I did not look up the price).

I have not worked with the TCP/IP software from microchip but expect 
"cooperative mutitasking" means that a state-machine-routine for the 
stack needs to be called frequently. Not to difficult to implement.

Maybe others can provice further hints if the data rate (CAN-Messages 
per second) is given.

http://digistump.com/products/50 CAN + WiFi on board. The board uses an 
AT91SAM3X8E. The CAN isn't mentiond in the product description but is 
shown in the PIN layout: 
http://digistump.com/wiki/digix/tutorials/pinout and in the more 
detailed feature description from the WIKI.

Hi!
Have a look at the new Texas Instruments CC3200. It's an ARM with WiFi 
included.

Sorry i just realized how old the thread is....

Toby wrote:

> Now in some additional research, I learned that apparently Ethernet and
> WiFi are kinda on the same layer in the OSI-Laymodell. Meaning I don't
> quite need that PHY to transfer my data over WiFi.

That's not true, at least it's not expressed correctly.

WiFi and Ethernet are sharing OSI layer 2 (MAC level), that's true. But 
WiFi requires some extensions at this level, compared to plain ethernet. 
But these extensions aren't your problem, at least not yet in the 
hardware level approach...

The fact is: The similarity at MAC layer won't help you in any way, 
because there are no WiFi adapters with "MAC interface". Simply because 
no PHY definitions/standards exists for this level, it's a pure logical 
protocol level.

> My problem is now, that I have a hard time understanding for what I have
> to look so I can accomplish my task.

Start your search from existing hardware! WiFi modules for instance are 
available with physical USB interface in an unbelievable wide range of 
different models from different suppliers.
So your task can be reduced to find a controller with USB host and CAN 
capabilities. That's fairly simple too. Also a shitload of possible 
models and suppliers is available in this market segment for a wide 
variaty of performance requirements.

Mission accomplished after very a very short time of googling... What 
kinda engineer are you?

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Thankyou

I have to work on a project in which gps module will send data to 
microcontroller and the data will be save in buffer , further i need to 
make an application that will communicate with microcontroller to get 
the data, would communication between microcontroller and application be 
possible from wifi module??