Intermediate
20 min

Enjoy online activities without interruption with PAN9420 and ATmega644P

2.4GHz WiFi magic: Fast, furious, flawless!

WiFi 9 Click with EasyAVR v7

Published Nov 08, 2023

Click board™

WiFi 9 Click

Dev. board

EasyAVR v7

Compiler

NECTO Studio

MCU

ATmega644P

Elevate your home network with our 2.4GHz WiFi solution, designed for brilliance in speed, coverage, and reliability, ensuring you stay connected effortlessly.

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Hardware Overview

How does it work?

WiFi 9 Click is based on the PAN9420, a fully embedded Wi-FI module from Panasonic. The module combines a high-performance CPU, high-sensitivity wireless radio, baseband processor, medium access controller, encryption unit, boot ROM with patching capability, internal SRAM, and in-system programmable flash memory. The module’s integrated QSPI flash memory is available to the application for storing web content such as HTML pages or image data. Parallel support of access point and infrastructure mode allows easy setup of simultaneous Wi‑Fi connections from the module to smart devices and home network routers.

The pre‑programmed Wi-Fi SoC firmware enables client (STA), micro access point (µAP), and Ad‑hoc mode (Wi-Fi Direct) applications. With the transparent mode, raw data can be sent from the UART to the air interface to smart devices, web servers, or PC applications. For working with PAN9420 module at your disposal are two data UART interfaces, one for command and another for transparent data. In order to enable simultaneous communication between the module and host MCU through one UART on mikroBUS™ socket we have added 74HC4052 multiplexer from Nexperia. On the WiFi 9 click board several status LED’s are implemented

for easiest visual monitoring of the module states like MCU heartbeat, IP connectivity, Errors, WiFi connection and Booting. The PAN9420 supports Over-the-Air firmware updates. In order to make use of this feature, the customer needs to ensure that the appropriate preconditions are fulfilled and that a suitable environment is provided. This Click board™ can be operated only with a 3.3V logic voltage level. The board must perform appropriate logic voltage level conversion before using MCUs with different logic levels. Also, it comes equipped with a library containing functions and an example code that can be used as a reference for further development.

WiFi 9 Click hardware overview image

Features overview

Development board

EasyAVR v7 is the seventh generation of AVR development boards specially designed for the needs of rapid development of embedded applications. It supports a wide range of 16-bit AVR microcontrollers from Microchip and has a broad set of unique functions, such as a powerful onboard mikroProg programmer and In-Circuit debugger over USB. The development board is well organized and designed so that the end-user has all the necessary elements in one place, such as switches, buttons, indicators, connectors, and others. With four different connectors for each port, EasyAVR v7 allows you to connect accessory boards, sensors, and custom electronics more

efficiently than ever. Each part of the EasyAVR v7 development board contains the components necessary for the most efficient operation of the same board. An integrated mikroProg, a fast USB 2.0 programmer with mikroICD hardware In-Circuit Debugger, offers many valuable programming/debugging options and seamless integration with the Mikroe software environment. Besides it also includes a clean and regulated power supply block for the development board. It can use a wide range of external power sources, including an external 12V power supply, 7-12V AC or 9-15V DC via DC connector/screw terminals, and a power source via the USB Type-B (USB-B)

connector. Communication options such as USB-UART and RS-232 are also included, alongside the well-established mikroBUS™ standard, three display options (7-segment, graphical, and character-based LCD), and several different DIP sockets which cover a wide range of 16-bit AVR MCUs. EasyAVR v7 is an integral part of the Mikroe ecosystem for rapid development. Natively supported by Mikroe software tools, it covers many aspects of prototyping and development thanks to a considerable number of different Click boards™ (over a thousand boards), the number of which is growing every day.

EasyAVR v7 horizontal image

Microcontroller Overview

MCU Card / MCU

Architecture

AVR

MCU Memory (KB)

64

Silicon Vendor

Microchip

Pin count

40

RAM (Bytes)

4096

Used MCU Pins

mikroBUS™ mapper

Address Selection
PA7
AN
Reset
PA6
RST
UART RTS
PA5
CS
NC
NC
SCK
NC
NC
MISO
NC
NC
MOSI
Power Supply
3.3V
3.3V
Ground
GND
GND
MCU Reset
PD4
PWM
UART CTS
PD2
INT
UART TX
PD1
TX
UART RX
PD0
RX
NC
NC
SCL
NC
NC
SDA
NC
NC
5V
Ground
GND
GND
1

Take a closer look

Click board™ Schematic

WiFi 9 Click Schematic schematic

Step by step

Project assembly

EasyAVR v7 front image hardware assembly

Start by selecting your development board and Click board™. Begin with the EasyAVR v7 as your development board.

EasyAVR v7 front image hardware assembly
Buck 22 Click front image hardware assembly
MCU DIP 40 hardware assembly
EasyAVR v7 MB 1 - upright/background hardware assembly
Necto image step 2 hardware assembly
Necto image step 3 hardware assembly
Necto image step 4 hardware assembly
NECTO Compiler Selection Step Image hardware assembly
NECTO Output Selection Step Image hardware assembly
Necto image step 6 hardware assembly
Necto DIP image step 7 hardware assembly
EasyPIC PRO v7a Display Selection Necto Step hardware assembly
Necto image step 9 hardware assembly
Necto image step 10 hardware assembly
Necto PreFlash Image hardware assembly

Track your results in real time

Application Output

1. Application Output - In Debug mode, the 'Application Output' window enables real-time data monitoring, offering direct insight into execution results. Ensure proper data display by configuring the environment correctly using the provided tutorial.

2. UART Terminal - Use the UART Terminal to monitor data transmission via a USB to UART converter, allowing direct communication between the Click board™ and your development system. Configure the baud rate and other serial settings according to your project's requirements to ensure proper functionality. For step-by-step setup instructions, refer to the provided tutorial.

3. Plot Output - The Plot feature offers a powerful way to visualize real-time sensor data, enabling trend analysis, debugging, and comparison of multiple data points. To set it up correctly, follow the provided tutorial, which includes a step-by-step example of using the Plot feature to display Click board™ readings. To use the Plot feature in your code, use the function: plot(*insert_graph_name*, variable_name);. This is a general format, and it is up to the user to replace 'insert_graph_name' with the actual graph name and 'variable_name' with the parameter to be displayed.

Software Support

Library Description

This library contains API for WiFi 9 Click driver.

Key functions:

  • wifi9_select_uart - Switch to a command or binary uart

  • wifi9_reset_device - Module reset.

  • wifi9_send_command - Send Command function.

Open Source

Code example

The complete application code and a ready-to-use project are available through the NECTO Studio Package Manager for direct installation in the NECTO Studio. The application code can also be found on the MIKROE GitHub account.

/*!
 * \file 
 * \brief WiFi 9 Click example
 * 
 * # Description
 * This application showcases capability of the WiFi 9 Click board. 
 * It initializes device, connects to local WiFi. Creates TCP server, waits for connection, 
 * and logs every message it receives from clients and returns back those messages as an echo response.
 *
 * The demo application is composed of two sections :
 * 
 * ## Application Init 
 * Initializes driver and wifi communication, then connects to the desired WiFi network
 * and creates TCP server on the IP address assigned to the click board.
 * 
 * ## Application Task  
 * All data received from the TCP clients will be logger to USB UART and echoed back to the clients.
 * 
 * ## Additional Function
 * - static void wifi9_clear_app_buf ( void )
 * - static err_t wifi9_process ( void )
 * - static void wifi9_log_app_buf ( void )
 * - static err_t wifi9_rsp_check ( uint8_t *rsp )
 * 
 * \author MikroE Team
 *
 */
// ------------------------------------------------------------------- INCLUDES

#include "board.h"
#include "log.h"
#include "wifi9.h"
#include "string.h"

// Example parameters
#define EXAMPLE_SSID                        "MikroE Public"
#define EXAMPLE_PASSWORD                    "mikroe.guest"
#define EXAMPLE_SERVER_PORT                 "1234"

// Application buffer size
#define APP_BUFFER_SIZE                     256
#define PROCESS_BUFFER_SIZE                 256
// ------------------------------------------------------------------ VARIABLES

/**
 * @brief Application example variables.
 * @details Variables used in application example.
 */
static uint8_t app_buf[ APP_BUFFER_SIZE ] = { 0 };
static int32_t app_buf_len = 0;
static wifi9_t wifi9;
static log_t logger;

// ------------------------------------------------------- ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONS

/**
 * @brief Clearing application buffer.
 * @details This function clears memory of application
 * buffer and reset its length.
 */
static void wifi9_clear_app_buf ( void );

/**
 * @brief Data reading function.
 * @details This function reads data from device and
 * appends it to the application buffer.
 * @return @li @c  0 - Some data is read.
 *         @li @c -1 - Nothing is read.
 * See #err_t definition for detailed explanation.
 */
static err_t wifi9_process ( void );

/**
 * @brief Logs application buffer.
 * @details This function logs data from application buffer.
 */
static void wifi9_log_app_buf ( void );

/**
 * @brief Response check.
 * @details This function checks for response and
 * returns the status of response.
 * @param[in] rsp  Expected response.
 * @return @li @c  0 - OK response.
 *         @li @c -1 - Unknown error.
 *         @li @c -2 - Timeout error.
 * See #err_t definition for detailed explanation.
 */
static err_t wifi9_rsp_check ( uint8_t *rsp );

// ------------------------------------------------------ APPLICATION FUNCTIONS

void application_init ( void )
{
    log_cfg_t log_cfg;
    wifi9_cfg_t cfg;

    /** 
     * Logger initialization.
     * Default baud rate: 115200
     * Default log level: LOG_LEVEL_DEBUG
     * @note If USB_UART_RX and USB_UART_TX 
     * are defined as HAL_PIN_NC, you will 
     * need to define them manually for log to work. 
     * See @b LOG_MAP_USB_UART macro definition for detailed explanation.
     */
    LOG_MAP_USB_UART( log_cfg );
    log_init( &logger, &log_cfg );
    log_info( &logger, " Application Init " );

    // Click initialization.
    wifi9_cfg_setup( &cfg );
    WIFI9_MAP_MIKROBUS( cfg, MIKROBUS_1 );
    wifi9_init( &wifi9, &cfg );

    wifi9_reset_device( &wifi9 );
    wifi9_select_uart( &wifi9, WIFI9_SELECT_CMD_UART );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );

    wifi9_process( );
    wifi9_clear_app_buf( );
    
    log_printf( &logger, "---------------------\r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, "---- System Info ----\r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, "---------------------\r\n" );

    wifi9_send_command( &wifi9, WIFI9_CMD_GET_SYSTEM_FIRMWARE );
    wifi9_rsp_check( WIFI9_CMD_GET_SYSTEM_FIRMWARE );
    wifi9_log_app_buf( );

    wifi9_send_command( &wifi9, WIFI9_CMD_GET_SYSTEM_MAC_ADDR );
    wifi9_rsp_check( WIFI9_CMD_GET_SYSTEM_MAC_ADDR );
    wifi9_log_app_buf( );

    wifi9_send_command( &wifi9, WIFI9_CMD_GET_SYSTEM_SERIAL_NUM );
    wifi9_rsp_check( WIFI9_CMD_GET_SYSTEM_SERIAL_NUM );
    wifi9_log_app_buf( );

    wifi9_send_command( &wifi9, WIFI9_CMD_GET_SYSTEM_RADIO_VER );
    wifi9_rsp_check( WIFI9_CMD_GET_SYSTEM_RADIO_VER );
    wifi9_log_app_buf( );

    wifi9_send_command( &wifi9, WIFI9_CMD_GET_SYSTEM_BOOTL_VER );
    wifi9_rsp_check( WIFI9_CMD_GET_SYSTEM_BOOTL_VER );
    wifi9_log_app_buf( );

    wifi9_send_command( &wifi9, WIFI9_CMD_GET_SYSTEM_HW_REV );
    wifi9_rsp_check( WIFI9_CMD_GET_SYSTEM_HW_REV );
    wifi9_log_app_buf( );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );

    log_printf( &logger, "--------------------------\r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, "---- Start NETCAT app ----\r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, "--------------------------\r\n" );
    
    log_printf( &logger, "\r\nSet Station to ON status: " );
    wifi9_send_command( &wifi9, WIFI9_CMD_SET_WLAN_STATE_STA_ON );
    wifi9_rsp_check( WIFI9_CMD_SET_WLAN_STATE );
    wifi9_log_app_buf( );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );

    log_printf( &logger, "\r\nSet Station SSID and PASSWORD: " );
    strcpy( app_buf, WIFI9_CMD_SET_WLAN_CFG_STA );
    strcat( app_buf, " \"" );
    strcat( app_buf, EXAMPLE_SSID );
    strcat( app_buf, "\" \"" );
    strcat( app_buf, EXAMPLE_PASSWORD );
    strcat( app_buf, "\" 4" );
    wifi9_send_command( &wifi9, app_buf );
    wifi9_rsp_check( WIFI9_CMD_SET_WLAN_CFG );
    wifi9_log_app_buf( );
    Delay_ms ( 500 );
    
    log_printf( &logger, "\r\nTurn ON - Netcat module: " );
    wifi9_send_command( &wifi9, WIFI9_CMD_SET_NETCAT_STATE_ON );
    wifi9_rsp_check( WIFI9_CMD_SET_NETCAT_STATE );
    wifi9_log_app_buf( );
    Delay_ms ( 500 );
    
    log_printf( &logger, "\r\nExclude Netcat authentication: " );
    wifi9_send_command( &wifi9, WIFI9_CMD_SET_NETCAT_AUTH_OFF );
    wifi9_rsp_check( WIFI9_CMD_SET_NETCAT_AUTH );
    wifi9_log_app_buf( );
    Delay_ms ( 500 );
    
    log_printf( &logger, "\r\nSet the Netcat module server port: " );
    strcpy( app_buf, WIFI9_CMD_SET_NETCAT_CFG_SERVER );
    strcat( app_buf, " " );
    strcat( app_buf, EXAMPLE_SERVER_PORT );
    wifi9_send_command( &wifi9, app_buf );
    wifi9_rsp_check( WIFI9_CMD_SET_NETCAT_CFG );
    wifi9_log_app_buf( );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
    
    log_printf( &logger, "\r\nWaiting for an IP address assignment from DHCP server...\r\n" );
    for ( ; ; )
    {
        log_printf( &logger, "\r\nGet IP address: " );
        wifi9_send_command( &wifi9, WIFI9_CMD_GET_NET_CFG_STA );
        wifi9_rsp_check( WIFI9_CMD_GET_NET_CFG );
        wifi9_log_app_buf( );
        if ( !strstr ( app_buf, "0.0.0.0" ) )
        {
            break;
        }
        Delay_ms ( 1000 );
        Delay_ms ( 1000 );
        Delay_ms ( 1000 );
        Delay_ms ( 1000 );
        Delay_ms ( 1000 );
    }
    wifi9_clear_app_buf( );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
    
    log_printf( &logger, "\r\nNow you can connect to the TCP server listed above via a TCP client app\r\n" );  
    log_printf( &logger, "The module is transferred to BIN-UART - for data collection\r\n" );

    wifi9_select_uart( &wifi9, WIFI9_SELECT_BIN_UART );
    log_info( &logger, " Application Task " );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
}

void application_task ( void )
{
    wifi9_process( );
    if ( app_buf_len )
    {
        wifi9_log_app_buf( );
        wifi9_generic_write( &wifi9, app_buf, app_buf_len );
        wifi9_clear_app_buf( );
        Delay_ms ( 100 );
    }
}

int main ( void ) 
{
    /* Do not remove this line or clock might not be set correctly. */
    #ifdef PREINIT_SUPPORTED
    preinit();
    #endif
    
    application_init( );
    
    for ( ; ; ) 
    {
        application_task( );
    }

    return 0;
}

static void wifi9_clear_app_buf ( void )
{
    memset( app_buf, 0, app_buf_len );
    app_buf_len = 0;
}

static err_t wifi9_process ( void )
{
    uint8_t rx_buf[ PROCESS_BUFFER_SIZE ] = { 0 };
    int32_t rx_size = 0;
    rx_size = wifi9_generic_read( &wifi9, rx_buf, PROCESS_BUFFER_SIZE );
    if ( rx_size > 0 ) 
    {
        int32_t buf_cnt = app_buf_len;
        if ( ( ( app_buf_len + rx_size ) > APP_BUFFER_SIZE ) && ( app_buf_len > 0 ) ) 
        {
            buf_cnt = APP_BUFFER_SIZE - ( ( app_buf_len + rx_size ) - APP_BUFFER_SIZE );
            memmove ( app_buf, &app_buf[ APP_BUFFER_SIZE - buf_cnt ], buf_cnt );
        }
        for ( int32_t rx_cnt = 0; rx_cnt < rx_size; rx_cnt++ ) 
        {
            if ( rx_buf[ rx_cnt ] ) 
            {
                app_buf[ buf_cnt++ ] = rx_buf[ rx_cnt ];
                if ( app_buf_len < APP_BUFFER_SIZE )
                {
                    app_buf_len++;
                }
            }
        }
        return WIFI9_OK;
    }
    return WIFI9_ERROR;
}

static void wifi9_log_app_buf ( void )
{
    for ( int32_t buf_cnt = 0; buf_cnt < app_buf_len; buf_cnt++ )
    {
        log_printf( &logger, "%c", app_buf[ buf_cnt ] );
    }
}

static err_t wifi9_rsp_check ( uint8_t *rsp )
{
    uint32_t timeout_cnt = 0;
    uint32_t timeout = 60000;
    wifi9_clear_app_buf( );
    wifi9_process( );
    while ( 0 == strstr( app_buf, rsp ) )
    {
        wifi9_process( );
        if ( timeout_cnt++ > timeout )
        {
            wifi9_clear_app_buf( );
            return WIFI9_ERROR_TIMEOUT;
        }
        Delay_ms ( 1 );
    }
    Delay_ms ( 100 );
    wifi9_process( );
    if ( strstr( app_buf, rsp ) )
    {
        return WIFI9_OK;
    }
    return WIFI9_ERROR;
}

// ------------------------------------------------------------------------ END

Additional Support

Resources

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