Wireless Add-On Port

The wireless add-on port (a.k.a., "SPI port") of the EM1000 is a separate 10-pin connector.

This port carries five general-purpose I/O lines. When a wireless add-on module, such as the WA2000, is plugged into the EM1000, these lines are used for SPI communications with the add-on. In the absence of a wireless module, these five lines may be used as general-purpose I/O (GPIO) lines.

It should be noted that wireless add-on modules can be controlled through any five I/O lines of the EM1000. Obviously, the lines on the wireless add-on port are the most convenient for the task, as the connector pinout matches that of the WA2000. Nonetheless, it is always possible to connect the WA2000 by wires, in which case any combination of I/O lines can be used for communicating with it.

The wireless add-on port also carries three legacy lines: SPIDI, SPIDO, and SPOCLK. These lines are not used by wireless add-on devices and should never be connected.

For more details on Wi-Fi communications, see wln. object.

Variations Among EM1000 Versions

Standard EM1000 devices do not have the wireless add-on port connector and the "landing" PCB area for the connector is left empty.

Wireless add-on modules, such as the WA2000, may be soldered into the wireless add-on port pads on the EM1000. Tibbo will solder the WA2000 in if you order the "EM1000Nx" device.

Option "-A" EM1000 devices feature a 10-pin wireless add-on pin header. The pins on this header are identical to all other pins on the EM1000 and face the host PCB. This way, the wireless port of the EM1000 can be connected to some other circuitry on the host PCB. For example, instead of mounting onto the EM1000, the WA2000 can be mounted directly onto the host PCB. Option "-A" EM1000 modules are then required to facilitate the connection between the EM1000 and the WA2000.

Finally, option "-T" devices have a female wireless add-on port connector, which a wireless add-on like WA2000 can be plugged into. EM1000 modules of the "-T" variety are intended for convenient testing and are not recommended for use in production devices.

For further information on available EM1000 versions, see Mechanical Dimensions and Specifications and Ordering Info.