Connecting nRF9160 to wifi using nRF7002

[Morten Lie]

Hi, 

In our project, we are planning to use the nRF9160 for both LTE-M and Wi-Fi. 
Thus, we have connected the nRF9160-DK to the nRF7002-EK in the developing phase as we read that the nRF7002 should work with the nRF91 series.
https://www.nordicsemi.com/-/media/Software-and-other-downloads/Product-Briefs/nRF7002-IC_Product-Brief-v1.1-1.pdf

When we're flashing the shell application with the scan-only overlay, everything works fine and we are able to scan for available networks using the shell.
However, when we are flashing an application to connect to a specific network from the Wi-fi-lessons, we get error messages after flashing: 

[00:00:00.623,474] <err> wifi_credentials_backend: psa_export_key failed, err: -134
[00:00:00.623,474] <err> wifi_credentials: Initializing WiFi credentials storage backend failed, err: -14
*** Booting nRF Connect SDK v2.9.99-00d62ec60e31 ***
*** Using Zephyr OS v4.0.99-71b0e2cc8bc4 ***
[00:00:00.624,328] <inf> Lesson2_Exercise2: Initializing Wi-Fi driver
[00:00:00.624,664] <inf> wifi_supplicant: wpa_supplicant initialized
[00:00:00.634,674] <err> wpa_supp: Failed to open socket: Unknown protocol, proto: 36488, af: 3
[00:00:00.634,735] <err> wpa_supp: Failed to create l2_packet: 0
[00:00:01.668,548] <err> wifi_supplicant: Failed to add iface wlan0

Build command: west build -p -b nrf9160dk/nrf9160/ns -- -DSHIELD=nrf7002ek
Application: https://github.com/NordicDeveloperAcademy/wifi-fund/tree/main/v2.9.0-v2.8.0/l2/l2_e2_sol

However, when flashing the same application to the nRF7002-DK, which is using the nRF5340, we are able to connect to our Wi-Fi network. 
Therefore, we are wondering if there is any missing functionality in the nRF9160 in order to connect to Wi-Fi or could we be missing something? 
We observe that there is less RAM on the nRF9160 than on the nRF5340, but are there other limitations we need to know about? 

Best regards,
Morten Lie 
Adigo AS

[Håkon Alseth]

Hi Morten,

 

However, when flashing the same application to the nRF7002-DK, which is using the nRF5340, we are able to connect to our Wi-Fi network. 
Therefore, we are wondering if there is any missing functionality in the nRF9160 in order to connect to Wi-Fi or could we be missing something? 
We observe that there is less RAM on the nRF9160 than on the nRF5340, but are there other limitations we need to know about? 

As you mention, it is the RAM that is the restricting factor for the nRF9160 to use the full Wi-Fi offering that we have for the nRF7000-series devices.

Unfortunately, due to the RAM limitation, we only support wifi scanning for location purposes with the nRF91-series devices:

https://docs.nordicsemi.com/bundle/ncs-latest/page/nrf/releases_and_maturity/software_maturity.html#wi-fi_feature_support

 

The main issue is that the lessons themselves are not setup with the correct board configuration for other boards than the ones listed here:

https://github.com/NordicDeveloperAcademy/wifi-fund/tree/main/v2.9.0-v2.8.0/l2/l2_e2_sol/boards

 

Kind regards,

Håkon

[Morten Lie]

Hi Håkon,

Thanks for your reply. 

Would appreciate if these limitations were communicated clearer when the nRF7002 is "designed to be the ideal Wi-Fi companion IC" for the nRF9 series. 

Best regards,
Morten

[Håkon Alseth]

Hi Morten,

 

My deepest apologies for the inconvenience this has caused. I agree with you that this is misleading, and I will bring this up internally with our marketing.

 

Kind regards,

Håkon

[Morten Lie]

Appreciate it.