Low profile wifi on ODROID-W

8 Nov 2014

I purchased a ODROID-W a while back, and finally decided to fire it up.

As the USB host port is optional, and the connector wasn't provided, I couldn't plug in my wifi dongle. Because of that, I decided to take the dongle apart and solder it to the board without the USB connector. The idea is that this would result in a low profile "onboard" wifi for this already little board (except for the USB host port which would normally be fitted vertically ).

I first soldered the tiny ribbon cable to the wifi module and then to the ODROID-W.

Finally, I put everything in place with a drop of hot glue. And this was the result: a low profile "onboard" wifi module on my ODROID-W.

Whatever project I'll end up using this ODROID-W for, wifi will already be taken care of ...

Top Comments

Parents

mcb1 over 10 years ago

Nice work.
I hadn't even looked at that option, which makes great sense.

Mark
- Cancel
- Vote Up +1 Vote Down
- Sign in to reply
- More
- Cancel
fvan over 10 years ago in reply to mcb1

Well, this option relies on preparing the SD card with correct wifi config etc on a Raspberry Pi. As the USB port can no longer be used for a keyboard, initial configuration cannot be done on the ODROID-W itself. Once the wifi connection is taken care of though, everything else can be done via SSH.

Have you managed to find time to do something with yours yet ?
- Cancel
- Vote Up 0 Vote Down
- Sign in to reply
- More
- Cancel

Comment

fvan over 10 years ago in reply to mcb1

Well, this option relies on preparing the SD card with correct wifi config etc on a Raspberry Pi. As the USB port can no longer be used for a keyboard, initial configuration cannot be done on the ODROID-W itself. Once the wifi connection is taken care of though, everything else can be done via SSH.

Have you managed to find time to do something with yours yet ?
- Cancel
- Vote Up 0 Vote Down
- Sign in to reply
- More
- Cancel

Children

mcb1 over 10 years ago in reply to fvan

No sadly not.
I also have an Intel Edison and a VoCore waiting for power.
(The Edison is in the bottom left corner, the rest is a carrier board)

Still mopping up after the challenge, but one major job got sorted yesterday, and I'm tackling two others now.

In theory you should be able to attach the WiFi and keyboard using a hub to configure, then remove and fit.

I am looking at using OpenHAB to monitor the water pump, which decided to stop the other night.
Sending pressure and mains current (using my safe way to attach the CT) via 433MHz to a RPI, or similar is the current thought.

Cheers
Mark
- Cancel
- Vote Up +2 Vote Down
- Sign in to reply
- More
- Cancel
shabaz over 10 years ago in reply to mcb1

That module is tiny in comparison to the AA cell. Very nice.
- Cancel
- Vote Up 0 Vote Down
- Sign in to reply
- More
- Cancel
mcb1 over 10 years ago in reply to shabaz

Yes it is.
The biggest problem with it will be the connector which is a very small pitch which dictates SMD, so adding it to your project will be difficult for many.

(photo from Sparkfun)

Hopefully in time CHEAP breakout and prototyping boards will become available.
(maybe I have just added another job to my list)

mark
- Cancel
- Vote Up +1 Vote Down
- Sign in to reply
- More
- Cancel
Problemchild over 10 years ago in reply to mcb1

I think the guy from Cool Components said the base boar would be £6 ish dont know if that's right or what ?
- Cancel
- Vote Up 0 Vote Down
- Sign in to reply
- More
- Cancel
Problemchild over 10 years ago in reply to shabaz

Looks the same size as many WIFI modules for laptops etc
- Cancel
- Vote Up 0 Vote Down
- Sign in to reply
- More
- Cancel