Atheros AR9271

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  • The AR9271 is a USB to Wi-Fi single chip, typically used in Wi-Fi dongles.
  • For a list of all currently documented Atheros chipsets with specifications, see Atheros.
  • Known chip revisions:
AR9271-AL1A
AR9271L-AL3A 'The first L stands for "Low-Cost".', per Sujith on ath9k-devel

Properties

  • Manufacturer: Atheros
  • Part name: AR9271
  • Type: chip
  • Number of buses: 1
  • Bus(es): USB 2.0. Probably Faraday FOTG210_UDC
  • Number of bands: 1
  • Band(s): 2.4GHz
  • Data rate: 150 Mbps
  • MIMO configuration:
1x1 (1 txchain; 2 RX RF chains; 1 rx stream); see note below
  • 802.11 PHY Modes: b,g,n
  • SOC Architecture: RISC - Tensilica core (Xtensa LX2.1.0) - see open firmware below.
SOC clock: 117 MHz
SOC ROM: 24 Kbyte
SOC RAM: 160 KByte
  • Output power:
(1Mbps): +19 dBm
(HT20 MCS7): +17 dBm
(HT40 MCS7): +16 dBm
  • Sensitivity (RX-only chain):
(1Mbps): -96 dBm typ.
(HT20 MCS7): -73 dBm typ.
(HT40 MCS7): -70 dBm typ.
  • Sensitivity for RX/TX shared chain:
3dB worse than RX-only chain
  • Integrated RF: PA, LNA, T/R Switch
  • Integrated Functions: 802.11 Baseband, 802.11 MAC
  • Externally required functions: 2.4G antenna(s),
40MHz crystal, SPI flash, serial EEPROM
  • Operating temperature range: 0C° to 110C°, typ 45C°
  • Marking on chip: Atheros (R); AR9271-AL1A; DOR379C; 1034; KOREA
  • Chip Package: 68 pin, 8mm x 8mm, LPCC package

Note about antenna diversity and MIMO: the chip has 2 RX RF chains with 4 analog (RF) combining methods, selected dynamically in real-time for each packet during reception, resulting in performance much closer to MIMO 1x2:1 than MIMO 1x1:1 even though it's not full MIMO-MRC... assuming a second antenna is connected to the secondary RX port, of course. Most adapters omit this second antenna.

Product Brief and Datasheet

Device ID

Default USB ID:

  • 0cf3:9271 (Atheros AR9271)

Non-standard USB IDs:

  • Many, see query.

Linux support

Built-in Linux kernel support:

  • Linux kernel module: ath9k_htc
  • in backports
  • Linux kernel version: v2.6.35
  • Linux kernel date: 2010-08-01
  • Firmware: Open Firmware
  • In Ubuntu, the firmware files are already included in the base distribution
  • In Debian:
    • apt-get install firmware-atheros
(in Debian the firmware-atheros package includes files:
/lib/firmware/ar9271.fw /lib/firmware/htc_9271.fw
Without these modprobe ath9k_htc does not create wlan0 device and dmesg shows:
=> Failed to load firmware )

Pins

Atheros ar9271.png
ALFA Network AWUS036NHA board top nonscan.jpg
  • 18 - GPIO5/SPI_SDO
  • 19 - GPIO6/SPI_S_L - chip select?
  • 20 - GPIO7/SPI_SCK
  • 21 - GPIO8/SPI_SDI
  • 28 - GPIO0/JTAG TMS - test mode select
  • 29 - GPIO1/JTAG TDI - test data input
  • 30 - GPIO2/JTAG TCK - test clock
  • 31 - GPIO4/JTAG TDO - test data output
  • 35 - GPIO12/SPI_BOOT - if UP on power on, CPU will start from SPI
  • 48 - GPIO9 and UART Rx
  • 49 - GPIO10 and UART Tx (baudrate 19200)
  • 67 - XPABIAS - (Analog Output) connected with EN(able) pin of external Power Amp.
  • 68 - PDET - (Analog Input) connected with DET ping of external Power Amp.

JTAG

"Before using those pins configure register “GPIO Input Enable and Value”
(H_GP_INPT_EN_VAL) Address: 0x1000_4054.
Bit 17 must be set to 0 that means JTAG enabled (1 means JTAG disabled)."

AR9271 devices

with internal images

 
ALFA Network AWUS036NHA
Netgear DGN1000
TP-LINK TL-WN722N v1.x
ThinkPenguin TPE-N150USB
Ubiquiti Networks WiFiStation EXT

with accessible UART

 
ALFA Network AWUS036NHA
AzureWave AW-NU148
Microsoft Xbox 360 Internal Wireless Module (1399)
Quanta Microsystems US305
Ubiquiti Networks WiFiStation
Ubiquiti Networks WiFiStation EXT

Table of Systems

  • First seen (FCC): 2009-07-27
  • Wireless adapters using this device: 47 devices
  • Embedded systems using this device: 4 devices
 InterfaceFFUSB conn.Antenna connectorManufManuf. mdlVendor IDDevice IDChip1 modelPHY modesMIMO configOUIEst. year
ALFA Network AWUS036NHAUSBcorded (modular) adapterFemale Mini-BRP-SMAAWBWUS620C-H0cf39271AR9271bgn1x1:100:C0:CA2012
AVM FRITZ!WLAN USB Stick v2USBdongleMale Anone specified057c8403AR9271bgn1x1:1BC:05:43
AboCom WU5108USBmicro dongleMale A (unshielded)none specifiedAR9271Lbgn1x1:12011
Altai WA1011N-GUUSBcorded (modular) adapterFemale Micro-BU.FLAboComAR9271bgn1x1:12011
Askey WLL6120USB (non-standard connector)U.FLAR9271bgn1x1:12009
Atheros AR5BUB173USB (non-standard connector)moduleU.FLAR9271bgn1x1:12010
AzureWave AW-NU137USB (non-standard connector)U.FL13d33327AR9271bgn1x1:12010
AzureWave AW-NU138USBmicro dongleMale Anone specifiedAR9271bgn1x1:174:2F:682010
AzureWave AW-NU148USB (non-standard connector)moduleU.FL0cf39271AR9271bgn1x1:100:19:9D2010
AzureWave AW-NU150USBmicro dongleMale Anone specifiedAR9271bgn1x1:174:2F:682010
AzureWave AW-NU153HMini PCIe (USB, half)U.FLAR9271bgn1x1:12010
AzureWave AW-NU240USB (non-standard connector)modulenone specifiedAR9271bgn1x1:12012
D-Link DWA-126USBdongleMale ARP-SMACameo07d13a10AR9271bgn1x1:12009
Foxconn J20H049USB (non-standard connector)moduleU.FLFoxconnAR9271bgn1x1:190:34:FC2010
Lite-On WN4606AUSB (non-standard connector)U.FLAR9271bgn1x1:100:19:9D2011
Microsoft Xbox 360 Internal Wireless Module (1399)USB (non-standard connector)internal wireless modulenone specifiedAskeyWLU6150AR9271bgn1x1:124:EC:992011
Mitsumi Electric DWM-W046USB (non-standard connector)U.FLAR9271bgn1x1:12010
Netgear WNA1100USBdongleMale Anone specifiedSerComm08469030AR9271bgn1x1:100:26:F2
00:8E:F2
2C:B0:5D
30:46:9A
E0:46:9A
E0:91:F5
2010
OPPO Digital AK093USBdongleMale Anone specifiedTP-LINKAR9271bgn1x1:12010
Onkyo UWF-1USBmicro dongleMale Anone specifiedWistron NeWebAR9271bgn1x1:190:A4:DE2011
Philips PTA01USBdongleMale AU.FLAlpha NetworksWUS-N110471209eAR9271bgn1x1:15C:33:8E2010
Philips WUB1110USBdongleMale Anone specifiedAlpha NetworksWUS-N11AR9271bgn1x1:15C:33:8E2010
Proware PW-DN421USBdongleMale Anone specifiedProwareAR9271bgn1x2:100:12:7B2011
Proware PW-DN4210USBdongleMale ARP-SMAProwareAR9271bgn1x1:12011
Proware PW-DN4210DUSBdongleMale ARP-SMAProware0cf39271AR9271bgn1x1:16C:FD:B92011
Proware PW-MN421USB (non-standard connector)U.FLAR9271bgn1x1:12011
Quanta Microsystems US305USB (non-standard connector)U.FLQuanta MicrosystemsAR9271Lbgn1x1:100:19:9D2011
Rosewill RNX-N150HGUSBdongleMale ARP-SMATP-LINK0cf39271AR9271bgn1x1:168:1C:A22011
SMC SMCWUSBS-N4USBdongleMale Anone specifiedTP-LINKAR9271bgn1x1:12012
Sharp VR-WL25USBmicro dongleMale Anone specifiedWistron NeWebAR9271bgn1x1:190:A4:DE2010
Shenzhen Kingnet Technology K2-364USB (non-standard connector)U.FLAR9271bgn1x1:12011
Shenzhen Kingnet Technology K2-544DWUSBdongleMale A (unshielded)none specifiedAR9271bgn1x1:12011
Silex SX-USBGNUSBmodule (no casing)Male Anone specifiedAlpha NetworksWUS-N11AR9271bgn1x1:12012
Sony IFU-WLM3USBmicro dongleMale Anone specifiedWistron NeWebDNUA-93FSAR9271bgn1x1:12012
SparkLAN WUBA-171GNUSB (non-standard connector)U.FLAR9271bgn1x1:12013
TP-LINK TL-WN322G v3USBdongleMale Anone specified0cf31006AR9271bg
TP-LINK TL-WN422G v2USBdongleMale ARP-SMA0cf31006AR9271bg54:E6:FC
TP-LINK TL-WN721NUSBdongleMale Anone specified0cf39271AR9271bgn1x1:12009
TP-LINK TL-WN722N v1.xUSBdongleMale ARP-SMA0cf39271AR9271Lbgn1x2:1D8:5D:4C
E8:94:F6
2009
Tehnoetic TET-N150USBmicro dongleMale Anone specifiedUnexDNUA-93F0cf39271AR9271Lbgn1x2:12010
Tehnoetic TET-N150HGAUSBdongleMale ARP-SMATP-LINKTL-WN722N0cf39271AR9271Lbgn1x2:12009
ThinkPenguin TPE-N150USBUSBmicro dongleMale Anone specifiedWistron NeWebDNUA-93F0cf39271AR9271Lbgn1x2:12013
ThinkPenguin TPE-N150USBLUSBcorded (modular) adapterFemale Mini-BRP-SMAAR9271bgn1x1:1
Ubiquiti Networks WiFiStationUSBcorded (modular) adapterFemale Bnone0cf3b002AR9271bgn1x1:100:15:6D
00:27:22
2010
Ubiquiti Networks WiFiStation EXTUSBcorded (modular) adapterFemale Micro-BRP-SMA0cf3b003AR9271bgn1x1:100:15:6D
00:27:22
2010
Unex DNUA-93USBnone specified0cf39271AR9271bgn1x1:1
Unex DNUA-93FUSBmicro dongleMale Anone specified0cf39271AR9271bgn1x2:1
VIA VNT9271BB05BUSB (non-standard connector)U.FLAboComAR9271bgn1x1:12012
Wistron NeWeb DNUA-93C2USB (non-standard connector)U.FLAR9271bgn1x1:12012
Wistron NeWeb DNUA-93FUSBmicro dongleMale Anone specified0cf39271AR9271bgn1x1:12010
Wistron NeWeb DNUA-93SUSB (non-standard connector)moduleU.FLAR9271bgn1x1:100:0B:6B2011
Z-Com ZCN-722MUSB (non-standard connector)U.FLZ-ComAR9271bgn1x1:100:19:702011
Zcomax XN-723MUSB (module)modulenon-standard connectorU.FLZcomaxAR9271bgn1x1:1