WLE1216V5-20-I 5GHz QCA9994 WiFi 5 (802.11ac Wave 2) 4×4 MU-MIMO Single Band Module
Industrial-grade single-band 5GHz 4x4 MU-MIMO WiFi 5 (802.11ac Wave 2) module with Qualcomm Atheros QCA9994, up to 1733Mbps PHY rate, 80+80MHz bandwidth, -40°C to 85°C operating temperature, MiniPCIe PCIe 2.0 interface.
WLE1216V5-20-I – Industrial Grade Single Band 5GHz 4×4 WiFi 5 MiniPCIe Module
Product Overview
Industrial-grade single-band 5GHz 4×4 MU-MIMO WiFi 5 module based on Qualcomm Atheros QCA9994 Cascade series. Delivers up to 1733Mbps physical data rate with 80+80MHz bandwidth support. Extended temperature range (-40°C to 85°C) for harsh environment deployments.
Key Overview
Target Users：Industrial IoT integrators, outdoor infrastructure specialists, harsh environment deployments, enterprise WLAN system integrators
Core Strengths：Industrial temperature rating (-40°C to 85°C), 4×4 MU-MIMO with 1733Mbps peak rate, 80+80MHz bandwidth support, integrated heat sink, PCIe 2.0 interface, DFS support
Typical Applications：Industrial access points, outdoor WiFi deployments, ruggedized networking equipment, high-density enterprise environments
Technical Specifications
The WLE1216V5-20-I is an industrial-grade single-band 5GHz 4×4 MU-MIMO WiFi 5 module featuring extended temperature range and support for 80+80MHz bandwidth for maximum throughput in harsh environments.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Atheros QCA9994 ‘Cascade’ Series |
| System Memory | 256Kbit serial I²C bus EEPROM |
| Reference Design | Qualcomm Atheros CUS239 |
| Host Interface | MiniPCIe interface with PCIe 2.0 |
| Operating Voltage | 3.3V |
| Power Consumption | 8.5W (Max) |
| Wireless Standard | 5GHz 802.11a/n/ac, max 21dBm per chain |
| MIMO Configuration | 4×4 MU-MIMO |
| Peak Data Rate | Up to 1733Mbps (PHY rate) |
| Frequency Range | 5.150~5.825 GHz |
| Channel Spectrum Widths | Supports 20/40/80/80+80MHz at 5GHz |
| Modulation Techniques | OFDM: BPSK, QPSK, 16-QAM, 64-QAM, 256-QAM |
| RF Connectors | 4× U.FL Connectors |
| WiFi Features | Spatial Multiplexing, Cyclic-Delay Diversity (CDD), LDPC Codes, MRC, STBC |
| Compliance Standards | IEEE 802.11d, e, h, i, j, k, r, u, v time stamp, w, and z |
| DFS Support | Dynamic Frequency Selection supported |
| ESD Sensitivity | Class 1B |
| Operating Temperature | -40°C to 85°C (Industrial Grade) |
| Storage Temperature | -40°C to 90°C |
| Operating Humidity | 5% to 95% (non-condensing) |
| Storage Humidity | Max. 90% (non-condensing) |
| Dimensions | 29.9 × 50.8 × 12.9 mm (W × H × D) |
| Certifications | FCC (USA), CE (EU), REACH, RoHS |
Key Features
Industrial Temperature Rating
Extended operating temperature range from -40°C to 85°C, designed for deployment in harsh industrial and outdoor environments.
4×4 MU-MIMO with 1733Mbps Peak Rate
Four spatial streams enable up to 1733Mbps PHY rate in 5GHz band, ideal for high-bandwidth enterprise and industrial applications.
80+80MHz Bandwidth Support
Supports 80+80MHz channel bonding for maximum throughput, delivering the highest data rates available in WiFi 5 technology.
Integrated Heat Sink
Built-in heat sink allows free air operation without additional cooling requirements, simplifying system design for rugged environments.
PCIe 2.0 Interface
PCIe 2.0 provides higher throughput compared to PCIe 1.1, ensuring the interface doesn’t become a bottleneck for 4×4 MIMO traffic.
Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS)
DFS support enables operation in additional 5GHz channels, increasing available spectrum for high-density deployments.
Model Variants
| Model | Description | Temperature Range | Item Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| WLE1216V5-20-I | Industrial Grade, 4×4 MU-MIMO, 802.11a/n/ac, 5GHz Single Band, MiniPCIe, 4 U.FL connectors | -40°C to 85°C | WLE1216V5-20 7B001.03-I-2 |
Target Applications
- Industrial-grade wireless access points
- Outdoor WiFi deployments
- Ruggedized networking equipment
- High-density enterprise environments
- Smart city infrastructure
- Industrial IoT applications
Comparison Table
| Parameter | WLE1216V5-20-I | WLE1216V5-20 (Standard) | Typical 2×2 AC Module |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIMO | 4×4 MU-MIMO | 4×4 MU-MIMO | 2×2 MIMO |
| Max Data Rate | 1733Mbps (5GHz) | 1733Mbps (5GHz) | 867Mbps (5GHz) |
| Frequency Band | 5GHz only | 5GHz only | 2.4GHz/5GHz |
| Channel Width | 20/40/80/80+80MHz | 20/40/80/80+80MHz | 20/40/80MHz |
| TX Power (per chain) | 21dBm | 21dBm | 17~20dBm |
| Operating Temp | -40°C to 85°C | -20°C to 70°C | -20°C to 70°C |
| Interface | MiniPCIe (PCIe 2.0) | MiniPCIe (PCIe 2.0) | MiniPCIe / M.2 |
Ordering Information
| Model | Description | Temperature | Ordering Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| WLE1216V5-20-I | Industrial Grade 4×4 802.11a/n/ac 5GHz Wave 2 MiniPCIe card, 4 U.FL connectors | -40°C to +85°C | WLE1216V5-20 7B001.03-I-2 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What makes this an industrial-grade module?
WLE1216V5-20-I features an extended operating temperature range of -40°C to 85°C, making it suitable for deployment in harsh industrial and outdoor environments where standard-grade modules would fail.
Q: What platforms are supported by WLE1216V5-20-I?
Supported by CompexWRT (v3.x and above) with Qualcomm Atheros reference wireless drivers. Throughput up to 800Mbps on WPJ558, WPJ563, and WPJ564 platforms; up to 1300Mbps on WPQ864 and WPQ865. Also supports OpenWRT/LEDE with ath10k wireless drivers.
Q: Does this module support MU-MIMO?
Yes, WLE1216V5-20-I supports 4×4 MU-MIMO (Multi-User MIMO), allowing it to communicate with multiple clients simultaneously, improving throughput in high-density environments.
Q: What is the difference between QCA9994 and QCA9984?
QCA9994 offers industrial temperature rating (-40°C to 85°C) while QCA9984 is standard grade (-20°C to 70°C). Both are from Qualcomm’s Cascade series with similar feature sets.
Q: What is DFS and why is it important?
Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) is a regulatory requirement that allows WiFi devices to detect and avoid radar signals in certain 5GHz channels. This provides access to additional channels that are otherwise restricted.
Q: Does the heat sink require any special mounting?
The heat sink is integrated into the module and requires no special mounting. It enables free air operation, simplifying system integration for rugged deployments.
