WLE1216VX-I 2.4/5GHz QCA9994 WiFi 5 (802.11ac Wave 2) 4×4 MU-MIMO Dual Band Module
Industrial-grade dual-band 2.4/5GHz 4x4 MU-MIMO WiFi 5 (802.11ac Wave 2) module with Qualcomm Atheros QCA9994, up to 800Mbps (2.4GHz) and 1733Mbps (5GHz), -40°C to 85°C operating temperature, MiniPCIe PCIe 2.0 interface.
WLE1216VX-I – Industrial Grade Dual Band 2.4/5GHz 4×4 WiFi 5 MiniPCIe Module
Product Overview
Industrial-grade dual-band 2.4/5GHz 4×4 MU-MIMO WiFi 5 module based on Qualcomm Atheros QCA9994 Cascade series. Delivers up to 800Mbps in 2.4GHz and 1733Mbps in 5GHz 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), dual-band operation (2.4GHz + 5GHz), 4×4 MU-MIMO with 1733Mbps peak rate, 80+80MHz bandwidth support, integrated heat sink, PCIe 2.0 interface, DFS support
Typical Applications：Industrial wireless access points, outdoor WiFi deployments, ruggedized networking equipment, high-density enterprise environments
Technical Specifications
The WLE1216VX-I is an industrial-grade dual-band 2.4/5GHz 4×4 MU-MIMO WiFi 5 module featuring Qualcomm Atheros QCA9994 chipset, delivering high-performance wireless connectivity for enterprise-grade applications in harsh environments.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Atheros QCA9994 ‘Cascade’ Series |
| System Memory | 256Kbit serial I²C bus EEPROM |
| Reference Design | Qualcomm Atheros CAS03 |
| Host Interface | MiniPCIe interface with PCIe 2.0 |
| Operating Voltage | 3.3V |
| Power Consumption | 9W (Max) |
| Wireless Standard | 2.4GHz 802.11b/g/n/ac (max 20dBm per chain) 5GHz 802.11a/n/ac (max 19dBm per chain) |
| MIMO Configuration | 4×4 MU-MIMO (Dual Band) |
| Peak Data Rate | Up to 800Mbps (2.4GHz) / Up to 1733Mbps (5GHz) |
| Frequency Range | 2.412~2.472GHz (2.4GHz), 5.150~5.825GHz (5GHz) |
| Channel Spectrum Widths | 20/40MHz at 2.4GHz; 20/40/80/80+80MHz at 5GHz |
| Modulation Techniques | CCK, OFDM: BPSK, QPSK, 16-QAM, 64-QAM, 256-QAM |
| RF Connectors | 4× U.FL Connectors |
| Compliance Standards | IEEE 802.11d, e, h, i, j, k, r, u, v time stamp, w, and z |
| DFS Support | Dynamic Frequency Selection supported |
| Supported OS | CompexWRT or OpenWRT/LEDE |
| 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), IC (Canada), REACH, RoHS |
Wireless Specifications – 2.4GHz
| 2.4GHz | TX (dBm) | RX (dBm) |
| 6Mbps | 26 | -90 |
| 54Mbps | 22 | -73 |
| MCS 0 | 26 | -87 |
| MCS 7 | 21 | -68 |
| MCS 9 | 19 | -62 |
Wireless Specifications – 5GHz
| 5GHz | TX (dBm) | RX (dBm) |
| 6Mbps | 25 | -91 |
| 54Mbps | 21 | -74 |
| MCS 0 | 24 | -85 |
| MCS 7 | 21 | -67 |
| MCS 9 | 18 | -61 |
Key Features
Industrial Temperature Rating
Extended operating temperature range from -40°C to 85°C, designed for deployment in harsh industrial and outdoor environments.
Dual-Band Operation
Simultaneous 2.4GHz and 5GHz operation allows flexible network deployment, with 800Mbps in 2.4GHz and 1733Mbps in 5GHz.
4×4 MU-MIMO Technology
Four spatial streams enable simultaneous communication with multiple clients, maximizing throughput in high-density environments.
80+80MHz Bandwidth Support
Supports 80+80MHz channel bonding in 5GHz, 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| WLE1216VX-I | Industrial Grade, 4×4 MU-MIMO, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, Dual Band Wave 2, MiniPCIe, 4 U.FL connectors | -40°C to 85°C | WLE1216VX 7B0001.01-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 | WLE1216VX-I | WLE1216VX (Standard) | Typical 2×2 AC Module |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIMO | 4×4 MU-MIMO | 4×4 MU-MIMO | 2×2 MIMO |
| Frequency Band | 2.4GHz + 5GHz | 2.4GHz + 5GHz | 2.4GHz/5GHz |
| Max Data Rate | 800Mbps + 1733Mbps | 800Mbps + 1733Mbps | 400Mbps + 867Mbps |
| Channel Width | 20/40MHz (2.4GHz) 20/40/80/80+80MHz (5GHz) |
20/40MHz (2.4GHz) 20/40/80/80+80MHz (5GHz) |
20/40MHz (2.4GHz) 20/40/80MHz (5GHz) |
| TX Power (per chain) | 20dBm (2.4GHz) 19dBm (5GHz) |
20dBm (2.4GHz) 19dBm (5GHz) |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| WLE1216VX-I | 4×4 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Dual Band Wave 2 MiniPCIe Card with flat heatsink industrial chip | -40°C to +85°C | WLE1216VX 7B0001.01-I-2 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What makes this an industrial-grade module?
WLE1216VX-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 WLE1216VX-I?
Supported by CompexWRT or OpenWRT/LEDE with Qualcomm Atheros reference wireless drivers.
Q: Does this module support MU-MIMO?
Yes, WLE1216VX-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.
