CC3220MOD: Kindly confirm, CC3220MODSF12MOBR and CC3220MODSF12MOBR are Pin & Firmware Compatible?

Hi Naveen K,

The CC3220MODSF and CC3235MODSF are the same pin wise, as seen in Section 7 of their respective datasheets. Although the CC3220MODSF is only for Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz, and the CC3235MOD is dual band (Wi-Fi 2.4 and 5 GHz). As such when using the CC3235MOD in your design the pins 25 and 26 should be grounded, and the RF path should be re-evaluated.  You can find some of our design related resources for the CC3220MOD here, and for the CC3235MOD here and here.

The firmware for the CC3235Mod would definitely not be the same as the CC3220MOD.

Best Regards,

Jessica

Hi Jessica,

Thank you for the information.

For CC3235MODSF, Pin 25,26 and 29 should be Ground. but for CC3220MODSF Pin 25,26 and 29 are NC. i want to make common board for both.

So, for CC3220MODSF can we connect Pin 25,26 and 29 to Ground?

Thanks and regards,

Naveen K

Hi Naveen K,

The CC3230MOD uses pin 29 for WLAN analog, and pin 25 and 26 for the antenna select, as such I do not recommend connecting these pins to ground.  In general the CC3220MODSF and CC3235MODSF are NOT pin to pin compatible, but they are very similar.

Best Regards,

Jessica

Hi Jessica,

Thank you for the information.

1. Apart from Pin 25,26 and 29 all other pins are pin-pin compatible, right? For Pin 25,26 and 29 we can use/make jumper to connect the pins 25,26,29 to Ground or kept Floating. So that, we can use same board for CC3230MODSF and CC3235MODSF, right?

2. "RF path should be re-evaluated", Both modules RF pins are same and Impedance will be 50Ohm. Then Why re-evaluation required. Kindly advise.

Thanks and regards,

Naveen K

Hi Naveen K,

Yes, in your design adding a jumper would work to set those pins to GND or NC depending on the desired module.  

The CC3235MODSF has a BW for 2.4GHz - 5.9GHz, as such consider adding a diplexer to use the same antenna for 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz frequency bands.  If you will only use 2.4Ghz, then having an impedance matching of 50ohms is all that is needed. 

Although if you haven not already done so, verify your board design with the RF Layout Recommendations (Section 10.3.2) in the datasheet and Layout Guidelines .

Best Regards,

Jessica M. Torres

Hi Jessica,

Thank you for the information,

1. For only 2.4GHz, RF design/Layout/schematic will be same for both CC3230MODSF and CC3235MODSF, right?

2. For 5GHz, Could you please provide the Diplexer schematic, RF Layout design guideline & image, it's not present in the CC3235MODSF datasheet.

3. We have referred RF Layout recommendation, Trace Width, space, Dielectric are as per the recommendation. I have one doubt. Can we measure the 50 Ohm impedance of the track using multimeter? If yes, what will be the measuring point?

We have measured From RF Pin to Antenna connector PAD as shown in the image, but we are getting 0.5Ohm for both. Kindly advise the correct method to measure the impedance.

Thanks and regards,

Naveen K