CONNECTIVITY MODULES
u-blox NINA-W131 · 802.11 b/g/n · Bluetooth 4.2 Classic & BLE · Plug-in module
Drop into any ARG host board. The same Host API works across all ARG comm modules — switch from Wi-Fi to cellular or Power Line with zero host firmware changes.
ARG CONNECTIVITY MODULES
The ARG Wi-Fi Module is built around the u-blox NINA-W131, an ESP32-based SoC delivering 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2 Classic/BLE on a single 2″ × 1″ plug-in card. It connects to any ARG host board via Samtec headers and exposes the ARG Common Host API — the same UART binary interface shared by all ARG comm modules. An optional cloud portal is available for remote monitoring, fleet-wide deployment, and automated alerts.
THE ARG COMM PLATFORM
ARG products are designed around a common comm module footprint and a hardware-agnostic Host API. The same host firmware runs unchanged whether the module inside is cellular, Wi-Fi, Power Line, or Modbus. This means you can build one product and decide connectivity technology at production time — or even swap modules in the field.
2″ × 1″ board, Samtec headers on 2mm centers. Every ARG comm module — cellular, Wi-Fi, Power Line, Modbus — fits the same footprint on the host PCB.
A single UART binary protocol — PUBLISH, STATUS_GET, RECEIVED — works identically across all module types. The host sends a payload and receives data without knowing the underlying radio.
Cellular for remote field sites. Wi-Fi for campus deployments. Power Line where wiring exists. Modbus for BMS integration. Select the module for each deployment — the product board never changes.
CAPABILITIES
The NINA-W131 is a certified, industrial-grade module with broad regulatory approvals — FCC, CE, IC, TELEC, KC, RCM — deployed in ARG products shipping worldwide.
u-blox NINA-W131 (ESP32 SoC). 2.4 GHz band, up to 72.2 Mbps on 802.11n HT20. Station and SoftAP modes simultaneously. Built-in TCP/IP stack and TLS 1.2 — secure cloud connectivity without a host TLS library.
Dual-mode Bluetooth 4.2: BR/EDR Classic for audio and SPP profiles, BLE for low-energy sensor telemetry and mobile app pairing. Up to +9 dBm Tx power. Secure Simple Pairing and LE Secure Connections.
WPA2-Personal and WPA2-Enterprise with EAP-TLS, EAP-TTLS/MSCHAPv2, and PEAP. Suitable for corporate and industrial networks requiring certificate-based authentication.
Run u-blox u-connectXpress AT firmware for simple host integration, or deploy custom application firmware directly on the ESP32 core via ESP-IDF or Arduino. OTA firmware updates supported over Wi-Fi.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Module Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Chipset | u-blox NINA-W131-03B (ESP32 dual-core Xtensa LX6, 240 MHz) |
| Wi-Fi Standard | IEEE 802.11 b/g/n, 2.4 GHz |
| Max Data Rate | 72.2 Mbps (802.11n HT20, MCS7) |
| Wi-Fi Security | WEP, WPA, WPA2-Personal, WPA2-Enterprise (EAP-TLS, PEAP, EAP-TTLS) |
| Wi-Fi Tx Power | +18 dBm (802.11b) | +16 dBm (802.11g/n) |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 4.2 — Classic BR/EDR + BLE dual-mode |
| BT Tx Power | Up to +9 dBm (Classic & BLE) |
| Antenna | Integrated PCB trace antenna (NINA-W131-03B variant) |
| Flash / RAM | 4 MB SPI flash | 520 KB SRAM |
| Supply Voltage | 2.7 – 3.6 V (nom. 3.3 V) |
| Deep Sleep Current | <10 µA |
| Form Factor | 2.0″ × 1.0″ (50.8 × 25.4 mm) carrier card |
| Connector | Samtec plug-in headers, 2mm pitch (both edges) |
| Certifications | FCC (XO9NINAW131), CE, IC, TELEC, KC, RCM, RoHS |
| Operating Temperature | −40°C to +85°C |
| Host API Interface | |
|---|---|
| Protocol | ARG Binary Frame Protocol v0.1 |
| Physical | UART, 460,800 baud, 8N1, hardware flow control (RTS/CTS) |
| Signals | TX, RX, RTS, CTS, nRST, PWR_EN |
| Frame Format | SOF (0xAA) + VER + TYPE + LEN[2] + PAYLOAD[0–512] + CRC16-CCITT[2] |
| Max Frame | 519 bytes | Max payload: 512 bytes |
| CPU Burden | Zero — DMA + hardware flow control on both host and modem; CPU wakes only on complete frame |
| Compatibility | Protocol-identical across all ARG comm modules — cellular, Wi-Fi, G3-PLC, Modbus |
RESOURCES
Get pricing for the Wi-Fi module, volume orders, and custom integration support.