BW60 (RTL8711FAF) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
中文： BW60 常见问题
This document primarily covers the BW60-12F; differences involving the BW60-07S are noted separately. Refer to the actual module model and its corresponding product specification for the specific configuration, firmware features, and pin availability.
Product and Wireless Features
1. What wireless features does the BW60-12F support?
It supports 2.4GHz/5GHz dual-band Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth LE 5.4. The Wi-Fi protocols include 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax.
2. What is the relationship between RTL8711FAF, RTL8721F and AmebaGreen2 in the SDK?
RTL8711FAF is the chip part number. Realtek's ameba-rtos uses RTL8721F as the SDK target for this chip family, and the platform directory is named amebagreen2. Select RTL8721F as the SDK target; do not use the BW60 module name as the SDK's SoC name.
3. Can BW60-12F and BW60-07S be directly interchangeable?
No. They do not share the same package and cannot be directly substituted. The BW60-12F uses an SMD-24 package with dimensions of 24.0 × 16.0 × 3.2mm, and offers either a PCB antenna or an IPEX Gen 1 connector. The BW60-07S uses an SMD-25 package with dimensions of 17.0 × 16.0 × 3.2mm, and offers either an IPEX Gen 4 connector or a PAD antenna. The layout, solder pads, and antenna connections must all be checked against the corresponding product specification.
4. What is the clock frequency?
The BW60-12F V1.1.1 specification and the BW60-07S specification both list a maximum clock frequency of 240MHz. The actual operating frequency also depends on the module configuration and firmware clock settings.
5. Which Wi-Fi frequency bands are supported?
The BW60-12F specification lists 2400–2483.5MHz and 5180–5825MHz. The channels actually available also depend on regulations in the target sales region, firmware region settings, and access point configuration.
6. Does dual-band support mean the module can connect to two routers on different bands simultaneously?
Not necessarily. Dual-band support means that the corresponding frequency bands are supported. Whether two Wi-Fi connections can be established simultaneously depends on the SDK's concurrency modes, firmware configuration, and application implementation.
7. Is classic Bluetooth audio (A2DP/HFP) supported?
The BW60 specifications list Bluetooth LE 5.4 but do not list classic Bluetooth audio profiles. If Bluetooth music playback or phone call functionality is required, do not assume A2DP/HFP support merely because of "Bluetooth 5.4". Choose a solution that supports the required profiles.
8. Can Wi-Fi and BLE be used simultaneously?
The chip provides Wi-Fi/BLE coexistence capabilities. Both share RF and antenna resources and operate on a time-division basis governed by the coexistence policy. Whether an application can enable both simultaneously, and which AT commands are available, depends on the installed firmware or SDK configuration. Throughput and latency may change during simultaneous operation.
9. Is the Wi-Fi 6 data rate the same as the application transfer rate?
No. The maximum rate of 114.7Mbps specified by Realtek for the corresponding chip platform is the wireless PHY rate. Actual TCP/UDP throughput also depends on the channel, signal strength, interference, protocol overhead, antenna, and application configuration.
Power Supply, Pins, and Antennas
10. How should the module be powered? Can it be connected directly to 5V?
The supply voltage range is 2.97–3.63V, with 3.3V recommended. The power supply should be capable of delivering at least 800mA. Do not connect 5V directly to the module's 3V3 pin. If a DC-DC converter is used, the product specification recommends keeping ripple within 30mV.
11. Can the GPIO and UART pins be connected directly to a 5V host controller?
The BW60-12F uses 3.3V I/O levels. Level shifting is required when connecting it to a 5V host controller. Do not apply 5V signals directly to the module's I/O pins.
12. What does the EN pin do?
EN is the active-high chip enable pin. Keep it asserted during normal operation. To reset the module using EN, pull it low and then release it high, ensuring that the 3.3V supply is stable.
13. How to enter UART programming mode?
Hold LOG_TX low at power-on or reset to enter the module programming mode. Holding it high allows normal boot; the module has an internal pull-up by default. LOG_RX and LOG_TX also serve as the programming UART pins. Ensure a common ground and cross-connect the UART TX/RX lines.
For the developer board and bare module procedures, see the BW60-12F web flashing guide (Chinese).
14. What restrictions apply to PA3 and PB18 at power-on?
Do not pull PA3 low at power-on, as this may cause the module to enter Test Mode. Do not pull PB18 low, as this may prevent NOR Flash from booting. Check these two boot conditions when designing external circuitry and pull-up/pull-down resistors.
15. Are pins marked NC always unusable?
Not necessarily; this depends on the Flash/PSRAM configuration. The BW60-12F specification states that PA0 is unavailable on versions with built-in PSRAM, and PC2–PC7 are unavailable on versions with external Flash. Before using these multiplexed pins, verify the actual hardware configuration and the corresponding pin table.
16. What is the Flash capacity?
The BW60-12F specification lists a default capacity of 4MB and a maximum supported capacity of 16MB. The actual capacity depends on the module configuration. Build settings, partition tables, and programming images must all match the physical Flash capacity.
17. How to select between the onboard antenna and external antenna?
The BW60-12F is available with either an onboard PCB antenna or an IPEX Gen 1 connector. The BW60-07S offers either an IPEX Gen 4 connector or a PAD antenna. First identify the actual antenna variant of your module, then make the connections or design the layout accordingly. Do not assume that the onboard and external antennas will automatically operate simultaneously.
18. Is a keep-out area required around the onboard antenna?
Yes. The BW60-12F specification recommends placing the module at the edge of the mainboard so that the antenna area extends beyond the board edge, or providing a cutout beneath the antenna area. Avoid metal parts near the antenna and keep it away from high-frequency components.
19. Does the module have USB, SDIO, and Ethernet interfaces?
The chip supports USB, SDIO, and an RMII Ethernet interface, but the module pins are multiplexed, and some pins also depend on the Flash/PSRAM configuration. Before using an interface on a specific module, check the pin table, hardware connections, and firmware pinmux configuration.
20. Does RMII support mean an Ethernet cable can be connected directly?
No. RMII is the interface between the Ethernet MAC and an external PHY. Connecting an Ethernet cable also requires an external PHY, network magnetics, a connector, a reference clock, and the corresponding driver configuration. The module itself does not have an RJ45 port for direct Ethernet cable connection.
Firmware and Secondary Development
21. Where can the SDK for secondary development be obtained?
Use Realtek's official ameba-rtos. See the official quick start guide for environment setup, building, and programming procedures. Please select an SDK branch or version that supports RTL8721F.
22. How to select the target chip and build the project from the command line?
After installing the toolchain according to the official documentation, run the following commands in sequence from the SDK directory on Linux:
source env.sh
ameba.py soc RTL8721F
ameba.py menuconfig
ameba.py buildRefer to the documentation for your SDK version for specific project settings, generated files, and flashing parameters.
23. Can I use AT commands or develop my own firmware?
You can use AT firmware adapted for the BW60 to control it over UART, or develop your own firmware using ameba-rtos. Interface capabilities, command sets, and default UART settings may differ between these approaches. First confirm the firmware version currently installed.
24. Which UART is used for boot logs, and what is the baud rate?
The BW60-12F exposes LOG_RX and LOG_TX as the programming/logging UART. The V1.1.1 module specification lists a default UART baud rate of 921600bps, whereas the Realtek AmebaGreen2 development board guide specifies a default SDK LOGUART baud rate of 1.5Mbps. If the output is garbled, first determine whether the module is running factory AT firmware or SDK firmware, then check the corresponding UART settings.
The firmware 3739 example in the web flashing guide uses 921600bps for application logs; the web flasher itself uses 1500000bps.
25. How to check the current firmware version?
If the module is running Realtek SDK AT-command firmware, try AT+GMR. It outputs information such as the SDK, AT command, and image versions. Other factory firmware versions may use different commands; refer to the command manual for that firmware.
26. Is OTA supported?
The Realtek SDK provides HTTP/HTTPS OTA examples and lists RTL8721F as supported. An actual product also requires firmware partitioning, version switching, download verification, and failure recovery. Chip-level support alone does not mean that the current factory AT firmware exposes OTA commands.
27. What is the deep-sleep current? Can it be treated as the connected standby current?
Both the BW60-12F and BW60-07S specifications list a deep-sleep current of approximately 10µA. This value applies to the specified operating mode under defined supply and test conditions. It cannot be treated as the standby current while maintaining a Wi-Fi connection, keeping peripherals enabled, or powering an entire development board.
Common Troubleshooting
28. What items should be checked first if there are no logs or the module does not boot normally after power-on?
Check the 3.3V voltage and transient current capability, common ground, whether EN is asserted, the boot level of LOG_TX, and whether external circuitry is pulling PA3 or PB18 low, in that order. If the only issue is a lack of UART output, also check the TX/RX wiring, serial port selection, and baud rate appropriate for the current firmware.
29. What items should be checked first if the programming tool cannot connect to the module?
Confirm that LOG_TX is pulled low at reset or power-on, that LOG_RX/LOG_TX are correctly connected to the USB-to-UART adapter with a common ground, and that the 3.3V supply is stable. Then check the serial port, baud rate, image, and Flash capacity configuration. Normal boot and flashing mode require different boot signal levels.
See the BW60-12F web flashing guide (Chinese) for the download-mode procedure and tool settings.
30. What items should be checked if connecting to 5GHz Wi-Fi fails?
First confirm that the access point is actually operating within the module's supported 5GHz frequency range and on a locally permitted channel. Then check the region settings, SSID/password, encryption method, signal strength, and firmware version. Dual-band hardware capability does not mean that every regional channel or authentication method can be used directly.
31. What items should be checked first if wireless range or throughput is poor?
Check the actual antenna variant and connection method, whether metal or mainboard copper obstructs the onboard antenna area, whether the 3.3V supply is stable, and the router channel and local interference. Throughput tests should distinguish between the wireless PHY rate and the TCP/UDP application data rate.
32. How to troubleshoot abnormal link behavior or data transmission/reception with an external Ethernet PHY?
Check the RMII pin multiplexing, PHY power and reset, PHY address, and MDIO communication. Then verify that the source and direction of the 50MHz REF_CLK match the hardware circuit and SDK configuration. If the link is established but data cannot be transmitted or received normally, also check that the MAC speed matches the negotiated speed.