laptop wifi module

[archil]

i am going to make external wifi module, but  need pinout to connect usb power supply and data lines. help please!

[archil]

there is a picture

[Gyro]

I think those modules are PCI interface, not USB.

[archil]

i think to reduce usb voltage with 3.3v linear voltage regulator.

[Gyro]

You can't just connect USB data signals to a PCI interface device.

[Nominal Animal]

You have a mini-PCIe module.  The mini-PCIe connector has both PCIe and USB interfaces.  Usually, the WiFi modules use the PCIe interface, and WWAN (3G/4G/5G/LTE wireless modems) the USB interface. As far as I know, ATH-AR5BXB63 uses the PCIe interface, not the USB one.

You can find lots of different mini-PCIe-USB adapters on eBay and elsewhere, described as WWAN USB adapters.  However, because most WWAN adapters actually prefer a higher than 3.3V voltage – 3.6 to 4.0 V is typical –, you should check their voltage before use.  You can find the pinout for example here and here (PCI Express Mini Card section).  Note that you want to avoid the ones with a voltage regulator, as the regulator can get quite hot: if the module consumes say 200mA at 3.3V (0.66W), the regulator drops 1.7V at 200mA – an additional 0.34W.  You want one with a DC-DC converter; recognizable from the inductor (SMD coil) close to an IC.  Other than the voltage conversion, these adapters only have passives (some bypass capacitors), no logic at all.

I have a few of these, because I use a WWAN 4G/LTE modem (Huawei ME909s-120).

[archil]

You have a mini-PCIe module.  The mini-PCIe connector has both PCIe and USB interfaces.  Usually, the WiFi modules use the PCIe interface, and WWAN (3G/4G/5G/LTE wireless modems) the USB interface. As far as I know, ATH-AR5BXB63 uses the PCIe interface, not the USB one.

You can find lots of different mini-PCIe-USB adapters on eBay and elsewhere, described as WWAN USB adapters.  However, because most WWAN adapters actually prefer a higher than 3.3V voltage – 3.6 to 4.0 V is typical –, you should check their voltage before use.  You can find the pinout for example here and here (PCI Express Mini Card section).  Note that you want to avoid the ones with a voltage regulator, as the regulator can get quite hot: if the module consumes say 200mA at 3.3V (0.66W), the regulator drops 1.7V at 200mA – an additional 0.34W.  You want one with a DC-DC converter; recognizable from the inductor (SMD coil) close to an IC.  Other than the voltage conversion, these adapters only have passives (some bypass capacitors), no logic at all.

I have a few of these, because I use a WWAN 4G/LTE modem (Huawei ME909s-120).

great! thank you very much.

[archil]

which pin is for power input (+) ? I know GND is for negative voltage (-).  pin 36 is for USB_D- and pin 38 is for USB_D+.   

is power (+) pin 2, 24 or 52?

[Nominal Animal]

On a typical adapter for USB, you have

• GND on pins 9, 35, 43
• 3.3V on pins 2, 24, 52 (but may be higher for dedicated modem adapters, since they prefer a higher voltage)
• USB 2.0 D- on pin 36 and D+ on pin 38
• SIM card connected to pins 8 (SIM_Vcc), 10 (SIM_I/O), 12 (SIM_CLK), 14 (SIM_RST), and 16 (SIM_VPP)

See e.g. Markus Virtanen's designs at EasyEda: v1.0 and v2.1, but note that he uses a voltage regulator, whereas I firmly recommend an efficient DC-DC converter instead.  Me no EE, though, just a hobbyist.

[archil]

On a typical adapter for USB, you have

• GND on pins 9, 35, 43
• 3.3V on pins 2, 24, 52 (but may be higher for dedicated modem adapters, since they prefer a higher voltage)
• USB 2.0 D- on pin 36 and D+ on pin 38
• SIM card connected to pins 8 (SIM_Vcc), 10 (SIM_I/O), 12 (SIM_CLK), 14 (SIM_RST), and 16 (SIM_VPP)

See e.g. Markus Virtanen's designs at EasyEda: v1.0 and v2.1, but note that he uses a voltage regulator, whereas I firmly recommend an efficient DC-DC converter instead.  Me no EE, though, just a hobbyist.

thanks, now I can experiment with dc-dc step down converter, first with 3.3v input voltage. hopefully it will work. 

[kimlanbu]

I suggest you to use ESP32 instead. Lots of libraries and examples codes avaliable.

[perieanuo]

https://pinoutguide.com/Slots/mini_pcie_pinout.shtml
https://www.instructables.com/Running-mini-PCI-e-3G-card-with-USB-mini-PCI-e-t/

[Nominal Animal]

thanks, now I can experiment with dc-dc step down converter, first with 3.3v input voltage. hopefully it will work. 

As I mentioned, I do believe ATH-AR5BXB63 is PCIe-only, and does not use the USB data lines, so I do not believe it will work.

There are lots of USB-connected WiFi chips, though, for example RTL8822BU.  In my opinion, it would make more sense to find an existing (dual band?) USB WiFi dongle already supported in mainline Linux ($10 - $30 USD), and if necessary, tear it down and use its innards in your own design.