The Sona IF573 and Sterling LWBx series firmware packages contain radio firmware, power tables and other low level configuration needed for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth radio functionality. The LWB and LWB5 firmware packages are pre-configured for operation in specific regulatory regions. The IF573/LWB+/LWB5+ firmware packages are not pre-configured for specific regulatory domains, but there are multiple IF573 and LWB5+ firmware packages depending on the radio variant. The correct firmware package must be used and the correct regulatory domain must be implemented.

The firmware packages are provided in a compressed tar file that must be extracted to the root file system of the target device. The tar file contains the path information for each file; Sona IF573 firmware files will be located in /lib/firmware/cypress. Sterling LWBx firmware files will be located in /lib/firmware/brcm. Several files may be soft links to other files for easier maintenance. It is essential that these names and locations be maintained. The file extraction is handled automatically by the Ezurio Yocto layer for those using the Yocto build system.

Verify the firmware package contents are present on the target platform in the correct location to confirm the firmware portion of the build process completed successfully.

Sterling LWB5+ Firmware Variants

The Sterling LWB5+ supports multiple host interfaces as well as multiple antenna configurations. Each combination of host interface and antenna configuration requires a unique firmware package. The hardware design will determine which host interface and antenna configuration is required.

The LWB5+ firmware package names include the host interface and antenna configuration. The host interface could be either SDIO/UART (Wi-Fi on SDIO, Bluetooth on UART) or USB/USB (both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on USB). The firmware naming convention uses the Wi-Fi portion of the host interface so an SDIO firmware variant targets an LWB5+ strapped for SDIO/UART while a USB firmware variant targets an LWB5+ strapped for USB/USB operation. The antenna configuration portion of the firmware name is either Single Antenna (abbreviated ‘sa’ in the package name) or Diversity Antenna (abbreviated ‘div’ in the package name).

Note: Diversity Antenna means the hardware design implements two physical antennas, although only one will be operating at a time. Single Antenna means the hardware design implements a single physical antenna. Both LWB5+ M.2 module variants (SDIO/UART and USB/USB) implement antenna diversity and support the Diversity Antenna package. The LWB5+ solder-down modules with integrated chip antenna or antenna connector are Single Antenna configurations. The LWB5+ USB dongle has an integrated chip antenna and is a USB/USB Single Antenna design.

Note: The LWB5+ M.2 module can also be used in a single antenna configuration if desired. To do so, the antenna must be installed in ANT0 connector; the ANT1 connector can be left open. The firmware package containing the ‘sa-m2’ suffix must be used for this configuration.