How do I set up openwifi on an ADALM-PLUTO board?

For ADALM-PLUTO derivatives like antsdr, download the pre-built image, burn it to an SD card using dd or a tool, copy board-specific files from the BOOT partition, and SSH into the board at 192.168.10.122. Detailed steps are in the Quick Start section, but check known issues for troubleshooting.

What's the difference between openwifi and a commercial Wi-Fi chip for research?

Openwifi offers full access to PHY and MAC layers with configurable parameters and real-time CSI, unlike proprietary chips that are closed-source. However, it has lower performance (40-50 Mbps) and requires FPGA hardware, making it ideal for protocol experimentation but not for high-speed applications.

Which openwifi-supported boards don't need a Vivado license?

Boards like zed_fmcs2, adrv9364z7020, zc702_fmcs2, antsdr, e310v2, and others marked 'NO need' in the supported platforms table do not require a Vivado license, making them more accessible for cost-sensitive projects without Xilinx tool dependencies.

How can I capture channel state information (CSI) with openwifi?

CSI data including timestamp, frequency offset, and channel response is available in real-time through the openwifi driver and sdrctl tool. Refer to the CSI app notes for specific scripts and examples on accessing this data for applications like sensing or analysis.

Is openwifi compatible with Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)?

The core openwifi implementation supports 802.11a/g/n (Wi-Fi 4), but 802.11ax and more advanced features are available through a subscription on openwifi.tech, indicating that cutting-edge standards require non-open source licensing and may not be freely accessible.

openwifi — Open-Source Wi-Fi FPGA Design

What is openwifi?

Openwifi is an open-source IEEE 802.11a/g/n Wi-Fi baseband implementation that runs on FPGA hardware with a Linux driver. It provides a complete software-defined radio (SDR) based Wi-Fi stack, enabling researchers and developers to experiment with and customize Wi-Fi functionality at the physical and MAC layers. The project solves the problem of proprietary, closed Wi-Fi chips by offering full transparency and control over the wireless communication stack.

Target Audience

Wireless researchers, FPGA developers, and SDR enthusiasts who need to experiment with or modify Wi-Fi protocols at a low level. It's also valuable for educators teaching wireless networking and for developers building custom wireless applications.

Value Proposition

Developers choose Openwifi because it's one of the few fully open-source Wi-Fi implementations that provides complete access to the PHY and MAC layers. Unlike commercial Wi-Fi chips, it offers unprecedented configurability, real-time channel state information, and the ability to run on various FPGA platforms without proprietary firmware restrictions.

open-source IEEE 802.11 WiFi baseband FPGA (chip) design: driver, software

Use Cases

Best For

Researching Wi-Fi physical layer algorithms and protocols
Developing custom MAC layer modifications for specialized applications
Experimenting with channel state information (CSI) for sensing applications
Testing wireless security through packet injection and fuzzing
Building specialized wireless networks with configurable parameters
Teaching wireless networking with fully transparent hardware/software

Not Ideal For

Production deployments requiring high-throughput, reliable Wi-Fi for consumer or enterprise use
Projects needing quick prototyping without FPGA hardware or specialized SDR expertise
Applications that must maintain backward compatibility with legacy 802.11b devices

Pros & Cons

Pros

Full-stack Open Source

Provides a completely transparent IEEE 802.11 implementation from PHY to MAC layers, enabling deep modification and extension for research purposes, as emphasized in the project's philosophy.

FPGA-based Low Latency

Implements the DCF (CSMA/CA) layer in FPGA achieving 10µs SIFS, allowing precise control over medium access timing for experimental scenarios, as detailed in the app notes.

Real-time Channel Insights

Delivers CSI, frequency offset, and equalizer data directly to applications, facilitating advanced research in wireless sensing and communication, with dedicated app notes for access.

Hardware Flexibility

Supports multiple SDR platforms including Zynq-based boards and ADALM-PLUTO derivatives, with some options not requiring Vivado licenses, as listed in the supported platforms table.

Cons

Performance Limitations

Maximum throughput is capped at 40-50 Mbps under ideal conditions, significantly lower than modern commercial Wi-Fi chips, and it lacks 802.11b compatibility, requiring client-side patches per the special note.

Steep Setup Complexity

Requires specific FPGA hardware, SD card imaging, kernel compilation, and Vivado toolchain installation for some boards, making initial deployment time-consuming and error-prone, as seen in the Quick Start and update sections.

Licensing and Support Fragmentation

Uses dual licensing with AGPL for open source and proprietary options for advanced features on openwifi.tech, and documentation is scattered across multiple app notes, potentially confusing users.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is openwifi?

Target Audience

Value Proposition

Use Cases

Best For

Researching Wi-Fi physical layer algorithms and protocols
Developing custom MAC layer modifications for specialized applications
Experimenting with channel state information (CSI) for sensing applications
Testing wireless security through packet injection and fuzzing
Building specialized wireless networks with configurable parameters
Teaching wireless networking with fully transparent hardware/software

Not Ideal For

Production deployments requiring high-throughput, reliable Wi-Fi for consumer or enterprise use
Projects needing quick prototyping without FPGA hardware or specialized SDR expertise
Applications that must maintain backward compatibility with legacy 802.11b devices

Pros & Cons

Pros

Full-stack Open Source

Provides a completely transparent IEEE 802.11 implementation from PHY to MAC layers, enabling deep modification and extension for research purposes, as emphasized in the project's philosophy.

FPGA-based Low Latency

Implements the DCF (CSMA/CA) layer in FPGA achieving 10µs SIFS, allowing precise control over medium access timing for experimental scenarios, as detailed in the app notes.

Real-time Channel Insights

Delivers CSI, frequency offset, and equalizer data directly to applications, facilitating advanced research in wireless sensing and communication, with dedicated app notes for access.

Hardware Flexibility

Supports multiple SDR platforms including Zynq-based boards and ADALM-PLUTO derivatives, with some options not requiring Vivado licenses, as listed in the supported platforms table.

Cons

Performance Limitations

Steep Setup Complexity

Licensing and Support Fragmentation

Uses dual licensing with AGPL for open source and proprietary options for advanced features on openwifi.tech, and documentation is scattered across multiple app notes, potentially confusing users.

Frequently Asked Questions

openwifi

What is openwifi?

Overview

Use Cases

Best For

Not Ideal For

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Projects

Found a gem we're missing?

openwifi

What is openwifi?

Overview

Use Cases

Best For

Not Ideal For

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Projects

Found a gem we're missing?