MicoAir-WiFi-Link Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 Telemetry Module User Manual

Product Overview

MicoAir-WiFi-Link is a dual-band Wi-Fi 6 telemetry module developed by MicoAir for wireless data links in drones and robots. It can be used for wireless flight-controller configuration, telemetry transmission, and multi-device networking and commissioning for drone light shows. OFDMA and downlink MU-MIMO improve concurrent transmission efficiency and make multi-device wireless connections more reliable.

Purchase

MicoAir Tech Store

Typical Applications

MicoAir-WiFi-Link is suitable for the following applications:

• Wireless configuration of open-source flight controllers running ArduPilot or PX4, with support for ground control station (GCS) software such as Mission Planner, QGroundControl, and MicoPilot

• Multi-device networking for drone-light-show formations, including network connections and the upload of routes and commands, with Skybrush support

• Wireless access for robots and unmanned systems that require short-range, high-throughput wireless communication for control and commissioning

Features

• Based on ESP32-C5
• Dual-band Wi-Fi: 2.4 GHz / 5 GHz
• Supports Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) and is backward compatible with 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
• Direct connection through AP mode by default
• Supports STA mode for connecting to a router
• Supports bidirectional UART <-> UDP passthrough
• BLE UART passthrough (currently supported only by MicoPilot)
• Browser-based configuration
• USB UART configuration using AT commands
• Firmware upgrade through MicoAssistant

Technical Specifications

Core Specifications

UART Parameters

The default MicoAir-WiFi-Link passthrough UART baud rate is 115200. Configure the connected flight-controller UART to the same baud rate; otherwise, telemetry communication will not work.

Default Network Parameters

Wi-Fi Operating Modes

STA mode supports multi-device networking. For configuration details, see: MicoAir-WiFi-Link Multi-Drone Networking Guide

BLE

• BLE name: MicoAir_BLE_XXXX
• BLE password: No password required
• Note: At present, only the MicoPilot ground control station (GCS) app supports connecting to the flight controller over this BLE link.
• Maximum BLE communication distance: 10 m
• BLE and 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi conflict: BLE and 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi share the same channel and antenna, so only one can be used at a time. The factory default enables 5 GHz Wi-Fi in AP mode together with BLE. Switching to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi in AP mode automatically disables BLE. In STA mode, connecting to a 2.4 GHz hotspot also disables BLE automatically.

Interfaces

Passthrough Interface

• Cross-connect TX and RX between the flight controller and telemetry module.
• The flight controller and module must share a common ground.
• The flight-controller UART baud rate must match the module setting.

Debug Interface / Driver Download

The module's USB UART is used for:

• Configuring module parameters with AT commands
• Firmware upgrades

Default parameters:

Baud rate: 115200 / Data bits: 8 / Stop bits: 1 / Parity: None

CH340 Windows Driver Download

Wiring Diagram

Web Configuration

In AP mode, open the following address in a browser:

http://192.168.4.1

This page can be used to configure Wi-Fi parameters.

Note that switching to STA mode is supported only through AT-command configuration.

AT Command Configuration

The module supports parameter queries and changes through AT commands sent over USB UART.

Append carriage return and line feed (\r\n) to every command. When using a UART terminal on a computer, enable Send new line or Append CRLF.

Command List

AT Command Examples

The following examples cover several common configurations. The module normally returns OK after executing a command successfully.

Example 1: Query the module's current status and parameters

Use this command to confirm the current parameter and network configuration:

Send: AT+STATUS?
Example response:
Mode: AP
AP_SSID: MicoAir_WiFi_Link_ABCD
AP_PWD: 12345678
IP: 192.168.4.1
Baud: 115200
UDP_Port: 14550
Target_IP: 255.255.255.255
OK

Example 2: Change the passthrough UART baud rate

To use a higher baud rate between the flight controller and module, for example 460800:

Send: AT+BAUD=460800
Response: OK

Send: AT+RST
Response: OK

After the module restarts, the passthrough UART uses the new baud rate. Keep the USB debug UART at 115200 for AT-command communication, and configure the connected flight-controller UART to the same passthrough baud rate.

Example 3: Switch to STA mode and connect to a router

To extend the communication distance or connect several devices to one LAN, configure the module as a client in STA mode and connect it to an existing wireless router. The following example uses router SSID MyRouter and password password123.

1. Set the router SSID
Send: AT+SSID=MyRouter
Response: OK

2. Set the router password
Send: AT+PWD=password123
Response: OK

3. Set a static IP for the module (each module must use a unique IP that does not conflict with any other device on the LAN)
Send: AT+MIP=192.168.1.101
Response: OK

4. Set the target computer IP
Send: AT+TIP=192.168.1.200
Response: OK

5. Set the operating mode to STA mode (mode number 1)
Send: AT+MODE=1
The module restarts automatically to apply the change

Example 4: Change the default AP password

In the factory-default AP mode, change the AP password to prevent unintended connections. The password must contain at least eight characters.

Send: AT+APPWD=my_new_pwd
Response: OK

Send: AT+RST
Response: OK
(After the module restarts, clients connecting to the module's hotspot must use the new password.)

Ground Station Connection

Before connecting a ground control station, confirm that the telemetry module is wired correctly to the flight-controller UART and that the flight-controller UART uses the MicoAir-WiFi-Link default passthrough baud rate of 115200.

MicoAir-WiFi-Link Multi-Drone Networking Guide

MicoPilot Connection

• BLE connection: First enable Bluetooth on the phone. Open the MicoPilot GCS app, tap Connect in the upper-right corner, and select Bluetooth. The Bluetooth connection window opens and lists detected devices automatically. After a few seconds, the MicoAir-WiFi-Link device name (MicoAir_BLE_XXXX) will normally appear in the first row. Tap it to connect, as shown below.

• Wi-Fi/UDP connection: First connect the phone to the telemetry module's Wi-Fi hotspot, normally named MicoAir_WiFi_Link_XXXX. Open the MicoPilot GCS app, tap Connect in the upper-right corner, and select WiFi / UDP. In the UDP connection window, select UDPCI, leave the gateway IP and port at their defaults of 192.168.4.1 and 14550, and tap Connect.

Mission Planner Connection (AP Mode)

Select UDPCl in the upper-right corner of Mission Planner and click CONNECT. In the dialog, enter the telemetry-module gateway IP address 192.168.4.1 and port 14550. Mission Planner will begin connecting to the flight controller automatically. If it cannot connect or retrieve parameters after an extended period, verify that Wi-Fi is connected, the flight-controller UART baud rate is set to 115200, and RX and TX are cross-connected correctly.

QGroundControl Connection

Open QGroundControl and go to Application Settings → Comm Links. Click Add to create a link, set Type to UDP, set Port to 14550, add 192.168.4.1:14550 under Server Addresses, enable Automatically Connect on Start, and click Save. Keep the global AutoConnect → UDP option disabled when using this manually configured link. Select the newly created link and click Connect. QGroundControl will use the saved configuration automatically the next time it starts. If the connection still fails, first add QGroundControl to the Windows Firewall allowlist. Temporarily disable the firewall only for diagnosis, and re-enable it immediately after the test.