I was wondering if the built-in Wi-Fi supports 5 GHz networks?
Will it need an external antenna to be attached to work properly?
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I'm afraid there is no external antenna connector.– EDPCommented Feb 29, 2016 at 17:37
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1I'm guess from the info in this question that it may only support 2.4GHz– WilfCommented Mar 3, 2016 at 12:17
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9 Answers
The network module is a a BCM43438. I'm having trouble finding a source I fully trust, but from a cursory view, it looks like it only supports 2.4 GHz. Since the Raspberry Pi foundation doesn't specify, it'd be normal to assume a lack of 5 GHz.
An image on raspi.tv displays a very compact antenna. Reception with the default antenna may not be stellar, but we won't really know until it starts getting into reviewers' hands.
Edit:
As @EDP has pointed out, there appears to be only one Wi-Fi antenna. This further implies that there is only support for 2.4 GHz.
answered Feb 29, 2016 at 17:31
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In this picture the antenna is on the opposite side right next to the chip. This used to be where the LED's of the Pi2 where. It seems to be a small module, and not a simple thread on the PCB like most manufacturers do for integrated antennas.– EDPCommented Feb 29, 2016 at 17:40
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@EDP: whoops, forgot the second picture... Hope that makes it more clear. Commented Feb 29, 2016 at 17:42
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3The Ingenic Newton2 also uses the BCM43438 chip, and its features state: 'Single-band 2.4GHz IEEE 802.11b/g/n'. Commented Mar 4, 2016 at 13:39
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1The BCM43438 datasheet confirms that "The chip includes a 2.4 GHz WLAN IEEE 802.11 b/g/n MAC/baseband/radio": cypress.com/file/298076/download Commented Jul 10, 2016 at 23:01
You can run:
sudo iwlist wlan0 scan
... which should show you all broadcasting Wifi channels.
You'll notice all frequencies are in the 2.4 GHz range. For 5 GHz, you'd need a 5ghz USB adapter and compatible wifi router.
Hope that helps!
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According to this article (I'm sorry it's in German) the new Raspberry Pi only supports the 2.4 GHz WiFi network.
FYI the Raspberry Pi 3B+ does support 5GHz - you can see the available Frequencies using this command:
iw list
To set up an Access Point using hostapd you need to set the following in the hostapd.conf file (the channel can vary between 34-165 - see output from iw list):
hw_mode=a
channel=36
Mine shows my 2.4 but not my 5.0 wireless, so I'm going to say it doesn't support 5.0 as shipped.
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Whilst you have answered the question, it might be nice if you answered the second part of the question and also include some relevant detail.– Darth Vader ♦Commented Oct 16, 2016 at 14:13
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This is as much as I know, I looked at the Wifi signals available and my 5.0 didn't show. Commented Oct 16, 2016 at 21:08
Final answer: it depends on the hardware revision!
Raspberry Pi 3 Model B Plus Rev 1.3
Running sudo iwlist wlan0 scan | grep Frequency produces both 5ghz and 2.4ghz.
Raspberry Pi 3 Model B Rev 1.2
Running sudo iwlist wlan0 scan | grep Frequency produces only 2.4ghz.
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I think you've got the right idea, but please also see this answer– SeamusCommented Aug 2 at 21:09
edited based on comments
The Pi3 uses a BCM43438 wireless “combo” chip. Broadcom doesn't have a product page (that I could find). But, it appears be in the same family of chips as the BCM4334:
https://www.broadcom.com/products/Wireless-LAN/802.11-Wireless-LAN-Solutions/BCM4334
Since, that is an older chip in the same family that supports both 2.5 and 5 GHz, it seems like it was probably at least an available option for the Pi3 designers. Guess, we'll have to get our hands on one to know for sure.
The antenna is built into the board, and the chip likely has a pin for it. According to the product release, "... the only change is to the position of the LEDs, which have moved to the other side of the SD card socket to make room for the antenna."
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2I saw exactly the same link used by Makezine the other day. I don't think the chip you're linking to (the BCM4334) is the same as the one used on the Pi (the BCM43438). Commented Mar 1, 2016 at 19:42
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My bad! The one I linked to is the 4334 not the 43438. It is still a BCM or Broadcom chip though, and the one I linked to is possibly an ancestor of the one on the Pi3, since their numbers are closely sequenced. This wiki doesn't seem to have the full specs, but does list the chip generations. wikidevi.com/wiki/Broadcom– evlrbotCommented Mar 1, 2016 at 20:51
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1The search tool on the Broadcom website is rubbish. A supplier's website mustn't blatantly - and without warning - show the 4334 chip when searching for a 4343 chip.– EDPCommented Mar 2, 2016 at 4:15
The OP asked, "I was wondering if the built-in Wi-Fi supports 5 GHz networks?"
I feel that @Cam.Davidson.Pilon's answer is a good one, but I have to disagree with his assertion that it strictly depends on the "hardware revision". Instead, it seems to depend on the "Model designation" and on the "hardware revision".
I use my RPi 3A+ to illustrate:
- Verify the Hardware model #:
$ cat /sys/firmware/devicetree/base/model; echo ""
Raspberry Pi 3 Model A Plus Rev 1.1
- And then check the
iwlistoutput:
$ sudo iwlist wlan0 scan | grep Frequency
Frequency:2.437 GHz (Channel 6)
Frequency:2.437 GHz (Channel 6)
Frequency:2.437 GHz (Channel 6)
Frequency:2.437 GHz (Channel 6)
Frequency:2.437 GHz (Channel 6)
Frequency:2.457 GHz (Channel 10)
Frequency:5.18 GHz (Channel 36)
Frequency:5.765 GHz
Frequency:5.18 GHz (Channel 36)
Frequency:5.18 GHz (Channel 36)
Frequency:5.765 GHz
Frequency:2.412 GHz (Channel 1)
Frequency:2.412 GHz (Channel 1)
Frequency:2.437 GHz (Channel 6)
Frequency:2.457 GHz (Channel 10)
IOW, according to iwlist, my 'RPi 3A+, Rev 1.1' may also support 5GHz WiFi!
But why do you use hedges/qualifiers ("may", "seems to") in your statements?
A: I use hedges/qualifiers because there may be still other factors that determine whether or not a given Raspberry Pi board does in fact support 5GHz WiFi. IOW, I'm not sure whether or not iwlist is a definitive test, or if it is simply another piece of software that works properly under some conditions.
I believe the only definitive test is one that unequivocally determines a board in the tester's possession has the ability to communicate over a 5GHz WiFi link! (For example). However, in the case of the RPi 3A+ board, we also have a manufacturer's Spec Sheet to assure us that it supports 5 GHz WiFi.
No, I've read it's 2.4 GHz only.
Based on the FCC documents, it looks like the new Raspberry Pi 3 does support Bluetooth and WiFi, but it only seems to support 2.4 GHz networks, not 5 GHz. http://liliputing.com/2016/02/raspberry-pi-3-to-feature-on-board-wifi-bluetooth.html
No, I've read it has a "chip antenna".
The radio is connected to a small surface mount ceramic antenna. http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/news/raspberry-pi-3-is-here-but-is-it-a-worthy-successor/
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1According to the adafruit screencast there would be a fourth line in the FCC test certification. So your answer is corrrect, but without any proof. Commented Feb 29, 2016 at 22:52
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If you could expand your answer by providing the links to where you have read these facts, and a quote or a brief synopsis, that would improve your answer significantly. Commented Mar 1, 2016 at 19:53