Silex Technology America, Inc., a global leader in wired and wireless networking solutions, today introduced its newest embedded Wi-Fi module, the SX-SDMAC. The dual-band, single stream, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac plus Bluetooth “Smart Ready” module is based on the latest Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 System-on-Chip (SoC). It is the industry’s first Wave 2 MU-MIMO IEEE 802.11ac SDIO Wi-Fi module in full production. It delivers enterprise-grade, dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi connectivity with link rates as high as 433Mbps.
The SX-SDMAC is designed for mission-critical applications including industrial automation, healthcare, environmental monitoring, factory automation and telematics. Highly regulated industries like medical sometimes require long product life cycles. Silex is in a unique position to support such customer needs by offering the option to continue manufacturing our products like the SX-SDMAC for extended periods of time in our own factory. Industrial temperature support, robust enterprise security, and 802.11ac capabilities make the SX-SDMAC an ideal solution for applications such as factory automation that demand reliable operation in harsh environmental conditions such as extreme temperatures, dirt, dust, moisture, shock and vibration. Additionally, SX-SDMAC’s low power design techniques make it suitable for portable handheld connected devices.

SX-SDMAC – 802.11ac Wi-Fi plus Bluetooth SDIO Module (Credit: Silex Technology America, Inc.)
“Adoption of 802.11ac will likely happen more quickly than that of its predecessors. Increased performance at lower cost is a compelling reason to move to the latest Wi-Fi technology,” said Keith Sugawara, COO and vice president of business development at Silex. “With increasing processing and rich-multimedia demands on user experience, higher network speed is becoming significantly more important. SX-SDMAC provides a smooth transition to 802.11ac Wi-Fi for both existing and new customer designs.”
As one of a select few of Qualcomm Authorized Design Centers, Silex provides leading wireless technology with unmatched support around the world. We have certified the SX-SDMAC for FCC/IC, CE, and MIC to reduce testing costs for our OEM customers. We provide driver support for operating systems such as Linux, Windows and Android. Our reference platform for driver evaluation and development is the NXP’s iMX 6SoloX Sabre SD board. To further expedite the product development process, Silex also provides additional engineering services including custom driver development, certification services and hardware schematic design reviews.
SX-SDMAC Features
- Based on the QCA9377-3 SoC
- 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Wave 2 MU-MIMO
- SDIO 3.0 WLAN Host Interface
- Bluetooth 4.1 BR/EDR/LE “Smart Ready”
- Industrial Temperature
- Enterprise Security
- FCC/IC/CE/MIC Modular Certification
- Seamless Roaming
- CCX Ready
- Link Rate up to 433 Mbps
- Fine Tuned Calibration Per Module
- Connector Mount and Surface Mount Versions Available
- On Board Antenna Version and SDIO Card Version Available
- Pin Compatibility with SX-SDMAN Offers a Seamless Upgrade Path
Pricing and Availability
The product is in full production and is now available for purchase at our distribution partners. Contact Arrow Electronics to order now. Click here to learn how to start your evaluation.