I've found this chip a few days ago, its a cheap complete wifi solution communicating at the serial port, maybe we can use it for commodore plus4 too.. newer revisions can work at 9600 bauds too.
i've imagined a few application already "smart" page with current time, exchange rates, weather. or a text mode internet browser, plus4 world chat client.. etc..
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This is a WiFi serial transceiver module, based on ESP8266 SoC.
The SOC has Integrated TCP/IP protocol stack
ESP8266 is a highly integrated chip designed for the needs of a new connected world. It offers a complete and self-contained Wi-Fi networking solution, allowing it to either host the application or to offload all Wi-Fi networking functions from another application processor.
ESP8266 has powerful on-board processing and storage capabilities that allow it to be integrated with the sensors and other application specific devices through its GPIOs with minimal development up-front and minimal loading during runtime. Its high degree of on-chip integration allows for minimal external circuitry, and the entire solution, including front-end module, is designed to occupy minimal PCB area.
Corresponding Interface: SDIO 2.0, SPI, UART 32-pin QFN package Integrated RF switch, balun, 24dBm PA, DCXO, and PMU Integrated RISC processor, on-chip memory and external memory interfaces Integrated MAC/baseband processors Quality of Service management I2S interface for high fidelity audio applications On-chip low-dropout linear regulators for all internal supplies Proprietary spurious-free clock generation architecture Integrated WEP, TKIP, AES, and WAPI engines
Specification: 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi Direct (P2P), soft-AP Integrated TCP/IP protocol stack Integrated TR switch, balun, LNA, power amplifier and matching network Integrated PLLs, regulators, DCXO and power management units +19.5dBm output power in 802.11b mode Power down leakage current of <10uA Integrated low power 32-bit CPU could be used as application processor SDIO 1.1/2.0, SPI, UART STBC, 1×1 MIMO, 2×1 MIMO A-MPDU & A-MSDU aggregation & 0.4ms guard interval Wake up and transmit packets in < 2ms Standby power consumption of < 1.0mW (DTIM3)
Here is some examples, a lot of people hacking it already
ESP8266 SoC - fully integrated wifi chip
"smart" page with current time, exchange rates, weather. or a text mode internet browser, plus4 world chat client.. etc..
