LM822 - 802.11 b/g/n WiFi Module with IC Antenna, USB HCI | LM Technologies
MPN: LM822 ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $17.4 | $17.40 |
| 10 | $15.8 | $158.00 |
| 100 | $14.2 | $1,420.00 |
| 500 | $12.75 | $6,375.00 |
| 1,000 | $11.4 | $11,400.00 |
LM822 Overview
What is a WiFi 802.11n (WiFi 4) module? A WiFi 4 (802.11n) module is an embedded radio subsystem that implements the IEEE 802.11n physical and MAC layers and exposes either a host-controlled (HCI) or full-stack (network) interface to the host processor. The LM822 specifically implements HCI over USB, meaning the host CPU runs the network stack and the module acts as a 2.4 GHz radio front-end. These modules sit in the wireless connectivity layer of an embedded system, above the physical RF transceiver and below the application networking stack, and are widely used to retrofit wireless capability into industrial PCs, single-board computers, point-of-sale terminals and gateways.
Key specifications of the LM822 per the LM Technologies datasheet include a 150 Mbps PHY rate, BPSK/QPSK/16-QAM/64-QAM modulation, WEP/TKIP/AES plus WPA/WPA2 encryption, a built-in IC antenna (no external antenna or RF connector required), and Linux/macOS/Windows 10 IoT Core/Windows XP to Windows 10/Windows Compact Embedded 6/7 driver support. Compliance with 802.11e bursting and 802.11I standards is also listed.
The module draws 5 V through the USB bus and uses the USB port as both the data interface and the power rail. Because all protocol stacks are offloaded onto the host OS (it is HCI-only), the LM822 needs no additional firmware flashing for typical OS environments - it enumerates as a USB WiFi adapter. This makes it well suited to industrial PCs and SBCs that need to add wireless connectivity without a custom driver port.
Typical applications include retrofitting WiFi onto legacy industrial PCs, adding wireless connectivity to single-board computers in kiosk and POS designs, embedded gateways that bridge Ethernet to 802.11n WiFi, and Windows Compact Embedded terminals. In each case the LM822's USB HCI and plug-and-play OS driver coverage reduce integration effort compared with bare 802.11 ICs.
When designing with this module, note that 2.4 GHz operation only means the host system must coexist with Bluetooth, microwave ovens, and other 2.4 GHz interferers common in industrial and consumer environments. Channel planning and adequate placement of the host PCB relative to metal enclosures is critical because the onboard IC antenna's radiation pattern is shaped by the surrounding ground plane.
This page synthesises distributor pricing, a feature comparison with adjacent LM Technologies modules, and practical integration notes that go beyond what the manufacturer datasheet alone covers, helping engineers decide whether the LM822 is the right drop-in wireless module for their embedded platform.
Drop-in alternatives for LM822 — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Variants in this series
Same-series models that are drop-in compatible with LM822 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in RoHS Status, Supply Voltage.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
LM822-1459
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
LM822-1452
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ESP32-WROOM-32E
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.86 / Unit
View Datasheet →RTL8188CUS-based USB WiFi adapter
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
AR9271-based USB WiFi adapter
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
LM822 Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| Module Type | WiFi 802.11 b/g/n module (WiFi 4) |
| Frequency Band | 2.4 GHz ISM band |
| Wireless Standards | IEEE 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n |
| Maximum Data Rate | 150 Mbps (PHY, single stream) |
| Host Interface | USB (HCI - Host Controller Interface) |
| Antenna | Onboard IC (chip) antenna |
| Supply Voltage | 5 V (USB bus powered) |
| Modulation | BPSK, QPSK, 16-QAM, 64-QAM |
| Encryption / Security | WEP, TKIP, AES, WPA, WPA2 |
| 802.11e (QoS) Support | Yes - bursting and standards compliance |
| 802.11I (Security) Support | Yes |
| OS Driver Support | Linux, macOS X, Windows 10 IoT Core, Windows XP to 10, Windows Compact Embedded 6/7 |
| Module Variant Ordering Code (example) | LM822-1452 |
| Mounting / Integration | Plug-and-play USB dongle-style module |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (per LM Technologies product page) |
LM822 Interfaces & Connectors
LM822 exposes the following interfaces and connectors as published by the manufacturer: Wireless, Power Input. Expansion header pinout, connector pin numbering, and electrical limits are defined in the manufacturer documentation.
| Wireless | IEEE 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n |
| Power Input | 5 V (USB bus powered) |
Refer to the manufacturer documentation for the full expansion header pinout and connector pin numbering.
Power & Thermal Characteristics
| Power Input | 5 V (USB bus powered) |
Power input and thermal parameters for LM822 as published by the manufacturer.
Typical Applications
LM822 is suitable for 6 applications: Retrofitting WiFi onto Industrial PCs, Single-Board Computer Wireless Connectivity, Point-of-Sale (POS) Terminals, Embedded Industrial Gateways, Kiosks and Self-Service Terminals, Windows Compact Embedded 6/7 Devices.
Retrofitting WiFi onto Industrial PCs
The LM822 WiFi 802.11 b/g/n module is a drop-in wireless upgrade for legacy industrial PCs and Human-Machine Interface (HMI) panels that originally shipped without WiFi. Because the LM822 presents a standard USB WiFi device class to the host OS, it is enumerated automatically on Windows XP through Windows 10, Windows 10 IoT Core and Windows Compact Embedded 6/7 - exactly the OSes used in long-lifecycle industrial machines. With 150 Mbps PHY throughput on the 2.4 GHz band, the LM822 is fast enough for remote telemetry and SCADA polling traffic without changing the host hardware. Compared with integrating an 802.11n chip down on a custom industrial board, the LM822 eliminates RF certification cost for FCC/CE/IC, an important consideration for industrial PCs shipped into multiple regulatory regions.
Recommended
Single-Board Computer Wireless Connectivity
Single-board computers (SBCs) such as the Raspberry Pi, BeagleBone and NXP i.MX platforms often require a USB-based 802.11n module because the onboard SoC does not include WiFi or cannot expose 802.11n without significant design effort. The LM822 module with its USB HCI interface drops into any SBC with a USB-A or USB-A header and is automatically recognised on the supported Linux distributions used by mainstream SBCs. With WPA2-AES encryption supported in hardware and 802.11e bursting for time-sensitive traffic, the LM822 can handle both data-only SCADA bridging and voice-over-WiFi in kiosk environments without needing an external antenna thanks to the onboard IC antenna.
Recommended
Point-of-Sale (POS) Terminals
Point-of-Sale terminals in retail and hospitality often run Windows 10 IoT Core or Windows Compact Embedded and need reliable 802.11n connectivity for cloud-synced transactions. The LM822 WiFi module supports exactly those OSes and provides up to 150 Mbps PHY rate on the 2.4 GHz band, sufficient for transaction upload, inventory polling and receipt printing over the same wireless interface. The onboard IC antenna eliminates the need to mount an external antenna inside the housing - important for compact POS enclosures where space is constrained and an external SMA bulkhead is undesirable. 802.11e bursting and WPA2-AES support address the latency and security requirements of payment-oriented workflows.
Recommended
Embedded Industrial Gateways
Industrial protocol gateways - Modbus-TCP, BACnet, EtherNet/IP bridges - frequently ship with Ethernet only and require wireless backhaul to a SCADA dashboard or to the cloud. The LM822 module, when plugged into a gateway's USB port, provides 2.4 GHz 802.11 b/g/n connectivity without consuming the gateway's M.2 or SDIO slots and without requiring RF design effort from the gateway OEM. The USB 5 V bus supply simplifies the power tree - no additional voltage rail is required. WPA2 and WEP support covers both modern factory networks and legacy installations, and 2.4 GHz operation lets the gateway coexist with Bluetooth beacons and Zigbee nodes already deployed in the same 2.4 GHz band.
Recommended
Kiosks and Self-Service Terminals
Self-service kiosks in retail, transit and healthcare integrate a payment terminal, a touchscreen, and a network interface. When a wired Ethernet drop is unavailable, kiosks rely on WiFi for connectivity, and the LM822 provides a 150 Mbps 802.11n link with full OS-level driver support. The onboard IC antenna simplifies the integration into a sealed kiosk enclosure - no external antenna hole is required, and there is no risk of an SMA connector loosening due to shipping vibration. The module's 5 V USB bus power input is compatible with the 5 V rails already populated inside the kiosk, so no additional power supply is required.
Recommended
Windows Compact Embedded 6/7 Devices
Long-lifecycle devices based on Windows Embedded Compact 6 and 7 (also called Windows CE) are still in service in industrial, medical and transportation equipment, often with no on-board WiFi. The LM822 lists Windows Compact Embedded 6/7 among its supported operating systems, making it one of the few widely available USB WiFi modules that works on these legacy Windows CE platforms. With BPSK through 64-QAM modulation, the LM822 can connect to virtually any 802.11b/g/n access point already deployed in the field. The IC antenna avoids the SMA bulkhead that would otherwise require a chassis modification on the long-lifecycle CE device.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for LM822 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | LM822-1459 | LM822-1452 | RTL8188CUS-based USB WiFi adapter | AR9271-based USB WiFi adapter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | USB dongle-style module with IC antenna | USB dongle-style module with IC antenna - same | USB dongle-style module with IC antenna - same | USB dongle, IC antenna variants available | USB dongle, IC antenna variants available |
| Brand | LM Technologies | LM Technologies | LM Technologies | Realtek | Qualcomm Atheros |
| WiFi Standard | 802.11 b/g/n (WiFi 4), 2.4 GHz | 802.11 b/g/n, 2.4 GHz | 802.11 b/g/n, 2.4 GHz | 802.11 b/g/n, 2.4 GHz | 802.11 b/g/n, 2.4 GHz |
| Maximum PHY Data Rate | 150 Mbps | 150 Mbps | 150 Mbps | 150 Mbps | 150 Mbps |
| Host Interface | USB (HCI) | USB (HCI) | USB (HCI) | USB (HCI) | USB (HCI) |
| Antenna | Onboard IC antenna | Onboard IC antenna | Onboard IC antenna | IC antenna (most common SKU) | IC antenna (most common SKU) |
| Encryption | WEP, TKIP, AES, WPA, WPA2, 802.11I | WEP, TKIP, AES, WPA, WPA2, 802.11I | WEP, TKIP, AES, WPA, WPA2, 802.11I | WEP, TKIP, AES, WPA, WPA2 | WEP, TKIP, AES, WPA, WPA2 |
| OS Driver Support | Linux, macOS X, Win 10 IoT, Win XP-10, Win CE 6/7 | Linux, macOS X, Win 10 IoT, Win XP-10, Win CE 6/7 | Linux, macOS X, Win 10 IoT, Win XP-10, Win CE 6/7 | Linux, macOS X, Windows (modern) | Linux, BSD (modern Windows driver less common) |
Key Differentiators
- Manufacturer-supported driver coverage for Windows Compact Embedded 6/7 and Windows 10 IoT Core (vs RTL8188CUS-based USB WiFi adapter)
- Single SKU with USB HCI and onboard IC antenna - no external antenna hole required (vs AR9271-based USB WiFi adapter (external antenna SKU))
- Datasheet explicitly lists 802.11e QoS and 802.11I security standards (vs Generic 802.11n USB dongles)
Design Notes
RF performance of the LM822's onboard IC antenna depends heavily on placement on the host PCB and proximity to metal enclosures. Estimated: mounting the module near a metallic bezel, a battery pack, or directly under a ground plane can reduce effective radiated output by 6-10 dB. Per the LM Technologies datasheet, leave at least 5 mm of clearance around the IC antenna footprint and avoid placing the module under metallic enclosures whenever possible.
Because the LM822 is USB bus powered and presents a USB WiFi device class, it draws current from the host's 5 V USB rail. USB 2.0 ports are limited to 500 mA; USB 3.0 ports can supply up to 900 mA. The LM822's transmit bursts can cause measurable droop on weak USB ports, leading to disconnects. Verify the host's VBUS droop under load, and consider powering the host from a well-regulated 5 V rail rather than a hub port if radio disconnects appear in the field.
2.4 GHz operation coexists with Bluetooth, Zigbee, Thread and microwave sources. In industrial cabinets the LM822 can experience co-channel interference from the same-band wireless nodes already installed. Per the LM Technologies datasheet, the module supports 802.11e bursting for QoS and uses BPSK through 64-QAM. Estimated: for time-sensitive traffic, configure the host driver to favour 802.11e QoS - this can reduce worst-case latency by 30-50% in congested 2.4 GHz environments.
Do not assume the LM822 is a WiFi 5/6 device - per the LM Technologies datasheet the module is 802.11 b/g/n (WiFi 4) only and cannot connect to 5 GHz-only access points. If you need dual-band 2.4/5 GHz operation, look at LM Technologies' higher-tier modules or third-party dual-band USB WiFi adapters. Substituting a 5 GHz-capable dongle for the LM822 is NOT a drop-in replacement because driver binaries for older hosts may not recognise the new chipset family without a custom driver port.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliance per LM Technologies product page (LM822-1452). REACH, halogen-free and conflict-minerals data not in the verified web data and marked unknown. AEC-Q100 is not applicable for a USB WiFi module.
