About

Built on the MediaTek MT7916, the AsiaRF AW7916-NPD is a Wi-Fi 6E module that broadcasts 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks at the same time, with two spatial streams on each band, for up to 3 Gbps of combined Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) throughput. StartWRT carries the driver in its firmware image, so the module works the moment it is seated. No extra software, no configuration.

Keep one on hand as a spare, or use it to add Wi-Fi to an existing wired router yourself. The BPI-F3 has no onboard radio, and this is the module StartWRT fully supports.

Installing it takes about fifteen minutes with the screwdriver that comes with the router. The module is sensitive to static and its antenna connectors are small, so please follow our step-by-step guide, with photos, before you open the router: https://start9.com/router-wifi/.

Specifications

- Chipset: MediaTek MT7916
- Standard: Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), backward compatible with 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
- Bands: 2.4 GHz plus 5 GHz or 6 GHz (the second radio operates on one of the two)
- Speed: AX3000 (574 Mbps on 2.4 GHz + 2402 Mbps on 5 GHz)
- Streams: two spatial streams per band, concurrent (2T2R on 2.4 GHz, 2T3R on 5/6 GHz)
- Bandwidth: 20/40 MHz on 2.4 GHz, 20/40/80/160 MHz on 5/6 GHz
- 3 x antenna connectors (IPEX)
- 3 x antenna
- Form factor: Mini PCIe

Compatibility

- Start9 Router: fully supported. StartWRT runs the module on 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz concurrently; 6 GHz is not used.
- Other boards: works with any Linux system that includes the mt76 driver, including OpenWrt.