Combo wireless modules are devices that integrate more than one wireless data interface standard. The most common combinations include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, FM radio and GPS receivers. They are used in applications including smart phones, smart meters, medical devices, home automation and telemetry.

Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and 2.4GHz Zigbee share the same frequency bands and have modulation schemes that allow them to coexist, albeit at reduced performance. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth combo modules incorporate special periodic switching of the antenna to enable both to operate in the same module effectively at the same time. This is referred to as Bluetooth coexistence. Modules may require an external antenna or incorporate an internal PCB or chip antennas.

Combo wireless modules require an antenna scheme that is appropriate for the frequencies used by the wireless standards supported. Any wireless module will require regulatory compliance to enable its use in a product. This is usually specified on the module itself. Combo modules have processors integrated and run operating systems like Linux that have low-level driver support for wireless standards and coexistence. Some modules allow users to also use this processor’s resources for application code.