Wi-Fi Scan and Connect Developer Guide#

About this Guide#

This guide details how to scan for Wi-Fi networks and connect to them using the WiSeConnect SDK on Silicon Labs SiWx91x platforms. It also explains how to use the Wi-Fi scanning Application Programming Interface (API) to discover access points, configure and use the connection API to join networks, set up credentials (PSK, EAP, and others), and combine scanning and connection in typical application workflows. The guide helps embedded developers who need deterministic, event-driven WiFi discovery and connection behavior in client or concurrent (client and access point) designs.

Purpose#

This guide helps embedded software engineers design, integrate, and maintain applications that use Wi-Fi scanning and connection on the SiWx91x architecture. It provides a structured path to:

  • Reduce development overhead with clear scan types, connection flow, and configuration patterns.

  • Accelerate integration with step-by-step initialization, scanning, and connection examples.

  • Achieve reliable scan and connect behavior through validated practices using the WiSeConnect SDK and Wi-Fi API.

Use this guide for new designs and to enhance existing Wi-Fi scan and connect implementations.

Scope#

This guide covers Wi-Fi scanning and connection for SiWx91x devices using the WiSeConnect SDK, focusing on the following areas:

Core Implementation#

  • Software use of the Wi-Fi scan and connect APIs for SiWx91x devices.

  • Initialization, interface bring-up, configuration, API usage, callback-based results, and error handling.

Scanning Features#

  • Scan types: Active, Passive, Extended, and Advanced (background) scans.

  • Configuration: Channel bitmap, scan timeouts, transmit power, and advanced scan parameters for roaming.

  • Result handling: Callback-based results for standard scans; stored results for Extended scan; background scan behavior for Advanced scan.

Connection Features#

  • Connection configuration: Client configuration structure, SSID, security, credentials, optional channel and BSSID.

  • Credentials: PSK (including sl_net_set_credential), EAP, WEP, PMK, and open networks.

  • Internal scanning: Behavior of the mandatory internal scan performed by sl_wifi_connect and how to optimize it with channel bitmap and optional timeout configuration.

  • Join configuration: Join feature bitmap, listen interval, BSSID-based join, and advanced client configuration for rejoin and retries.

System Integration#

  • Callbacks: Scan and join callbacks for asynchronous event handling.

  • Connection APIs: sl_wifi_connect, sl_net_up, and sl_net_up_async and their relationship to internal scanning.

  • Parameter tuning: How scan and connection parameters affect scan duration, connection speed, roaming, and power (see Scan and Connect Parameter Tuning).

  • Practical examples and best practices for integrating scan and connect functionality in embedded applications.

Hardware and Software Components#