Skip to main content

QCN9074 vs QCN9024: A Comprehensive Analysis of Qualcomm's WiFi 6 Main Chips

 As wireless communication technology evolves, WiFi 6 (802.11ax) has become the mainstream standard for next-generation high-performance wireless access. Qualcomm, a leader in wireless chipsets, offers a broad lineup of WiFi 6 solutions, among which QCN9074 and QCN9024 are two widely adopted main wireless chips used in high-performance routers, enterprise-grade access points (APs), and industrial networking devices.

This article presents a comprehensive comparison of these two chips from multiple perspectives, including core specifications, application scenarios, feature sets, platform compatibility, and use cases.

sales@wallystech.com

1. Core Specifications Comparison

ParameterQCN9074QCN9024Standard SupportIEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax (WiFi 6)IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax (WiFi 6)Frequency Bands2.4GHz, 5GHz (6GHz capable but disabled)2.4GHz, 5GHzSpatial Streams4x4 MU-MIMO4x4 MU-MIMOModulation1024-QAM1024-QAMChannel BandwidthUp to 160MHzUp to 160MHzPHY RateUp to 4.8GbpsUp to 4.8GbpsInterfacePCIe 3.0PCIe 3.0BeamformingYesYesOFDMA / MU-MIMOUplink & DownlinkUplink & DownlinkTarget ApplicationsHigh-end enterprise, outdoor APs, industrial devicesCommercial-grade, home or mid-tier enterprise APsOpenWRT SupportStrong and well-maintainedPartially supported depending on vendorMulti-band CoordinationStrong, ideal for dense deploymentsModerate, suitable for typical deployments

2. Architecture and Design Differences

QCN9074

  • Designed as Qualcomm’s flagship WiFi 6 radio chip, aimed at high-performance networking.
  • Supports advanced 4x4@5G MIMO configurations, ideal for enterprise APs, outdoor mesh systems, and industrial gateways.
  • Commonly paired with IPQ807x/IPQ957x series SoCs, or deployed on x86 platforms via PCIe cards.
  • Some variants are hardware-ready for 6GHz (though not enabled), allowing future upgrades.

QCN9024

  • A mainstream WiFi 6 solution for mid-tier markets, offering a cost-performance balance.
  • Well-suited for home mesh systems, commercial APs, and SOHO routers.
  • Features a simpler thermal and mechanical design with lower power consumption.
  • Typically used with IPQ601x/IPQ5018/IPQ807x SoCs in integrated or modular systems.

3. Feature Comparison

FeatureQCN9074QCN9024Beamforming✅✅TWT (Target Wake Time)✅✅BSS Coloring✅✅Uplink OFDMA✅✅Downlink MU-MIMO✅✅DFS Band Support✅ (for outdoor usage)✅Spectrum Analysis✅ (important for industrial use)Limited supportPerformance TuningHigh flexibility, ideal for complex networksModerate, best for structured deployments

4. Application Scenarios

ScenarioRecommended ChipOutdoor mesh APs (high power, long range)QCN9074Industrial-grade wireless devices (e.g., mining, ports)QCN9074Indoor enterprise ceiling APsQCN9024Home mesh nodes, SMB routersQCN9024WiFi 6 PCIe NICsBoth supported, QCN9074 preferredDeep integration with OpenWRT/OpenWiFiQCN9074 (more active community support)

5. Driver and Platform Compatibility

  • Linux Driver Support:
  • QCN9074 is well supported by the ath11k driver, with compatibility across OpenWRT, QSDK, and OpenWiFi (some branches).
  • QCN9024 has reasonable support, though some commercial devices require custom driver implementation.
  • System Platform Integration:
  • QCN9074 is mature on IPQ8072A/IPQ9574/x86-based platforms.
  • QCN9024 is widely used with IPQ6010, IPQ5018, and IPQ8072 SoCs.

6. Cost and Supply Considerations

AspectQCN9074QCN9024Chip Cost (per unit)Medium-HighMedium-LowModule Cost (e.g., DR9074 vs DR9024)~15–20% higherLower, suitable for mass productionPackage SizeLargerMore compactThermal ManagementHigh requirementModerate

7. Summary and Recommendations

DimensionRecommended ChipHigh performance, high client density environments✅ QCN9074Cost-sensitive, stable WiFi 6 experience✅ QCN9024Preparing for future WiFi 7 upgrades✅ QCN9074SMB or home network deployment✅ QCN9024Tight integration with open-source platforms✅ QCN9074

Appendix: Example Modules and Use Cases

Module ModelChipsetFrequency BandsMIMOUse CaseDR9074QCN90742.4/5GHz4x4Outdoor AP / Industrial routerDR9024QCN90242.4/5GHz4x4Indoor AP / Home routerCNV9024QCN90242.4/5GHz2x2Embedded wireless modules

If you need further details on reference schematics, antenna selection, or system-level thermal/power modeling, feel free to ask.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Qualcomm's IPQ53XX Series: IPQ5300, IPQ5332, IPQ5322 Comprehensive Analysis

  As wireless networking technology continues to evolve, Qualcomm has introduced the IPQ53XX series chipsets to meet the market’s demand for high-speed, stable, and versatile network devices. This series includes several notable models, with IPQ5300, IPQ5332, and IPQ5322 being key highlights. This article will provide a comprehensive overview of these three chips and their advantages in various networking applications. 1. IPQ5300: The Efficient Mid-Range Choice The IPQ5300 is designed for mid-range network devices and boasts the following key features: Multi-Core Architecture : Equipped with a quad-core CPU, the IPQ5300 is capable of handling network data and multitasking efficiently. WiFi 6 Support : This chip supports the 802.11ax (WiFi 6) standard, offering faster transmission speeds and lower latency, ideal for homes and small offices. Network Acceleration : Includes a built-in network acceleration engine to optimize traffic handling and device performance, ensuring a smooth us...
Post a Comment
Read more

IPQ4018 vs IPQ5018: Comprehensive Performance Comparison

 ## IPQ4018 vs IPQ5018: Comprehensive Performance Comparison ### Introduction The IPQ4018 and IPQ5018 are both high-performance system-on-chip (SoC) solutions from Qualcomm, designed for wireless networking applications. This article provides a detailed comparison of these two SoCs, examining their performance, features, and suitability for different applications. ### Architecture and Processing Power #### IPQ4018 - **CPU**: Quad-core ARM Cortex-A7 - **Frequency**: Up to 717 MHz - **Process**: 28nm - **Cache**: L2 cache support #### IPQ5018 - **CPU**: Quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 - **Frequency**: Up to 1.0 GHz - **Process**: 28nm - **Cache**: Larger L2 cache compared to IPQ4018 **Comparison**: The IPQ5018 features a more advanced ARM Cortex-A53 architecture, providing better performance per clock cycle and higher overall processing power due to its increased frequency. ### Wireless Capabilities #### IPQ4018 - **Wi-Fi Standards**: 802.11ac Wave 2 - **Bands**: Dual-band (2.4GHz and 5GHz)...
Post a Comment
Read more

Comprehensive Guide to QCN9024- DR9074-TRIBAND 2.4G/5G/6G WiFi 6 Module WallysTech

  WallysTech DR9074-TRIBAND is a high-performance WiFi 6 module based on the Qualcomm QCN9024 chipset, featuring AI acceleration and compatibility with various hardware and operating systems, including Rockchip platforms, X86 architecture, and Ubuntu. Its outstanding wireless performance and flexible compatibility make it an ideal choice for wireless communication and embedded applications. 1. QCN9024 Chipset Introduction QCN9024 is a high-performance WiFi 6 (802.11ax) wireless chipset from Qualcomm, supporting tri-band (2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz) operation, providing robust wireless transmission capabilities. Key Features Supports WiFi 6 Standard (802.11ax) for higher throughput and lower latency Tri-band Support (2.4G, 5G, 6G) enhances network capacity and device connectivity 4x4 MU-MIMO and OFDMA technology for improved network efficiency Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) optimizes wireless channel utilization AI Acceleration Support for optimized wireless signal processing ...
Post a Comment
Read more