The Qualcomm QCA2066 is a Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) chip that provides multi-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz and 5GHz) support, Bluetooth 5.1, and other advanced wireless connectivity features, making it ideal for routers, access points, and other IoT devices that require high-speed and reliable Wireless Communication. The QCA2066 supports dual-band Wi-Fi, MU-MIMO, and OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access), offering better efficiency and lower latency for crowded wireless environments.

If you're looking for equivalent ICs to the Qualcomm QCA2066, you need alternatives from other manufacturers that support Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and similar advanced features.

Equivalent ICs to the Qualcomm QCA2066:

1. Broadcom

Broadcom is a leading provider of Wi-Fi chipsets and provides a variety of Wi-Fi 6 solutions that compete directly with Qualcomm's offerings.

• Broadcom BCM6755: A Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) dual-band chipset with Bluetooth 5.0 support. It offers 4x4 MU-MIMO, OFDMA, and advanced power management features, making it a direct competitor to the QCA2066 for consumer routers and access points.

• Broadcom BCM43684: This is a Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) chipset designed for consumer devices like routers, gateways, and access points. It features dual-band (2.4GHz/5GHz), MU-MIMO, and OFDMA with Bluetooth 5.0 support, similar to the QCA2066.

• Broadcom BCM43602: A dual-band Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) chipset with 4x4 MIMO and support for Bluetooth 5.1. It’s designed for high-performance consumer applications and similar in functionality to the QCA2066, especially in Wi-Fi 6 performance.

2. MediaTek

MediaTek also provides a wide range of Wi-Fi 6 solutions for routers, gateways, and other consumer electronics. These solutions are often more affordable while offering strong performance and compatibility.

• MediaTek MT7915: A Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) chipset with dual-band support and 4x4 MU-MIMO. It features OFDMA, Bluetooth 5.0, and target wake time (TWT) for improved energy efficiency. It’s targeted at consumer routers, gateway devices, and mesh networks, making it a great alternative to the QCA2066.

• MediaTek MT7921: A Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) chipset with dual-band support and Bluetooth 5.2 integration. It is used in both consumer routers and Wi-Fi 6 client devices (like laptops and smartphones). This chip integrates 4x4 MIMO, OFDMA, and MU-MIMO support, similar to the Qualcomm QCA2066.

• MediaTek MT7916: A Wi-Fi 6 solution designed for dual-band use in routers, gateways, and access points. It also supports MU-MIMO, OFDMA, and has an integrated Bluetooth 5.1 solution.

3. Realtek

Realtek is another major player in the networking chip market and offers competitive Wi-Fi 6 solutions with features that align well with the Qualcomm QCA2066.

• Realtek RTL8852AX: A Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) chipset that supports dual-band (2.4GHz and 5GHz), 4x4 MIMO, MU-MIMO, OFDMA, and Bluetooth 5.2. This chip is designed for routers and client devices such as smartphones and laptops.

• Realtek RTL8188EUS: A Wi-Fi 6 solution that also provides dual-band support with 4x4 MIMO, OFDMA, and Bluetooth 5.1. While it’s geared more toward consumer routers and networking systems, it is a viable option that offers similar capabilities to the QCA2066.

4. Broadcom/Qualcomm Joint Solutions

Sometimes Broadcom and Qualcomm provide joint solutions or compatible designs, especially for high-performance Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and multi-radio applications. These designs are used in a variety of consumer and enterprise networking products.

• Qualcomm QCA6290: A dual-band Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) chipset with MU-MIMO and OFDMA support. While the QCA6290 is more typically seen in client-side devices (like smartphones and laptops), it also integrates Bluetooth 5.0 and supports a wide range of Wi-Fi protocols.

• Qualcomm QCA9377: This is a dual-band Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) solution, but it is worth mentioning for lower-end applications where you might need a more affordable, less advanced alternative to the QCA2066. It still integrates Bluetooth and basic Wi-Fi 5 features.

5. NXP (Freescale)

NXP offers a series of wireless chipsets that support Wi-Fi 6 and can be used in consumer and industrial applications.

• NXP QorIQ LS1028A: While this is primarily a multi-core ARM processor used for industrial IoT, it includes Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth support in certain configurations. NXP's Wi-Fi 6 solutions are typically more used in embedded applications than in consumer routers.

6. Cypress Semiconductor (now part of Infineon Technologies)

Cypress Semiconductor (now under Infineon Technologies) offers Wi-Fi and Bluetooth solutions, primarily used in IoT and connected devices.

• Cypress CYW4335: A dual-band Wi-Fi 6 solution with Bluetooth 5.1. While more commonly used in IoT and embedded systems, it can provide dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5 functionality similar to the QCA2066.

Key Features to Compare:

When looking for equivalent ICs to the Qualcomm QCA2066, here are the important features to compare:

• Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax): Ensure the chipset supports Wi-Fi 6 for advanced features like MU-MIMO, OFDMA, and better efficiency in crowded environments.

• Dual-Band: Check that the chipset supports both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands for optimal performance.

• Bluetooth: Ensure Bluetooth 5.0 or higher is supported if your application requires wireless Bluetooth connectivity.

• MIMO Configuration: Look for 4x4 MIMO or 8x8 MIMO configurations if high performance and multi-device handling are required.

• OFDMA and MU-MIMO: These features enable more efficient spectrum usage and better handling of multiple simultaneous connections, which is essential in modern Wi-Fi environments.

Conclusion:

The Qualcomm QCA2066 is a Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) chipset with dual-band support, Bluetooth 5.1, 4x4 MU-MIMO, and OFDMA support, making it ideal for high-performance networking applications like routers and gateways. Equivalent ICs from other manufacturers include:

• Broadcom BCM6755, BCM43684 for Wi-Fi 6 solutions with Bluetooth 5.0 support.

• MediaTek MT7915, MT7921 for dual-band Wi-Fi 6 with Bluetooth 5.0/5.2 integration.

• Realtek RTL8852AX, RTL8188EUS for Wi-Fi 6 dual-band chipsets.

• Qualcomm QCA6290 for similar dual-band Wi-Fi 6 performance.

• Cypress CYW4335 for IoT and embedded solutions with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1.

The right choice will depend on your specific requirements such as Wi-Fi 6 support, Bluetooth integration, and multi-device handling capabilities.