WiFi 6/BT 5.1 module Comfast CF-AX200 CC, speeding up your home Internet without wires

by Alessandro McClure · 15/06/2020

Today I would like to take a quick look at the Comfast CF-AX200 CC dual-band 2.4+5 GHz WiFi6/Bluetooth 5.1 module.

Background. Due to the increasing frequency of “distance learning” lately, I decided to organize a separate computer workplace for my daughter. I bought a compact PC Dell Optiplex 7010 SFF, computer desk, monitor, keyboard and mouse.
The home router Redmi AX5 with WiFi6 support is located in the next room, across two reinforced concrete walls, across the hallway.
The problem is to connect the Internet to the PC, preferably wireless, which will provide me with the speed of 100 mbps, given by the provider.
On occasion, the opportunity to choose a product for the review in online store Banggood. I chose Comfast CF-AX200 CC Dual-Band 2.4GHz WiFi6/Bluetooth 5.1 PCI module for review.
While the item was in transit I assembled a WiFi module from an old cadaver tablet into a USB WiFi adapter.
The point of the hack was to solder the USB plug to the module, but at the same time I had to remember to power it down to 3.3V. To do that I soldered two diodes in series into the power line, where the voltage drop was about 2V.

It became possible to surf the Internet and watch YouTube, but the speed of the old WiFi adapter left much to be desired…

Specifications Comfast CF-AX200 SS

Manufacturer: COMFAST;
Model: CF-AX200 SS;
Color: black;
External antennas: 2 x 5 dBi;
Interface: PCI-E 1X;
Wireless Standard: IEEE802.11ax / ac / a / b / g / n;
Wireless Speeds:

2.4 GHz: 574 Mbps;
5 GHz: 2400 Mbps (with appropriate router bandwidth);
Bluetooth Version: 5.1
Compatible connectors: PCI-E 16X/PCI-E 8X/PCI-E 4X/PCI-E 1X;
Transmission power: WiFi: 19.5 dBm (maximum) BT: 10 dBm;
Support OS: Win10 (64-bit);
Product size: 95X64 mm;
Antenna length: 173 mm;
Working Temperature: 0°C ~ 40°C;
Weight of the product: 200 g.

Scope of delivery

Comfast CF-AX200 CC is packed in a cardboard box with a picture of the module and the specified technical specifications.
The package includes:

Comfast CF-AX200 C module;
two antennas;
a cord to connect Bluetooth to USB connector on the motherboard;
installation instructions;
bar for SFF cases;
screw for mounting.

Basically, Comfast CF-AX200 SS is nothing else but a PCI adapter board for M.2 WiFi6/BT5.1 module AX200 NGW. Above the module is a removable plastic cover that houses a three-wire, five-volt controlled backlight board.

Installing

Disassemble the PC and install the CF-AX200 SS module in a free PCI slot. Plug the included USB cable into the module’s board and connect its other end to the connector on the board for USB connection. Connect the external antennas.

After you have turned on the PC, the WiFi part of the module worked immediately, the Bluetooth drivers were not installed. We download the recommended version of the driver from the Comfast site, the link is in the instruction manual.

After the installation of the updated drivers the module worked normally. Even at the point far away from the router with the signal interference in the form of two reinforced concrete walls we got the required speed:

2.4 GHz WiFi – 74 mBits/s;
5 GHz WiFi – 108 mBit/s;

For the sake of interest, next to the PC, I measured the speed of WiFi 5 with a smartphone Xiaomi MI9 Lite without WiFi6 support, I got the result of 68 mBits/s.

When placing the computer with the CF-AX200 CC module two meters away from the router, the WIFi 5 GHz speed was about 540 mBits/s:

The Bluetooth version of the module is really 5.1. It’s not hard to check. You need to press Win + R and type devmgmt.msc to open the Device Manager. Then right click on your Bluetooth and select properties. In the new window, go to the Advanced tab and check the firmware version. The LMP number shows the version of Bluetooth your computer is using.

LMP 10.x – Bluetooth 5.1
LMP 9.x – Bluetooth 5.0
LMP 8.x – Bluetooth 4.2
LMP 7.x – Bluetooth 4.1
LMP 6.x – Bluetooth 4.0
LMP 5.x – Bluetooth 3.0 + HS
LMP 4.x – Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
LMP 3.x – Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR
LMP 2.x – Bluetooth 1.2
LMP 1.x – Bluetooth 1.1
LMP 0.x – Bluetooth 1.0b

Bluetooth 5.1 compared to version 4 has pleased with wider coverage. At those distances where the headphones connected to the popular dongle BTA-403 from Orico started to “stutter”, when connected through the CF-AX200 CC the sound was reproduced confidently, without interruptions.

Conclusion: The module is good, I have achieved my goal.
At the new computer workplace there is a stable connection of 100 mBit/s without drilling the walls and laying cables.