News: OpenWrt One WiFi 6 router board

[morrownr]

Earlier this year I learned that Banana Pi and OpenWRT were teaming up to release a low cost wifi 6 router. The board is designed by OpenWRT and will be producted and marketed by Banana Pi. Here is an article to update us on the status:

https://www.cnx-software.com/2024/04/17/first-openwrt-one-router-board-samples-auction-openwrt-summit/

OpenWrt One router specifications:

SoC – MediaTek MT7981B (Filogic 820) dual-core Cortex-A53 processor @ 1.3 GHz
System Memory – 1GB DDR4

Storage
128 MB SPI NAND flash for U-boot and Linux
4 MB SPI NOR flash for write-protected (by default) recovery bootloader (reflashing can be enabled with a jumper)
Two types of flash devices are used to make the board almost unbrickable
M.2 2242/2230 socket for NVMe SSD (PCIe gen 2 x1)

Networking
2.5GbE RJ45 port
Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 port
Dual-band WiFI 6 via MediaTek MT7976C (2×2 2.4 GHz + 3×3/2×2 + zero-wait DFS 5Ghz)
3x MMCX antenna connectors

USB
1x USB 2.0 Type-A host port
USB Type-C (device, console) port using Holtek HT42B534-2 UART to USB chip

Expansion – MikroBUS socket for expansion modules
Debugging – Console via USB-C port or 3-pin header, 10-pin JTAG/SWD header for main SoC

Misc
Reset and User buttons
Boot select switch: NAND (regular) or NOR (recovery)
2x PWM LEDs, 2x Ethernet LED (GPIO driven)
EM6324 External hardware watchdog
NXP PCF8563TS (I2C) RTC with battery backup holder for CR1220 coin-cell

Power Supply
12V USB-PD on USB-C port (might have changed to up to 15V)
Optional 802.3at/af PoE via RT5040 module
Dimensions – 148 x 100.5 mm compatible with Banana Pi BPI-R4 case design
Certifications – FCC/EC/RoHS compliance

My WiFi 6 router is based on the MediaTek MT7981B SoC. I run OpenWRT on it. It works well. OpenWRT One will have several cool features that mine does not have.

@morrownr

[morrownr]

Here is an iperf3 test with my little WiFi 6 router that uses the same SoC as OpenWRT One:

$ iperf3 -c 192.168.1.1
Connecting to host 192.168.1.1, port 5201
[  5] local 192.168.1.127 port 34398 connected to 192.168.1.1 port 5201
[ ID] Interval           Transfer     Bitrate         Retr  Cwnd
[  5]   0.00-1.00   sec   128 MBytes  1.08 Gbits/sec    0    991 KBytes       
[  5]   1.00-2.00   sec   130 MBytes  1.09 Gbits/sec    0    991 KBytes       
[  5]   2.00-3.00   sec   135 MBytes  1.13 Gbits/sec    0    991 KBytes       
[  5]   3.00-4.00   sec   130 MBytes  1.09 Gbits/sec    0    991 KBytes       
[  5]   4.00-5.00   sec   130 MBytes  1.09 Gbits/sec    0    991 KBytes       
[  5]   5.00-6.00   sec   131 MBytes  1.10 Gbits/sec    0    991 KBytes       
[  5]   6.00-7.00   sec   130 MBytes  1.09 Gbits/sec    0    991 KBytes       
[  5]   7.00-8.00   sec   130 MBytes  1.09 Gbits/sec    0    991 KBytes       
[  5]   8.00-9.00   sec   132 MBytes  1.11 Gbits/sec    0    991 KBytes       
[  5]   9.00-10.00  sec   130 MBytes  1.09 Gbits/sec    0    991 KBytes       
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[ ID] Interval           Transfer     Bitrate         Retr
[  5]   0.00-10.00  sec  1.28 GBytes  1.10 Gbits/sec    0             sender
[  5]   0.00-10.00  sec  1.27 GBytes  1.09 Gbits/sec                  receiver

My client system has a PCIe card with a mt7922 chip in it. Channel is 116. Channel width is 160.

Yup, wireless faster than 1 Gb ethernet.

[morrownr]

Here is a ping test with my little WiFi 6 router that uses the same SoC as OpenWRT One:

$ ping 192.168.1.1
PING 192.168.1.1 (192.168.1.1) 56(84) bytes of data.
64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=1 ttl=64 time=0.663 ms
64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=2 ttl=64 time=0.658 ms
64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3 ttl=64 time=0.665 ms
64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=4 ttl=64 time=9.83 ms
64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=5 ttl=64 time=0.734 ms
64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=6 ttl=64 time=5.53 ms
64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=7 ttl=64 time=0.656 ms
64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=8 ttl=64 time=0.696 ms
64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=9 ttl=64 time=0.674 ms
...

Average ping time: 4.803

[amisix]

Yeah, that's hot stuff. Thanks for the heads up, looks like something I'd be interested in. Love me some custom Openwrt hardware where I don't have to fight a poorly designed USB 3 bus on my RPis.

…

On Fri, Apr 26, 2024, 8:02 PM morrownr ***@***.***> wrote: Here is a ping test with my little WiFi 6 router that uses the same SoC as OpenWRT One: $ ping 192.168.1.1 PING 192.168.1.1 (192.168.1.1) 56(84) bytes of data. 64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=1 ttl=64 time=0.663 ms 64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=2 ttl=64 time=0.658 ms 64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3 ttl=64 time=0.665 ms 64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=4 ttl=64 time=9.83 ms 64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=5 ttl=64 time=0.734 ms 64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=6 ttl=64 time=5.53 ms 64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=7 ttl=64 time=0.656 ms 64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=8 ttl=64 time=0.696 ms 64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=9 ttl=64 time=0.674 ms ... Average ping time: 4.803 — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#424 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ACSLA2BJOIDHYJLL5Q6TMDTY7MIODAVCNFSM6AAAAABGTQNHGSVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHMZDAOBQGMZTMMRTG4> . You are receiving this because you are subscribed to this thread.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[morrownr]

@amisix

How is it going? I get what you are saying. The RasPi's are fun but some of the hardware choices have made for challenges.

I follow OpenWRTm especially if I am looking for something new. By last fall, I had keyed in on the SoC and found a router that would get the job done. Mine is more limited than the one Banana Pt and OpenWRT are building but it does get the job done and I am surprised how stable it is. When you look at OpenWRT One, they have added some very handy capabilities that I have never seen in a home router... clock with battery back-up. What? It is designed to be opened up. In fact, I think you have to buy the board, the case and a power supply separately and put it together yourself... kinda like a Pi.

@morrownr

[amisix]

Things are good. How are things w/you? I'm still messing about with these routers, built a unique one from a 4g/5g Waveshare RPi CM4 carrier board but replaced the m.2 4g/5g cell module with an m.2 Alfa AWM27921U (USB bus) from Rockland. It's a very unique card imo.. I'm sold. Designed to be built/opened up, count me in. The RTC with battery backup is rare.. the Waveshare carrier board i used has it interestingly enough, but you also have to have an RPi CM4 as opposed to the Openwrt offering.. I'm looking forward to hearing more.

…

On Fri, Apr 26, 2024, 8:19 PM morrownr ***@***.***> wrote: @amisix <https://github.com/amisix> How is it going? I get what you are saying. The RasPi's are fun but some of the hardware choices have made for challenges. I follow OpenWRTm especially if I am looking for something new. By last fall, I had keyed in on the SoC and found a router that would get the job done. Mine is more limited than the one Banana Pt and OpenWRT are building but it does get the job done and I am surprised how stable it is. When you look at OpenWRT One, they have added some very handy capabilities that I have never seen in a home router... clock with battery back-up. What? It is designed to be opened up. In fact, I think you have to buy the board, the case and a power supply separately and put it together yourself... kinda like a Pi. @morrownr <https://github.com/morrownr> — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#424 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ACSLA2AD5WMCUJB6HGONDADY7MKMDAVCNFSM6AAAAABGTQNHGSVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHMZDAOBQGM2DANJYGY> . You are receiving this because you were mentioned.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[morrownr]

@amisix

Things are good. How are things w/you?

Things are going slow here, Hopefully things improve.

I'm looking forward to hearing more.

You always have interesting things going. I'm looking forward to hearing more about this board as well. I hope this project is a success and they follow on with a tri band WiFi 7 board.

[fakemanhk]

Love me some custom Openwrt hardware where I don't have to fight a poorly designed USB 3 bus on my RPis.

My tests on RPi4B is showing me horrible experience with the USB3, I cannot imagine how bad it is, now when I need USB I just go to use my NanoPi R4S.

Earlier this year I learned that Banana Pi and OpenWRT were teaming up to release a low cost wifi 6 router. The board is designed by OpenWRT and will be producted and marketed by Banana Pi

These days BananaPi is doing a lot Mediatek related products, I also have their BPI-R4 (yeah I need 10Gbps) and the spec is really good. The OpenWrt One is interesting but I had enough MT7981 based device (GL-INET MT3000 I liked most) so I would probably skip this one, however if the price is OK I would recommend it to friends.