The OpenWrt On router delivers mid-range performance and remarkable quality right out of the box. Let’s take a closer look at its pros and cons:
- Out of the box installation.
- M.2 slot support for NVMe SSD.
- Extensive Software support.
- Supports WiFi 6.
- Integrated PoE.
- Unbrickable (Numerous recovery options.).
- mikroBUS Socket.
- Price.
- USB Type-A 2.0 Host.
- Two Ethernet ports.
- 1GB RAM
- Maybe you missed it? Banana Pi R4 Router Board
- OpenWrt One Review: A look at the new R4 variant developed by the OpenWrt and Banana Pi teams.
Banana Pi OpenWrt One: An embedded router with enhanced software support
Part 1: Product Introduction
The OpenWrt team finally released their new embedded router board, OpenWrt One, featuring MediaTek MT7981B (Filogic 820) SoC and MediaTek MT7976C dual-band Wi-Fi 6 chipset. This cutting-edge hardware has been designed in partnership with Banana Pi, who will oversee the production and distribution of the router board.
The Banana Pi OpenWrt One marks a significant collaboration with the OpenWrt community.
With the release of OpenWrt 23.05, over 1,800 routers and devices are now officially supported by the lightweight embedded Linux operating system. Many more are claiming to run OpenWrt through a fork of the OS, although these are not developed by the OpenWrt team. Currently, the developers have joined forces with Banana Pi to design their own router board, drawing on their experience with boards like the BPI-R4 Wi-Fi 7 router SBC.
Hardware
The OpenWrt One features a MediaTek MT7981B (Filogic 820) dual-core Cortex-A53 processor operating at 1.3 GHz. It is equipped with 1GB of DDR4 system memory and includes 128 MB of SPI NAND flash for U-boot and Linux 4, ensuring robust performance and efficiency.
As for interfaces and buttons, the device features a USB 2.0 Type-A host port, a USB Type-C port for device or console use, a mikroBUS expansion socket, and a real-time clock. It includes physical reset and user buttons, a boot selection switch for choosing between NAND or NOR storage and supports a 12V power input along with optional compatibility for a Power over Ethernet module.
On the connectivity front, this device is outfitted with two Ethernet ports—one capable of Gigabit speeds and the other delivering an impressive 2.5 GbE. Additionally, it features a MediaTek MT7976C chip, enabling cutting-edge Wi-Fi 6 technology for superior wireless performance.
OpenWrt One
Key Features
- OpenWrt official board and support
- MediaTek MT7981B (Filogic 820) SoC
- Dual-band WiFI 6 via MediaTek MT7976C (2×2 2.4 GHz + 3×3 5Ghz)
- 1GB DDR4
- 1 x 2.5GbE RJ45 port and |1 x Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 port
- 256 MiB SPI NAND and 16 MiB SPI NOR flash are used to make the board almost unbrickable
- M.2 2242/2230 socket for NVMe SSD (PCIe gen 2 x1)
- RTC support
- PoE support
- MikroBUS socket for expansion modules
OpenWrt One Specfications
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| SoC | MediaTek MT7981B (Filogic 820) dual-core Cortex-A53 processor @ 1.3 GHz |
| System Memory | 1GB DDR4 |
| Storage | Two flash storage types make the board nearly unbreakable. 128 MB SPI NAND flash for U-boot and Linux 4 MB SPI NOR flash for write-protected (by default) recovery bootloader (re-flashing can be enabled with a jumper) M.2 2242/2230 socket for NVMe SSD (PCIe gen 2 x1) |
| Networking | 1x 2.5GbE RJ45 port 1x Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 port 3x MMCX antenna connectors Dual-band WiFI 6 via MediaTek MT7976C (2×2 2.4 GHz + 3×3/2×2 + zero-wait DFS 5Ghz) |
| USB | 1x USB 2.0 Type-A host port 1x 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 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 |
This table provides a clear and concise overview of the Banana Pi BPI-R4’s specifications, making it easy to compare different features and understand the board’s capabilities.
Banana Pi OpenWrt One: Layout and Interfaces
Striving for affordability
The OpenWrt team carefully chose the router’s specifications to maintain an affordable price of under $100 to stay within this budget. “We opted for interfaces like USB 2.0 instead of USB 3.0 due to limited availability in the Filogic 820 SoC. Although the open-source license for the schematics is undecided, we assure you that they will be made publicly accessible. Rest assured; we will fully comply with GPL requirements by providing a comprehensive machine-readable copy of the corresponding source code.”
Collaborating with Banana Pi Team
Banana Pi was specifically chosen by the OpenWrt developers due to its remarkable alignment with their long-standing requirements. Over the years, the company has gained substantial popularity within the OpenWrt community. Additionally, numerous features are already well-supported in the upstream/mainline U-Boot and Linux systems. It is worth noting that some components such as the 2.5GbE PHY and Wi-Fi firmware employ non-open-source elements, which operate on separate cores independent of the main SoC. Equally, the DRAM calibration routines are also closed-source binaries.
Business model and distribution
The OpenWrt One router board is not only a powerful device but also a promising opportunity to generate income for the project. By partnering with Banana Pi and leveraging their extensive distribution network, we can ensure the widespread availability and adoption of the router board. With every sale, a generous contribution will be made to the Software Freedom Conservancy (SDC), specifically allocated to benefit the OpenWrt community. This revenue will play a crucial role in covering essential expenses such as hosting and organizing OpenWrt conferences. While the exact launch date for the OpenWrt router board is yet to be confirmed, we invite you to delve into the announcement for further details. Together, let’s empower OpenWrt and foster a stronger community!
More details may be found in the official announcement.
It’s a mistake to compare the router with BPI R4.
Compare it with BPI R3. Unfortunately Openwrt One looses in every possible category including price.
OpenWrt may have prioritized profit over customer value, which could be considered a strategic mistake.