Orange Pi 5 Network Module Card
A few weeks after purchasing the Orange Pi 5, the newly upgraded Orange Pi 5B is already available with an integrated Wi-Fi & BT chip. Customers might see their first purchase as a deal-breaker and be disappointed, as the first Pi 5 board doesn’t come with built-in WIFI & BT but only has a M.2 interface which supports NVMe SSD cards. In order to offer a better solution to this problem, the Orange Pi team has just launched the module expansion card that offers wireless connectivity for Pi 5 board users.
Making a compromise
If you already have an NVMe SSD installed on your Orange Pi 5 and wish to use Wi-Fi connectivity, you will need to use a fast performance micro SD card instead. Preferably from a reputable brand. SD cards are currently relatively cheap and can hold 2TB, so they shouldn’t be a problem. Plus, you got four additional USB hosts (USB3.0 × 1, USB2.0 × 2, Type-C (USB3.1) ×1) that can hold additional space if required.
Specifications
- Description: Wi-Fi6+BT5.0 module for Orange Pi 5
- Chip Scheme: AP6275P
- Power supply voltage: 3.3V
- Bluetooth Standard: V5.0
- 4G Frequency Bands:: 2.400GHz~2.835GHz
- 5G Frequency Bands: 5.150GHz~5.850GHz
- Communication interface: WIFI: PCle, BT: UART/PCM
- The BT5.0 uses the UART/PCM interface
- Wi-Fi standards: Wi-Fi6802.11ax/ac/a/b/g/n
- Supports 2T2R 802.1ax/ac/a/b/g/n – frequency bands of 2.4GHz and 5GHz, and has the MIMO standard.
- Two antennas – one of which is shared with BT and uses the PCIe 2.1 interface.
- Size: 22mm X 30mm
Option #1:
Wi-Fi / BT Module (A+E Key) via M.2 socket installation.
In order to use the M.2 slot (socket) for Wi-Fi connectivity, you must purchase these items. The first step is to purchase a Wi-Fi 6 BT combo card with an A+E key interface. The correct M.2 to A+E converter adapter must also be purchased. It is imperative to purchase the correct adapter with multiple length options in order to cut it down to the desired length, according to the board dimensions.
Installing an M.2 (A+E Key) Adapter
Product Photo | QTY | Product description | Purchasing link |
 | 1 | MediaTek Wi-Fi 6E/BT MT7922 Module (A+E) | |
 | 1 | M.2 to A+E Key Adapter | |
 | 2 | RP-SMA F to MHF4 F (Note: pick the necessery cable lenght) | |
 | 1 | 2.4G/5G Dual Frequency Antenna with Base. | |
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Option #2:
Module installation on Orange Pi 5 and other SBC brands.
The Orange Pi 5 module is M.2 socket compatible. This means there is no need to purchase additional adapters. And lastly, as a small tip, if you have other SBCs (Single Board Computers) that are M.2 slot ready such as the NanoPi R5S or Banana Pi R3 this module might be an excellent and inexpensive option. In some situations where you don’t have mounting holes on the SBC, you can use an extension adapter card.
Product Photo | Product description | Purchasing link |
 | Wifi 6 / BT Module | |
 | M.2 Extension Card | |
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Wi-Fi BT Combo Module
According to primary information, the kit included a pair of wire type antennas so if you need something more descent, you would probably need to buy two SMA Antenna wires with antennas and drill some holes in the case or as another option, use dual antennas with a mounting base that can be placed on a shelf or table.
Installing the Orange Pi 5 Module in different case models
Another consideration when installing the module card inside a case is the distance between the case button cover and the module card. If the space is too narrow the Orange Pi 5 and card will not fit the case mounting screws. The solution to this problem is to add spacers to increase the Orange Pi 5 board height. Only applicable to the semi-open case (Model: C3600). This practice will also help add extra space for mounting a heatsink on top of the module chip if needed.
Orange Pi 5 Case Designs
Product Photo | Product description | Purchasing link |
 Model: C3600 | Semi-open metal case | |
 Model: N505 | Metal Case Compatible with Orange Pi 5 | |
N505 (Enhanced) | Metal Case | |
 Model: N506 (NAS Style) | Metal Case (Supports: 280 NVMe SSD) | |
 | Acrylic (Plastic) Case | |
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Adding / replacing lower spacers
*Please note that you will also need to replace all four M2.5 screws with longer screws*.
Spacers | ||
Product Photo | Type | Purchasing link |
Model: C3600 |  Description: Non-Threaded ABS Spacer. | |
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Hardware
The new module card is powered by a Broadcom BCM4375 Chip which should provide great performance. Broadcome’s official website describes the card as a dual-band 802.11ax Wi-Fi /Bluetooth 5.0+ combo chip. It is capable of simultaneously implementing two 802.11ax streams with Bluetooth 5.0+ to enable Wi-Fi speeds up to 1.429 Gb/s on mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. This chipset supports 1024 QAM modulation, OFDMA and MU-MIMO operation.
Price and Availability
The orange pi 5 module is currently priced at $10.99 excluding shipping on Shenzhen xunlong official AliExpress store and $13 on their Amazon store (links posted below). This is definitely a good deal for Orange Pi 5 users looking for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi 6 support.
