Wednesday, October 2nd 2024
OpenWrt Community and Banana Pi Launch OpenWrt One WiFi 6 Router
The OpenWrt One WiFi 6 router by Banana Pi has recently completed its journey from the first announcement in January 2024, through sampling in April, and is now available for retail to end-users. The OpenWrt One is the first board designed by Banana Pi in collaboration with the OpenWrt open-source community, with assistance from MediaTek. Banana Pi is also handling the manufacturing and distribution of the router board, with part of the generated income being used by OpenWrt to cover the costs of hosting and conferences, as well as donations to the Software Freedom Conservancy (SFC) organization.
The router uses MediaTek's MT7981B (Filogic 820) SoC and MediaTek MT7976C dual-band WiFi 6 chipset, offering 2x2 2.4 GHz and 3x3 5 GHz connectivity. It features a dual-core Cortex-A53 processor running at 1.3 GHz, 1 GB of DDR4 RAM, and 256 MB of SPI NAND flash storage. It also includes 16 MB of additional protected storage for system backup, and integrated M.2 2230/2242 NVMe PCIe 2x1 ports that can be used for adding external storage. The router comes with the board, including a heatsink, assembled in a metal case, three antennas, and an external power supply. In terms of connectivity, the OpenWrt One offers (aside from wireless connections) 1x Gigabit RJ45 and 1x 2.5GbE RJ45 ports, 1x USB 2.0 Type-A host port, and 1x USB Type-C port.
Technical specifications and features
SoC
Banana Pi OpenWrt One WiFi 6 router is priced at about $132 (without discounts) on AliExpress.
Sources:
Banana Pi, OpenWrt
The router uses MediaTek's MT7981B (Filogic 820) SoC and MediaTek MT7976C dual-band WiFi 6 chipset, offering 2x2 2.4 GHz and 3x3 5 GHz connectivity. It features a dual-core Cortex-A53 processor running at 1.3 GHz, 1 GB of DDR4 RAM, and 256 MB of SPI NAND flash storage. It also includes 16 MB of additional protected storage for system backup, and integrated M.2 2230/2242 NVMe PCIe 2x1 ports that can be used for adding external storage. The router comes with the board, including a heatsink, assembled in a metal case, three antennas, and an external power supply. In terms of connectivity, the OpenWrt One offers (aside from wireless connections) 1x Gigabit RJ45 and 1x 2.5GbE RJ45 ports, 1x USB 2.0 Type-A host port, and 1x USB Type-C port.
SoC
- MediaTek MT7981B (Filogic 820) dual-core Cortex-A53 processor @ 1.3 GHz
- 1 GB DDR4
- 256 MB SPI NAND flash for U-boot and Linux
- 16 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)
- 1x 2.5GbE RJ45 port
- 1x 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
- 1x USB 2.0 Type-A host port
- USB Type-C (device, console) port using Holtek HT42B534-2 UART to USB chip
- MikroBUS socket for expansion modules
- Console via USB-C port or 3-pin header, 10-pin JTAG/SWD header for main SoC
- Support RTC onboard
- 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
- 15 V USB-PD on USB-C port
- Optional 802.3at/af PoE via RT5040 module
- 148 x 100.5 mm compatible with Banana Pi BPI-R4 case design
21 Comments on OpenWrt Community and Banana Pi Launch OpenWrt One WiFi 6 Router
at 139-180 bucks forget it buy the GL-MT6000 (es considering that GLi is routinely discounted 20-30 bucks)
its really stupid they didn't go with the 830 and more ram
no dual 2.5G ports no integrated switch only 3x antenna this thing frankly sucks ....
if openwrt is gonna go to the trouble of putting there name on it build a bad mofo and price it accordly at the volumes you do when you are as small as banana pi trying to hid the middle ground always results in a MISS go baller make the money make less units you won't sell ... THEN go for the cheaper market
I can't speak for particular modem compatibility, but if it works with Linux, it will probably work with OpenWRT, which is what MT6000 uses.
docs.banana-pi.org/en/OpenWRT-One/BananaPi_OpenWRT-One
£69 on the Ali store.
I thought the motivation to make a unit like this would be to supply what the open market is failing to supply, it does feel over priced considering its almost wireless only.
Also since there seems to be a revenue share based on what the page says, I do hope this doesnt lead to less 3rd party devices getting support, as there is now an incentive to draw users to this SKU.
Is this your crowd funder from SNB?? ;)
BPi are a meh company as well.
I was trying to see if there was interest to source some Qualcomm routers with a pair of 10 Gbps ports a few years ago, but apparently there was no such interest.
Keep in mind that I worked for a router manufacturer for 2½ years and they were doing things no-one else in the industry was doing or is even considering doing today. Shame the owner lost faith in what he was doing, despite business being good.Imho, this seems like a device that was made for the OpenWRT developers to play around with, not sensible person would buy this.
Had they gone for the quad core chip found in the GL.inet GT-MT6000 or the Asus TUF Gaming AX6000, things would've been very different.
This Taiwanese company is selling dev boards based on the MT7986A, but they're $200 a pop...
asiarf.com/product/wi-fi-6e-ax6000-mediatek-mt7986a-router-dp7986/
You've saved money in completely the wrong place!
It may be enough for a small children's room in the jungle, but I see 4x4 in the 2.4Ghz band as a must today.
I don't buy hardware garbage just because of an open firmware!
It's weird they didn't go for something better, at this price you can order something better from GL-inet that has official support, replace the custom image with the official release and save a few bucks.BPi-R3, the R4 uses a newer soc - MediaTek MT7988A/Filogic 880 - the R3 and MT6000 use the MediaTek MT7986/Filogic 830
Also I think the chipset used on this was exposed as having a lot of vulnerability in like 4 different areas.