DR8072A embedded router board offers dual 2.5 GbE, WiFi 6 connectivity

We’ve previously found Qualcomm IPQ8072A quad-core Cortex-A53 networking processor in WPQ873 embedded SBC with support for WiFI 6, three GbE ports, one 2.5GbE port, and support for 5G M.2 modems.

The design was adapted from Qualcomm HK09 reference design, and now another company, Wallys  Communications, has launched another board based on HK09. DR8072A embedded router board is somewhat similar to WPQ873, but does come with two 2.5GbE ports instead of just one, one extra Gigabit Ethernet port, among other smaller changes.

DR8072A specifications:

• SoC – Qualcomm Atheros IPQ8072A quad-core ARM 64 bit A53 @ 2.2GHz part of Qualcomm Networking Pro 600 Platform
• System Memory – 1x 512MB, DDR4 2,400 MHz 16-bit interface
• Storage – 256MB NAND flash, 8MB NOR flash
• Networking and Wireless Connectivity
  • Ethernet
    • 4x Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 ports
    • 2x 2.5 Gbps Ethernet RJ45 ports
  • WiFi
    • On-board 4×4 2.4GHz MU-MIMO OFDMA 802.11b/g/n/ax, up to 1182 Mbps, max 17dBm per chain
    • On-board 4×4 5GHz MU-MIMO OFDMA 802.11a/n/ac/ax, up to 2475Mbps, max 17dBm per chain
    • 8x U.FL connectors
• USB – 2x USB 3.0 ports
• Expansion – Mini PCIe socket with PCIe 3.0 interface
• Debugging – 20-pin JTAG debug interface, 4-pin serial port
• Misc – 2x RGB LEDs, reset button
• Power Supply – 12V via DC jack connector
• Power Consumption – TBD
• Dimensions – TBD
• Temperature Range – Operating: -20ºC to 70ºC; storage: -40ºC to 90ºC
• Humidity – Operating: 5% to 95% (non-condensing); storage: Max. 90% (non-condensing)

Two features from WPQ873 board have not been integrated into Wallys’ embedded router board: an M.2 socket for 5G modems, and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity using QCA4024 chip. So instead, you might be able to use a 5G mini PCIe card.

I haven’t been able to ask Wallys Communication about software support before the week-long Labor Day holiday, but usually, this type of board supports the Qualcomm SDK with QCA binary drivers and the older OpenWrt Barrier Breaker distribution.

That’s about all the public information we have about the DR8072A board, but you should be able to ask for additional details via the product page. Pricing has not been made public (yet), but for reference, WPQ873 sells for $785, so it may be in that ballpark.

Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft)

Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.

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