Supernetworks’ “Secure Programmable Router” (SPR) is a Raspberry Pi CM5-based router featuring 2.5GbE, Gigabit Ethernet, and Wi-Fi 6 3×3 MIMO, advertised as an open-source, secure, user-friendly WiFi router for home users.
The router ships with a Compute Module 5 equipped with 4GB RAM, 32GB eMMC flash, and WiFi 5 + Bluetooth 5.0 by default, but adds WiFi 6 through a MediaTek MT7916 chipset. It also comes with two USB 3.0 ports, one USB 2.0 port, and supports either USB PD or PoE+ power input.
SPR router specifications:
- Supported SoM – Raspberry Pi CM5; ships with CM5104032 (4GB RAM, 32GB eMMC, WiFi)
- Storage – MicroSD card slot for Compute Module 5 Lite only
- Networking
- Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 port
- 2.5Gbps Ethernet RJ45 port with PoE support
- WiFi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0 on CM5
- MediaTek MT7916 for 802.11AX WiFi 6 3×3 MIMO
- PCIe Switch supporting WiFi & 2.5Gbps Ethernet
- FlexMIMO Antennas from Laird
- USB
- 2x USB 3.0 ports
- 1x USB 2.0 port
- Misc
- CM5 active cooler
- LED disable switch
- UART / USB download mode
- Power Supply
- USB PD power
- PoE+ (802.3at) on 2.5 GbE port
- Dimensions – TBD (Temperature Resistant, PA2200 Nylon Enclosure)
The router runs the SPR Linux distribution, featuring one password per WiFi device, policy-based, zero-trust network access, and per-device DNS rules & Ad block lists. The software also includes security features like Multi-PSK with WPA3, a firewall, WiFi 6 support, WireGuard VPN, load balancing, logging abilities, and so on.
All features listed above are free, but others are part of the SPR PLUS paid subscription ($8), namely scheduling, event-based triggers, DNAT Rewriting, mesh with wired backhaul, policy-based site forwarding, and iOS app support. An SPR PLUS bundle comes with the SPR router, and it’s more designed for people wanting to install SPR on other Raspberry Pi platforms.
The Broadcom BMC2712 SoC found in the Raspberry Pi 5 and CM5 is not exactly optimized for routers, so performance may suffer in some cases, and extra chips make the overall system usually pricer, although I reckon it may offer more flexibility than traditional routers, even those supporting OpenWrt.
This may explain why the SPR CM5 router sells for $399.99 with a USB-C power supply. You’ll find more information and the purchase link on the product page. For reference, the Flint 2 router with WiFi 6 2×2 MIMO, two 2.5GbE ports, four Gigabit Ethernet ports, one USB 3.0 port, and no POE+ sells for $159. This type of router is more limited in terms of memory (1GB) and storage (8GB), but something like the LinkStar H68K with Rockchip RK3568, 4GB RAM, 32GB flash, dual 2.5GbE, dual GbE, and 1200 Gbps WiFi 6 goes for about $230 on Amazon, and quite lower on AliExpress.
Via Hackster.io
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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The MTK WiFi module looks like this one from Asia RF
https://asiarf.com/product/wi-fi-6e-mini-pcie-module-mt7916-aw7916-npd/
It’s clearly not 3×3 in the picture, as it only has two antenna connectors.
I can see 3: AW7916-NPD Wi-Fi 6E AX3000 Mini PCIe Module_dimension
The bigger question to me is however is the single pcie 2 lane adequate for what they promise? 3000mbps + 2500mbps is already more than 5GT/s imho albeit still close enough.
But definitely no reserves for more ethernet ports other than via an additional switch semiconductor. Lets not even start talking about SSDs or whatever fits into the mpci slot
However besides the price tag a nice toy
Ah, missed that one.
The expansion slot is most likely just for the WiFi module.
It still has to be split with the 2.5 Gbps Ethernet interface though, as both require one PCIe lane.
Oh so the wifi is not an m.2?
Me surpried now, I wouldn’t have guessed there are still modern mpcie modules on the market, but it clearly has 2 screws…
Was expecting it was for 4g or so
So the module also exists in m.2: https://asiarf.com/product/wi-fi-6e-m-2-ae-key-module-mt7916-aw7916-aed/
If it’s available and pricewise ok would be interesting for other mini PCs
Note that it might not have a driver for mini PCs, as its intended for routers, so you might have to run OpenWRT for it to work as intended.
I know the guys at AsiaRF btw, been to their offices a few times.
i’d recommend running the mainline linux driver rather than the proprietary mediatek one, and can confirm it runs on x86_64 as well for kernels <= 6.12,
No, as most router WiFi cards can make do with a single PCIe lane, so they are still miniPCIe for whatever reason. I guess some of has to do with size, as router M.2 card uses the 3042 form factor, which is wider, or some custom M.2 form factor which means those cards have limited usage.
Then you have the issue with WiFi cards being A/E coded, vs B/M for SSDs etc. The A/E cards supports two PCIe lanes in theory, so they should be able to offer more bandwidth than miniPCIe which is limited to one PCIe lane, but M keyed cards can do four PCIe lanes as you most likely already know.
We have not seen 3000mbps performance from these cards and do not promise those speeds for wifi. In general the numbers posted by wifi oems are a bit silly. Here is a real world performance test at close range with 2 spatial streams
https://www.supernetworks.org/pages/blog/spr-poe-router-3gbps-throughput
In general, real world speeds will be about 70% of mcs index
https://mcsindex.com/
Hi Alex
I know wifi figures are bogus, they were already exaggerated when that stuff was called WLAN and only 11Mbps fast.
Btw that was not a criticism for your product, just sad rpi still only has one lane available, making it questionable for many uses. That’s why I got myself an HP elite desk for experiments, it would even allow adding a 10 Gb lan card.
100% with you on the single lane, more are totally needed for true wifi 7 & 320mhz+MLO.
we’ve experimented with dropping in wifi 7 cards with m2 adapters and yes it works but not for the speeds to warrant it. we also have a PI5 hat in mPCI and m.2 form for this.
Alex here from supernetworks, the 3rd connector is on the side. I can confirm we ship with this chip asiarf.com/product/wi-fi-6e-mini-pcie-module-mt7916-aw7916-npd/.