Xiaomi Redmi AC2100 Router Sells for $35 and Up

Xiaomi Redmi AC2100 Router

Xiaomi has launched several affordable WiFi routers over the years. Their latest model is called Xiaomi Redmi AC2100 Router and comes with a dual-core, quad-thread MIPS processor, 128MB storage, WiFi 5 with 6 antennas, and four Gigabit Ethernet ports. Xiaomi Redmi AC2100 router specifications: Processor – MediaTek MT7621A dual-core/quad-thread MIPS processor @ 880MHz System Memory – 128MB RAM Storage – 128MB flash Connectivity Wireless 2.4GHz 2×2 Wi-F 802.11n @ 300Mbps 5G 4×4 WiFi 802.11ac @ 1733Mbps 6x external high gain (5dBi) antennas Security – WPA-PSK / WPA2-PSK encryption, wireless access control (black and white list), hidden SSID, intelligent anti-scratch network Ethernet 1x 10/100/1000Mbps WAN (Auto MDI/ MDIX) 3x 10/100/1000Mbps LAN (Auto MDI/ MDIX) Misc – 2x LEDs Indicators (Internet and System), Reset pin hole Power Supply – 12V/2A Dimensions – 259 x 176 x 184mm The router is said to come with MiWiFi firmware based on OpenWrt with “deep customization”, […]

GL.iNet Slate OpenWrt Travel Router Supports Tor, Wireguard VPN, and Cloudflare DNS over HTTPS/TLS

GL.iNet Slate

A couple of months ago, we wrote about GL.iNet Mudi portable WiFi router with built-in 4G LTE connectivity and supporting features such as the Tor Project, up to 25 VPN providers, and Cloudflare DNS over HTTPS or TLS. Mudi was launched on Kickstarter and should start shipping very soon, but I was informed about another OpenWrt travel router from the company with GL.iNet Slate also supporting many of the same features, but doing away with built-in cellular connectivity and battery. GL.iNet Slate (GL-AR750S-Ext) router specifications: SoC – Qualcomm QCA9563 MIPS 74Kc processor @ 775MHz System Memory – 128MB DDR2 Storage – Dual Flash 16MB NOR + 128MB NAND, MicroSD card slot up to 128GB Networking Ethernet 1x Gigabit Ethernet WAN 2x Gigabit Ethernet LAN WiFi Dual-band 802.11 b/g/n/ac WiFi 5 with transmission rates up to 300Mbps (2.4GHz) + 433Mbps (5GHz) 2x 2dBi external antennas 3G/4G – Optional via cellular USB […]

Onion Omega2 Dash Enables Touch-based UI’s, Features Omega2S WiFi Module (Crowdfunding)

e Omega2 Dash is a Wi-Fi-enabled Linux computer with a built-in touchscreen

Onion, the team behind the Omega2 series self-styled computing modules has launched the Omega2 Dash a self-contained Omega2S module with a touchscreen. Unlike some modules integrating with a display that mostly comes in the form of a HAT (in the case of Raspberry Pi), USB, HDMI, or some unique data lines. The Omega2 Dash is a stand-alone 3.2″ TFT touchscreen display running a Linux OS, comes with a Micro USB, and boots in less than a minute, thanks to the Omega2S module attached to the back of the display screen. The Omega2S is the latest in the series of computing modules from Onion after succeeding the Omega2+.  Targeted to the IoT industry in its 24x20x2.8mm form factor, the Omega2S was designed for mass production and people interested in integrating IoT solutions into their products. Integrating a display to the Omega2S will be tricky. It will require investing in a custom […]

FreeMesh WiFi 5 Mesh Network Router Runs OpenWrt

FreeMesh W1326 LTE Router Mesh Network Access FreeMesh has launched an open-source mesh router, the WE1326 LTE FreeMesh Router (included are two nodes) that runs OpenWrt open-source operating system. Open Source and “Hackable” Mesh System FreeMesh enters the mesh market with source code posted on Gitlab, a user-hackable/customizable mesh in other words.  FreeMesh uses OpenWrt – the OpenWrt project is a Linux operating system aimed at embedded systems. The focus is on removing the need for a static firmware, where there is only one option for software for the hardware being purchased. The Offerings and Markets The company is targeting the residential market, where most mesh systems are almost double the $150.00 price tag of the FreeMesh. It is reported that there are other ZBT WE826-WD based mesh routers on the market, check out the LinuxGizmos.com article for more information. FreeMesh Specifications  FreeMesh Router CPU Dual Core 880MHz MediaTek MT7621AT ROM SPI […]

NanoPi NEO2 Black Arm Linux SBC for Headless Applications Launched for $20 and Up

NanoPi NEO2 Black CNC Metal Case

NanoPi NEO2 Black is an Allwinner H5 SBC designed for headless applications that improves on the existing NanoPi NEO2 board by adding an eMMC flash module support, and higher memory capacity (up to 1GB RAM). The board was announced last month, but it’s now available for purchase for $19.99 plus shipping on FriendlyElec website. Here’s a reminder of the specifications: SoC – Allwinner H5 quad-core Cortex A53 processor with an ARM Mali-450MP GPU System Memory – 1GB DDR3 Storage – MicroSD card slot, eMMC flash module connector Connectivity – Gigabit Ethernet (via RTL8211E-VB-CG chip) USB – 1x USB 2.0 host port, 1x micro USB OTG port, 1x USB via headers Expansion headers 10-pin header with I2C, UART, GPIOs, and power signals (5V in/out + GND) 6-pin header with 1x USB, Line Out (stereo), 1x GPIO Debugging – 2-pin unpopulated header for serial console / debugging Misc – Power and system […]

NanoPi R1S Dual Gigabit Ethernet Router Comes with 32-bit or 64-bit Arm Processor

NanoPi R1S Router

FriendlyELEC launched NanoPi R1 SBC & Gateway earlier this year with Allwinner H3 processor, two Ethernet ports, as well as WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity. The design makes use of both Ethernet on the processor, but that also means on Gigabit Ethernet port had to be combined with a Fast Ethernet processor. The company has now added a USB to Gigabit Ethernet bridge to their latest NanoPi R1S board meaning it’s now a dual Gigabit Ethernet SBC, but with the caveat that the port behind the USB bridge is limited to USB 2.0 speed (480 Mbps), and with overhead the USB Ethernet bandwidth is around 330 Mbps. There are two versions of the board, namely NanoPi R1S-H3 and R1S-H5 with respectively Allwinner H3 32-bit processor, and Allwinner H5 64-bit processor. Apart from the different processors, both boards share the same PCBA and specifications: SoC NanoPi R1S-H3 – Allwinner H3 quad-core Arm […]

HLK-7688A OpenWrt Development Board Comes with an Audio Jack

HLK-7688A Development Board

We first tested MediaTek MT7688 MIPS processor in Mediatek Labs’ LinkIt Smart 7688 / 7688 Duo hardware development kits running OpenWrt in 2015 with the boards having a focus on IoT applications. A year later, Widora NEO board launched with an audio jack for connected audio applications, but AFAIK it’s not available anymore. There’s now another OpenWrt audio board based on the processor with HLK-7688A board featuring Hi-Link HLK-7688A module which we previously found in MatchBox LoRaWAN gateway. HLK-7688A board specifications: Wireless Module – HLK-7688A based on MediaTek MT7688 MIPS24KEc processor @ 580 MHz, and equipped with 128MB RAM, 32MB flash Storage – MicroSD card slot Connectivity 802.11 b/g/n WiFi 4 up to 150 Mbps with u.FL antenna connector 10/100M Ethernet Audio – 3.5mm audio jack; 4-pin speaker header, WM8960 audio codec USB – 2x Micro USB ports one USB 2.0 port and one for debugging & power Expansion – […]

Forlinx NXP LS1043A & LS1046A Networking SBC’s Support 10Gbps Ethernet

NXP LS1046A Networking SBC

NXP LS1043A quad-core Cortex-A53 communication processor was introduced in 2014, while NXP LS1046A quad-core Cortex-A72 SoC was launched about 18 months later. Both are designed for networking equipment such as CPE (Customer Premise Equipment), routers, NAS, gateways, as well as single board computers and include one or two 10 GbE interfaces. Forlinx Embedded has decided to leverage those two processors in their OK1043A-C and OK1046A industrial-grade single board computers designed for networking applications. Both boards are comprised of the same baseboard and only differ by their COM-Express Mini Type 10 module which comes with the processor, memory, and flash storage. Specifications: COM Express Mini System-on-Module (one or the other) FET1046A-C NXP LS1046A SoM CPU – NXP LS1046A quad-core  Cortex-A72 processor @ up to  1.8GHz System Memory –  2GB DDR4 RAM Storage –  8GB eMMC flash + 16MB QSPI NOR Flash Voltage Input – 12V Temperature Range – -40℃ to +75℃  […]

EDATEC Raspberry Pi 5 fanless case