Banana Pi BPI-R4 SBC/Router unveiled w/ dual 10G SFP+ Ports

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Banana Pi BPI-R4

According to preliminary information provided by Sinovoip, the company behind the famous Banana Pi brand, their upcoming Banana Pi BPI-R4 router board is currently in the process of being developed. This is going to be a significant jump in specs compared to the previous Banana Pi R3 board. So here is what we currently know.

You will have the option to choose from two different configurations for the R4 board. With a pair of SFP+ optical cages, or one SFP+ next to a 2.5Gbps RJ45 Ethernet port. As for the four Ethernet ports plus a WAN port, they support 1Gbps throughput speeds. On top of all these features, the upcoming board will support the latest Wi-Fi 7 standard compared with the R3 with only Wi-Fi 6 connectivity.

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Interfaces

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Key Features

• MediaTek MT7988A (Filogic 880) quad-core Arm Corex-A73,1.8GHz processor
• 4GB DDR4
• 8GB eMMC flash
• 128MB SPI-NAND Flash
• Micro SD card slot
• 2x 10Gbe SFP slot (option 1x 10Gbe SFP and 1x SOC embedded 2.5Gbe PHY)
• 4x Gbe network port
• 1x USB3.2 slot
• 1x M.2 KEY-B slot with USB3.2 interface for 5G
• 1x M.2 KEY-M slot with PCIe3.0 1lane interface for NVME SSD
• 2x miniPCIe slots with PCIe3.0 2lane interface for Wi-Fi 7 NIC (Network Interface Card)
• 26 PIN GPIO Header for expanding application

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Hardware Specifications

CPU	MediaTek MT7988A (Filogic 880) quad-core Arm Corex-A73,1.8GHz processor
SDRAM	4 GB DDR4
On board Storage	MicroSD \(TF\) card,8GB eMMC onboard
GPIO	26 Pin GPIO Some of which can be used for specific functions including UART, I2C, SPI, PWM, I2S.
On board Network	4 Port 10/100/1000Mbps Ethernet
SFP Configurations	2x10G SFP or 1x10G SFP and 1x 2.5GbE
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 6/Wi-Fi 7
PoE module (RT5400)	Integrated in the single 10G SFP+ model
mini PCIE	2x miniPCIe slots with PCIe3.0 2lane interface for Wi-Fi 7 NIC (Network Interface Card)
M.2 interface	1x M.2 KEY-B slot with USB3.2 interface for 5G 1x M.2 KEY-M slot with PCIe3.0 1lane interface for NVME SSD
USB	1xUSB 3.2 slot
Buttons	Reset button,WPS botton, boot switch
Leds	Power status Led and RJ45 Led
DC Power	12V/3.5A
Sizes	100.5x148mm same as Banana Pi BPI-R64 and Banana Pi BPI-R2
Weight	250g

Enhanced Performance

The main difference between MediaTek Filogic 830 and the more advanced Filogic 880 hardware platform is the processing power and performance. The Filogic 880 is equipped with a powerful quad-core Arm Cortex-A73 processor that runs at a maximum speed of 1.8GHz. It is specifically designed to enhance processing capabilities and improve performance in access points, routers, repeaters, and similar applications.In theory, it offers penta-band speeds up to 36 Gbps, which makes it particularly suitable for intensive high CPU workloads.

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Banana Pi BPI-R3 vs. Banana Pi BPI-R4

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Mores simple to operate

The enhanced bootstrap switch for choosing different boot options is now even more user-friendly. The board consists of two jumpers and four storage configuration types: SD, NAND, eMMC and a third that we do not understand fully. However, we will let you know when we get more fresh information.

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New features and better connectivity

According to our CAD layout drawing, the upcoming Banana Pi R4 board will also come with a Micro SD socket next to three SIM card sockets. It will also have an M.2 slot supporting 4G and 5G modules. In addition, a two-pin power socket is included for powering a FAN.

The board SoC will be based on MediaTek’s latest Filogic 880 solution designed mostly for Ap/Router/Gateway applications. In this new design, you can see that a 26-pin GPIO header was also maintained. This means the R4 board can also be used for IoT and robotic projects, for example to connect sensors etc.

Model 1: Banana Pi BPI-R4 Layout (x2 SFP+ Cages)

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Model 2: Banana Pi BPI-R4 Layout (x1 SFP+ Cage)

As shown in the photo below, the R4 configuration is different with one SFP+ cage next to the RJ45 2.5Gbps Ethernet WAN/LAN port. In addition, the remaining four RJ45 ports support 1Gbps throughput speeds. WIFI 7 and Bluetooth are also optional and includes Power over Ethernet support (PoE).

A Closer Look (Engineering sample)

The Banana Pi R4 Wi-Fi 7 NIC (Network Interface Card).

According to our information, this board occupies two mini PCIe sockets as shown in the photo below. You will probably be able to install a Wi-Fi 6 / BT PCIe card through the board M.2 interface and save some significant cost if you don’t need Wi-Fi 7 connectivity.

Banana Pi R4 Wi-Fi 7 NIC (Network Interface Card).

The interface is powered by the MediaTek MT7996+MT7995+MT7977A+MT7977B chip design with 4T5R support, making it a real connectivity monster. A look at the picture below shows that the array will feature 14 antennas with dynamic frequency selection (DFS) antenna socket included.

Chip	Band	Antenna configuration
MT7975N	2.4GHz	4T4R (4×4)
MT7977BN	6GHz	4T5R (4×5)
MT7977AN	6GHz	4T5R (4×5)
MT7996A	–	–

Penta-band Connectivity

Penta-band: “Penta” means five, so “penta-band” in the context of Wi-Fi indicates that the device or system is capable of operating on five different frequency bands. In the case of Wi-Fi, these frequency bands are typically in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz ranges. Operating on multiple frequency bands allows for greater flexibility, better coverage, and reduced interference.

The “4×4” designation refers to the antenna configuration used for transmitting and receiving signals. In this case, it means that the Wi-Fi system has four transmit antennas and four receive antennas. The use of multiple antennas, known as Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO), enables improved signal quality, increased throughput, and enhanced overall performance.

Combining these terms, “penta-band 4×4 Wi-Fi” suggests a wireless networking system that supports five frequency bands and utilizes a 4×4 antenna configuration for efficient transmission and reception of Wi-Fi signals. Such a system would offer increased speed, coverage, and reliability compared to standard Wi-Fi configurations with fewer antennas and frequency bands.

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What is 4T5R?

A 4T5R (4 Transmit 5 Receive) Wi-Fi chip refers to a wireless communication chip used in networking devices, such as routers, access points, or wireless adapters. The “4T” indicates that the chip has four transmit chains, which means it can send data over four separate streams simultaneously. The “5R” indicates that the chip has five receive chains, allowing it to receive data from up to five different streams simultaneously.

By employing multiple transmit and receive chains, a 4T5R Wi-Fi chip can enhance wireless network performance and capacity. It enables higher data throughput, improved signal quality, and increased range than chips with fewer transmit and receive chains. This technology is often used in high-end Wi-Fi equipment and can provide better wireless performance, especially in environments with an increasing number of connected devices or areas with challenging network conditions.

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Enhanced connectivity with less interferences

DFS (Dynamic Frequency Selection) antenna socket is included with the Banana Pi BPI-R4 board. This is a channel allocation scheme specified for wireless LAN, commonly known as Wi-Fi. In addition to its ability to avoid interference with other preexisting systems like military radars, satellite communication, and weather radars, Wi-Fi technology also offers extensive and consistent coverage of the spectrum known as Uniform Spreading.

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Embedded Routers, What are the advantages?

The Banana Pi R4 is widely recognized as a top choice for embedded routers. You can use it for a wide selection of applications and IoT projects. The R4 features a 26 pin header suitable for development purposes. It can be used to connect devices such as sensors and anything else you can think of, such as building a powerful surveillance camera system. The addition of Wi-Fi 7 is undeniably impressive. However, it may not be an essential feature for everyone. If it’s not a necessity, you can still opt for a PCIe Wi-Fi 6 / BT expansion card as an alternative.

Unlike other premium routers that are priced at $300 and higher, the R4 board offers exceptional value by not only excluding 5G connectivity support and advanced storage options, but also delivering outstanding performance. It’s designed specifically for tech geeks, home consumers, and professionals seeking an all-in-one Linux-based embedded computer and router in one product.

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Practical Applications

The Banana Pi R4 Router Board boasts a range of impressive features and specifications that set it apart from other router boards in the market. Firstly, it supports multiple operating systems, including Android, Ubuntu, and OpenWrt, giving users the flexibility to choose the one that best suits their needs. This compatibility ensures that the board can be easily integrated into existing networks without any compatibility issues.

Furthermore, the Banana Pi R4 Router Board comes with advanced security features to protect your network from potential threats. It supports VPN (Virtual Private Network) protocols, allowing for secure remote access to your network. It also has built-in firewall capabilities to filter and block unwanted traffic. These security features provide peace of mind, knowing that your network is protected from unauthorized access and potential cyberattacks.

Another notable feature of the Banana Pi R4 Router Board is its support for 4G LTE as well as 5G connectivity. This means that you can use a SIM card to connect to the internet, providing a backup option in case your primary internet connection fails. This feature is particularly useful for businesses that rely heavily on a stable internet connection for their operations.

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Cost-Effective Solution for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses

For small and medium-sized businesses, cost-effectiveness is a crucial factor when choosing a router board. The Banana Pi R4 Router Board offers an affordable solution without compromising on performance and features. It provides all the necessary networking capabilities at a fraction of the cost of other high-end router boards in the market.

Moreover, the Board is energy-efficient, consuming less power compared to traditional routers. This not only helps to reduce electricity bills but also contributes to a greener environment. The board also has a durable design, ensuring long-term reliability and minimizing the need for frequent replacements or repairs.

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Final words

The Banana Pi R4 Router Board is a top-tier networking device that is expected to have Dual SFP Ports and great Linux support. It is designed to offer superior performance, robust security, Whether unparalleled versatility or upgrading your office infrastructure, this router board is an investment worth considering.

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Price and Availability

Once we receive updated information including price, we will update this section.