- Maybe you missed it? Here’s a brief review of the Banana Pi R3 mini.
- Banana Pi BPI-WiFi6 Mini Review: Features, Design, and Testing.
The Banana Pi BPI-WiFi6 Mini is a superb, cost-effective router board powered by OpenWrt, offering a wide range of features at an incredibly low price. This makes it an appealing choice for anyone seeking an exceptional mesh device at an affordable price point. Now, let’s explore its advantages and disadvantages:
- Outstanding value for the price
- Efficient power usage.
- Mesh network support.
- Support 4G LTE or 5G cellular connection.
- WiFi 6 Support.
- USB 3.0 type A port.
- No M.2 KEY-M Socket (No NVMe option).
- No Micro SD Card Socket.
Part I: Overview of Banana Pi BPI-WiFi6 Mini Router Board
The Banana Pi BPI-WiFi6 Mini is the latest offering from Sinovoip in their impressive collection of single-board computers and router boards. This new model, which is the successor to the Banana Pi R3 Mini, is not only cost-effective, but also packed with a multitude of exciting features. So, what sets this SBC apart from the rest? Let’s dive into its functionalities and find out.
Hardware
The Mini router Banana Pi BPI-WiFi6 is equipped with the high-performing Triductor TR6560 + TR5220 Wi-Fi SoC. This cutting-edge solution is built to deliver the standards of a wifi6 router, ensuring top-quality performance thanks to its built-in high-performance dual-core ARM Cortex A9 processor. Additionally, it incorporates high-performance LSW and hardware NAT, allowing for message forwarding speeds of up to 5Gbps. The router also boasts an Integrated 5GE PHY, one RGMII, and supports one RGMII expansion port, providing a remarkable 1000Mbps network access capability and two WAN ports.
Enhanced Connectivity
Experience seamless internet with this router, thanks to its advanced QoS support and flawless data traffic prioritization. Enjoy a superior wireless connection with dual-band 2.4G 40M 2*2 + 5G160M 2.2 DBDC WiFi. Compatible with IEEE 802.11ax WIFI protocol version and previous versions, such as 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, this router delivers lightning-fast speeds of up to 3Gbps. Whether for your home or business, it effortlessly achieves impressive speeds of 573.5Mbps on the 2G band and a remarkable 2401.9Mbps on the 5G band.
Banana Pi BPI-WiFi6 Mini: Main Features
- ARM Cortex-A9 dual-core processor running at 1.2 GHz
- A single integrated 5G Ethernet physical layer with an RGMII interface.
- Supports 6 GE Macs, 1000M/100M/10M rate mode and standard MIB statistics.
- Compatible with the IEEE802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax wireless LAN protocol.
- Support Wi-Fi AP mode and STA mode
- Support WPA, WPA2, WPA3 encryption and decryption
- Optional: PoE function can be customized.
Banana Pi BPI-WiFi6 Mini: Interfaces
1. The device comes with integrated WiFi 6 and the EasyMesh feature.
Let’s now explore the benefits. For instance, if you require a reliable mesh solution for your home or office, it already comes with integrated Wi-Fi 6 support. Additionally, if you own a router, you can take advantage of the OpenWrt EasyMesh option, which allows you to connect beyond your ecosystem vendor system by utilizing multiple R3L Mini devices as a mesh array. Plus, you have the power of OpenWrt security along with frequent software updates.
2. Storage options and next to Key B interface with 4G LTE/5G NR capabilities.
Sinovoip has made a good decision by integrating a single, streamlined M.2 Key B socket instead of using separate ones. Moreover, they eliminated the internal eMMC storage and opted for the utilization of a fast Micro SD Card as the primary storage option. They also upgraded the USB 2.0 Host port to a USB 3.0, allowing you to easily connect an external HDD if necessary.
