Introducing the Banana Pi R4: A High-Performance Open-source Router Development Board

Introducing the Banana Pi R4: A High-Performance Open-source Router Development Board

The Banana Pi R4 is a cutting-edge router development board that brings the power and versatility of open-source technology to your fingertips. For professional developers, tech enthusiasts or network architects, it has a range of features and capabilities which will amaze you. What makes The Banana Pi R4 so special among others? Let’s see.

Unleashing Power with MediaTek MT7988A

At its core, the MediaTek MT7988A (Filogic 880) processor powers the Banana Pi R4, clocked at 1.8 GHz with a quad-core ARM Cortex-A73 design. This high-performance network processor platform ensures outstanding reliability and speed for wired and wireless applications alike. With four Gigabit Ethernet ports, two USXGMII 10G interfaces, four PCIe interfaces and two USB3.2 ports supported by the MT7988A, it offers strong networking that is highly flexible.

Key Features of Banana Pi R4

  • There exist built-in 4GB DDR4 RAM that offers sufficient memory which is enough for high data throughput and high demanding applications.
  • Onboard includes 8GB eMMC flash storage that ensures good performance in terms of data management.
  • 128MB SPI-NAND Flash serves as an additional storage device for the system.
  • MicroSD Card Slot can be used to mount extra removable memory devices for the user convenience.
  • High-speed fiber optic connectivity through two 10Gbe SFP Slots is provided for advanced networking.
  • Reliable wired network connections are possible through four gigabit Ethernet ports.
  • It has a fast USB 3.2 port for quick peripheral connection and fast data transfer rates.
  • M.2 and miniPCIe Slots provide support for future upgrades such as 5G, NVMe SSDs, and Wi-Fi 7 NICs.
  • 26-Pin GPIO header: Expansible to various applications such as UART, I2C, SPI,PWM,I2S etc..

Advanced Connectivity with Wifi-7

Banana Pi R4 is designed with the latest wifi-7 technology to enable tri-band connectivity across 2.4 GHz ,5GHz ,and 6GHz bands. MediaTek MT7988A alongside its companion chip features a bandwidth of up to 320MHz, MLO, MRU, AFC and it employs QAM coding with a total capacity of up to MLO (maximum likelihood estimator) or MRU (most recent update). The Banana Pi R4 can serve as an ideal Wi-Fi7 access point or router because it operates at incredible speeds.

MediaTek Tunnel Offload Processor System (TOPS)

MT7988A has MediaTek’s Tunnel Offload Processor System (TOPS) to address the fast changing tunneling applications. By efficiently processing different types of tunneling protocols, this system optimizes the overall performance of a motherboard thus enhancing networking performance and offloading capabilities.

Versatile Applications

Banana Pi R4 is a flexible board for different internet and communication needs:

  • Internet Service Router: A strong internet connectivity with high speed.
  • Wi-Fi 7 Wireless Router: Make use of new Wi-Fi tech for better wireless networking.
  • 4G/5G Wireless Router: Add 5G modules for fast mobile internet.
  • Wireless Repeater: Extend network coverage and improve signal strength.
  • Home Security Gateway: Secure your home network using advanced features.
  • Home Automation: Seamlessly integrate into smart home systems for automation.
  • NAS Device: Create Network Attached Storage with high power.
  • Network and Communication Applications: Develop creative network solutions.

Hardware Interface:

Hardware Specifications

 

Model/TypeBanana Pi - R4
CPUMediaTek MT7988A (Filogic 880) quad-core Arm Corex-A73,1.8GHz processor
SDRAM4 GB DDR4
On board StorageMicroSD (TF) card,8GB eMMC onboard
GPIO26 Pin GPIO,some of which can be used for specific functions including UART, I2C, SPI, PWM, I2S.
On board Network4 Port 10/100/1000Mbps Ethernet
SFP2x10G SFP
mini PCIE2x miniPCIe slots with PCIe3.0 2lane interface for Wi-Fi 7 NIC (Network Interface Card)
M.2 interface1x M.2 KEY-B slot with USB3.2/PCIe3.0 interface for 5G,1x M.2 KEY-M slot with PCIe3.0 1lane interface for NVME SSD
USB1xUSB 3.2 slot
ButtonsReset button,WPS botton, boot switch
LedsPower status Led and RJ45 Led
DC Power12V/5.2A or 19V 3.2A
Sizes100.5x148mm 
Weight250g

Conclusion

A powerful open-source router development board, the Banana Pi R4 combines performance with versatility and advanced features that are unmatched. So if you are in quest of cutting-edge networking solutions or looking forward to upgrade your home network; the R4 got you covered. Unleash the full potential of the Banana Pi R4 for the next level of projects. For more information on purchasing the Banana Pi R4 visit Tannatech Biz.