BPI-R4 Router (4GB RAM Version)

I purchased this BPI-R4 with Mediatek MT7988A card because it supports WiFi 7 and 10GbE SFP fast links. Plus it support OpenWrt. This makes it an ideal platform for research experiments in high-speed network processing. The MT7988A is supported by OpenWrt, so it's easy to make custom builds. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the product, its packaging, and how it was so easy to put it together. The package includes *everything* you need to build a WiFi access point, including the serial adapter dongle, cables, fan, heat sinks, antennas. You don't really need an SD card like you do for a Raspberry Pi. The hardware was up and running within an hour, and I tested is using an SD card that I had lying around (you don't really need it) with a default OpenWrt downloaded from the Firmware Selector. I was able to first build a basic WiFi7 AP, and then with a 6GHz band enabled with a few tweaks. The Banana Pi documentation and forum was extremely helpful when I got stuck, and I was able to resolve issues (mostly w/ software) with help from customer support and the technical forums. I found it much more helpful than some of the Raspberry Pi forums. The device is compact, so you can put it almost anywhere, even with the antennas attached. I now have a WiFi7 AP at home that supports 6 GHz bands at the fraction of the cost of such routers available in the market. It offers incredible value for money. In fact, I use two for research purposes. I highly recommend it!

I’ve been using this NIC module with the BPI-R4 for several months. Setup with OpenWRT was straightforward, and the module delivers reliable performance. The 6-antenna design provides strong signal strength and good coverage across multiple rooms. I see noticeable speed improvements on the 6 GHz band, especially when streaming and transferring large files. The module handles mixed device types and frequencies well, whether it’s phones, laptops, or IoT devices. Power consumption is higher than typical consumer routers, so it runs warm under load and draws more power, but that’s expected given the performance class. It's a little expensive, but the performance and future-proofing Wi-Fi 7 support make it worthwhile if you need the throughput.

This board has completely exceeded my expectations in terms of both performance and versatility. As a networking enthusiast, it offers everything I need and more. First and foremost, the WiFi 7 support is a game changer. The wireless performance is outstanding, providing ultra-fast speeds across both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. Whether I’m streaming 4K content or working remotely, the BPI-R4 delivers a seamless and lag-free experience. It’s fantastic to see such cutting-edge technology in a product like this. The MediaTek MT7988A SoC is a powerhouse. Running demanding applications like a NAS server and handling multiple connected devices is no issue for this router. It’s clear that a lot of thought went into the hardware, and it definitely shows in the smooth, reliable performance. The 2 x 10GbE SFP ports and 4 x Gigabit Ethernet ports are a perfect touch for anyone needing high-speed, wired connectivity. This setup is future-proof and perfect for high-throughput tasks, from large file transfers to setting up a robust home server. What I absolutely love about the BPI-R4 is the OpenWRT support. This gives me full control over my network and allows me to tailor the router to my exact needs. It’s incredibly customizable, whether it’s setting up VLANs, managing traffic, or securing my smart home devices. The flexibility is unmatched. The BPI-R4 is also the perfect solution for my Smart Home Gateway. It has no problem managing multiple devices simultaneously, offering stability and fast response times. Plus, with its security features powered by OpenWRT, I feel confident in my network’s protection. Overall, this is a highly capable, feature-rich, and customizable router that offers incredible value. If you’re looking for a powerful networking solution for home automation, NAS, or even small business needs, the Banana Pi BPI-R4 is definitely worth considering. I more than happier with my purchase !!

While the vendor does supply their own forked version of OpenWRT - if you want to get actual OpenWRT which is kept up to date and open you're gonna find yourself in a bad spot with this setup. The reason why is that the eeprom has bad transmission power values programmed into it for some reason nobody can understand. There is a thread on github (openwrt issue 17489) that explains this. I did a hexdump on mine, and sure enough it had the same bad values. This is for a card purchased in June of 2029 but the issues go back very early. There are SOME that have the eeprom values set correctly, but do you want to risk getting one that doesn't? Until the banana pi folks come out with a solution to flash the wifi card eeprom with proper values, or openwrt implements a work around, I'd avoid this card.

With the powerful SoC, high-speed network ports and so many expansion slots, Banana Pi R4 isn’t just a router, it has become a homelab Linux server platform. I am running a compiled version of Openwrt 24.10.2 to replace the old TPLINK-AC1900/Openwrt. Everything was so easy to configure, customize and modify. Other than some compatibility issues with different SFP modules, I have not encountered any real issue so far. And It has been stabilized for a few weeks to support 30+ devices in 4 different VLANs, VPN, a media server and more. What is also amazing is the low power consumption. It is truly a wonderful router platform for the next 5+ years with some room to expand. Highly recommend it to anyone who wants to take full control of home networking.

It took a bit for the driver development for the BPI-R4-NIC-BE14/MT7996 card to be stable in mainline-bound Linux kernel, but it is officially the best WiFi access point now (and will be even better once the BPI-R4-NIC-BE19/14 antenna + 4x radio WiFi module is released). Great as standalone access points (running Ubuntu 24.04/hostapd off the SSD, for LTS+unattended-upgrades), and even better as wireless bridges - I was able to replace/augment my previous MoCA 2.5Gbit setup by using 2x BPI-R4 (one as AP + other as client/bridge for satellite room connectivity as a switch).

Ich habe mir den BPI-R4 zum basteln und spielen geholt um erste Erfahrungen mit openWRT zu machen und meine Erwartungen wurden nicht enttäuscht. Die Dokumentation ist sehr gut und auch die Verarbeitung von Gehäuse, Antennen etc. ist wesentlich besser als ich es erwartet hätte. Die Möglichkeiten, die man mit solch einem Router hat sind nahezu unendlich. Die Hardware ist mit 2x 10G SFP Ports und Wifi 7 echt stark. Wenn man das ganze mit einem Betriebsystem wie openWRT kombiniert ist das Ergebnis genial. Man muss für so einen Router natürlich basteln und eventuell auch etwas lernen wollen aber mir hat das ganze bisher so viel Spaß gemacht, dass ich sogar plane meinen aktuellen Router mit dem R4 zu ersetzten. Auch die Erweiterung um eine M2 SSD und die Verwendung der GPIO Pins sind geplant. Wenn ich nochmal vor der Wahl stände, würde ich es sofort wieder kaufen. Klare Empfehlung

Venditore e spedizione top. Prodotto eccezionale, manca il modulo wifi7 ma deve essere ancora commercializzato

Order fulfilled fast, complete and in good shape. Even had one TTL to USB converter in the box that was really nice and handy. Keep in mind, this is a router development board, not a ready and out of the box router solution for daily use. Firmwares might be unstable and closed-source.

The Banana Pi BPI-R4 is a highly versatile board designed for advanced networking applications. It can function as an Internet router thanks to its high-performance network ports or be upgraded to a Wi-Fi 7 router with compatible modules. If you need mobile connectivity, it allow you to integrate 4G/5G modules, making it ideal for a portable wireless router. The BPI-R4 comes with a stock version pre-installed on the NAND memory, allowing for immediate use and quick functionality tests. However, for an optimal experience, I strongly recommend using a microSD card as the primary storage for the operating system. The official guides and documentation make installation straightforward, even for less experienced users, ensuring a hassle-free setup. One of the highlights of my experience was the exceptional customer support provided by WayPonDEV. Their team was not only quick to respond but also incredibly knowledgeable and professional. Over the course of more than a month, they patiently guided me through the entire process, answering all my questions and helping me choose the right product for my needs. Their support was not just courteous but also highly competent, making a real difference in my buying experience.