Banana Pi has launched the BPI RT2, a compact single board computer built for custom network routers. The hardware combines Wi Fi 6 connectivity with 4 gigabit Ethernet ports and a two core Realtek processor running OpenWRT software. The board is currently available on the international market with prices starting at $26.
Banana Pi built the board around the Realtek RTL8198D processor with an integrated gigabit network switch. The system includes 256MB of DDR3 memory and 128MB of SPI NAND storage for system software. Wireless transmission runs through 2 separate chips, using the RTL8892XBR for 2.4 GHz bands and the RTL8832D for 5 GHz frequencies. Both wireless chips use 2x2 MIMO configurations with support for MU MIMO connections.
The perimeter includes 1 gigabit WAN port, 3 gigabit LAN ports, and 1 USB 3.0 Type A connector. Designers included 4 antenna terminals for external wireless aerials alongside 5 pin and 9 pin GPIO headers for hardware expansion. The board also provides a UART interface for firmware debugging, physical buttons for reset, boot, and WPS functions, and LED indicators for power and active network traffic.
The board measures 97 by 65 millimeters and weighs 250 grams. Power runs through a 12V DC barrel connector. Banana Pi provides an OpenWRT 22.03 software build on GitHub, which uses the company repository rather than the standard mainline project release.
