Hardware
This page lists the recommended parts and supported boards for building an OpenMANET node. The project is designed for Raspberry Pi–based devices running OpenWrt, using Wi-Fi HaLow boards from Morse Micro.
Recommended Parts List
Board Interface Types: SDIO vs SPI
HaLow modules connect to the Raspberry Pi through different interfaces depending on the board design:
| Interface | Description | Supported on |
|---|---|---|
| SDIO | High-speed 4-bit data bus. Native interface for most Pi models (e.g., Pi 3B+, Pi 2W). Offers better throughput and lower latency. | Raspberry Pi 3B+, Pi 2W, CM4 |
| SPI | Serial Peripheral Interface used by Seeed’s WM6180 mini-PCIe HAT. Easier to wire but slower than SDIO. | Raspberry Pi 4 only (currently supported) |
Notes:
- The Seeed WM6180 board uses SPI, which is not yet supported on Pi 3B+ and Pi 2W.
- SDIO HaLow boards are the only option for Pi 3B+ and Pi 2W at this time.
- Separate firmware images will be available for SDIO-based Pi models.
Optional / Advanced Parts
Compute Module 4 (CM4) Builds
Most Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 (CM4) carrier boards work with the OpenMANET image.
A good option is the WaveShare CM4 Dual ETH WiFi6 Base, which includes:
- Two Ethernet ports for bridging or mesh uplink
- An M.2 slot for a standard Wi-Fi card (AX200 or AX210)
- Full GPIO header and USB ports for power and debug
CM4 boards are ideal for advanced builds, providing better expandability and efficiency for multi-interface mesh nodes.
Other tested CM4 Carrier Boards
WaveShare CM4-IO-Base-X Version A and B have been tested and work as expected CM4-IO-BASE-A CM4-IO-BASE-B
Notes:
- A M.2 M Key slot for communcation cards
- Full GPIO Header
- Same form factor as a Pi4
MCUZone CM4_WiFi6 This is a slightly larger carrier board than the WaveShare boards.
Can be found on AliExpress
Notes:
- A M.2 A Key slot for communications cards. This is limited to the 2230 form factor.
- Full GPIO Header
- Better for height constrained use cases, but a larger length and width form factor.
M.2 Wi-Fi Cards for CM4 Boards
| Module | Band Support | Current Use |
|---|---|---|
| Intel AX200 | 2.4 / 5 GHz Wi-Fi 6 | Works as an access point |
| Intel AX210 | 2.4 / 5 / 6 GHz Wi-Fi 6E | Works as an access point |
These cards currently operate as normal Wi-Fi access points.
M.2 Wi-Fi Cards that support 802.11s
| Chipset | Interface | 802.11s | Notes | |—|—|—|—| | Intel AX2XX | M.2 AE Key | :x: | Can only operate in AP mode| | QCNA765 | M.2 E Key | :x: | | | WCN6856 | M.2 E Key | :x: | | | QCA6174 | M.2 E Key | :white_check_mark: | You can only have one wifi network defined when using 802.11s | | MT7921 | M.2 E Key | :x: | | | MT7915DAN | M.2 BM Key | :white_check_mark: | :bangbang: Dual Band AX, 802.11s Mesh Works, Power Draw is to high or there is a kernel issue with 5.15. Crashes within 1-2min | | MT7916AED | M.2 AE Key | :white_check_mark: | :bangbang: Dual Band AX, 802.11s Mesh Works, Power Draw is to high or there is a kernel issue with 5.15. Crashes within 1-2min |
Work is underway to support bonding of HaLow (915 MHz) and 2.4 GHz links together using BATMAN-V for multi-band uplinks.
Development Notes and Future Plans
- Support for Seeed’s SPI-based HaLow module on Pi 3B+ and 2W is in progress.
- Separate firmware builds for SDIO and SPI boards will simplify setup.
- CM4 carrier boards are increasingly recommended for advanced configurations.
- Future releases will expand multi-gateway mesh support and improve multicast reliability.