Banana Pi BPI-R4 WiFi 7 OpenWRT Wireless Dual-Band WiFi Router Board, MediaTek MT7988A (Filogic 880) SoC, 4G/5G Internet Router, 4X GbE and 2X 10GbE SFP for NAS Smart Home Gateway (8GB RAM Bundle3)

This router board is an absolute powerhouse for anyone serious about building a custom, high-performance network. The MediaTek processor, paired with a substantial 8GB of RAM, provides a very strong foundation for running complex networking tasks. The connectivity options are outstanding. Having two 10GbE SFP cages opens up possibilities for incredibly fast router-on-a-stick configurations or a high-speed NAS. The inclusion of WiFi 7 support makes this feel very forward-looking, ready for the next generation of wireless devices. For me, the real strength lies in its compatibility with OpenWRT, which gives me complete control to customize and configure the device exactly how I want. It's an exceptional platform for a DIY router, a powerful smart home gateway, or a speedy NAS.

I was sent v1.1 of this board which is known to be incorrectly wired for the M.2 slot and NVMe modules, which is how I intended to use it. Note also that the over-voltage might damage your NVMe modules.They're also shipping firmware that is several years old, even though this is easily remedied.I reached out to the seller with my issues and they suggested that if I gave them a 5 star review, I might get more helpful support. That's not how things usually work in my book.I would hold off on ordering these until they refresh their inventory and improve their support.

I previously purchased the BPI R4 4GB Bundle3 version. This 8GB RAM variant delivers superior performance and stable operation. It supports the Quectel 5G modem module out of the box (adding a heat sink to the 5G modem module is recommended).It excels as a standalone access point (running Ubuntu 24.04/hostapd via SSD, supporting LTS + unattended upgrades) and performs even better as a wireless bridge. I successfully replaced/enhanced my existing MoCA 2.5Gbit network architecture using two BPI-R4 units (one as an AP, the other as a client/bridge connecting to a satellite room).I am highly satisfied with the BPI R4 8GB RAM version Router Board and recommend it to anyone seeking a reliable, high-performance router solution.