Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 IoT Router Carrier Board Mini

As all of the Raspberry Pi Fanatics (us included!) out there will know, the Raspberry Pi 4 has brought a lot of cool upgrades from previous models, from better interfacing ports to faster speeds and overall more potential to be used in modern, real world applications. However, one aspect that perhaps doesn’t get enough attention is the impressive networking capabilities, especially given the built-in gigabit interface along with USB 3.0 ports that can also support gigabit adapters. This is why there has been a recent surge in popularity around using Raspberry Pi Boards as custom routers along with the launch of the Pi 4, but while the Pi 4 certainly does offer exceptionally better networking capabilities than previous models, there are still some bottlenecks relating to USB 3.0 bus and other processes along the way, and that’s why DFRobot has created this specially designed IoT Router board to cater to precisely that problem.

The Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 IoT Router Carrier Board Mini from DFRobot is a very specialised board that is used in conjunction with the Raspberry Pi 4 Compute Module, or the CM4 for short, and acts almost like a Pi HAT does to a full-sized Pi, allowing the Compute Module to -plug directly into the bottom of the carrier board, and offer the compute module a great new level of networking functionality. This configuration allows the Pi 4 to bypass the USB 3.0 bus that would typically need to be used for the USB 3.0 ports, and provides two gigabit interfaces for absolutely minimal bottlenecking and excellent routing capabilities. In addition to the two ethernet interfaces, this carrier board also extends the power input via a USB Type-C cable, making it easy to provide all the power it might need, a standard USB 2.0 port for interfacing with the Pi, a handy reset button for easy debugging, an onboard Micro SD Card slot for firmware and storage, as well as a handy 26 Pin GPIO header for further prototyping and possible expansions. This is the ideal full suite of features that a Router board needs to operate at full potential, with no frills or unnecessary extras, making it the perfect board for anyone who’s been eager to experiment with or utilise Raspberry Pi Router projects.

Additional Resources:

• To find a technical rundown of this carrier board and its various features, as well as links to further resources, check out the Official DFRobot CM4 IoT Router Board Wiki, which contains a treasure trove of useful information that’s certainly worth browsing through.

If you want to enjoy a demonstration of how the DFRobot Pi 4 Router Carrier Board works, as well as some handy insights that might help you in your adventures, check out the following video by Jeff Geerling, which covers this board and also compares it to a similar Seeed board:

As self-proclaimed “Robo-holics”, DFRobot is a company comprised of over 100 staff members, of which 30% are engineers who love to build robots. It was started in 2008 with the goal of embracing and promoting open-source hardware, with a core focus on Arduino, Raspberry Pi and their very own LattePanda development boards. Since then, DFRobot have manufactured over 1300 unique modules, sensors and components that all work together and complement each other, allowing users like us to enjoy a full spectrum of cutting edge robotics and electronics without having to pay premium prices.

With the primary goal of developing and manufacturing great quality products, while making them accessible to as many people as possible, DFRobot are rapidly becoming one of the most common-place brands in the world of open-source robotics and electronics. With more than 1300 products developed in-house, and an impressive range of different categories and specialisations, there are few brands in the world who can compete in terms of quality, accessibility and genuine innovation.