admin
May 15, 2024, 7:46am
1
The Home Station 2024 Model A (HS24a) is based on the Orange Pi Zero 3 computer, with 1 to 4 GByte or of random access memory (RAM) it provides amazing price performance in 2024.
Official Web Site:
Allwinner H618 is based on the Allwinner H616 with slightly bigger cache
The H618 performance is much better than the RP3A0 processor used by Mesh Station 24d (Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W), especially when hardware encryption is used:
Review of a "sister" model from same producer that also uses H618:
Improving kernel support for Orange Pi Zero 3 from 6.6 onwards:
Armbian
DietPi - support details
OpenWrt - support details
Orange Pi Debian - support details
admin
July 8, 2024, 2:23am
2
The Home Station 24a consists of a minimum of 4 components:
Orange Pi Zero 3
USB Type C 5V Power Supply (minimum 3A)
MicroSD Card (minimum 128GByte)
Four 26mm Male-Female Spacers (screw thread is 6mm long and can be 2.5mm or 3mm wide)
Orange Pi Zero 3 (opiz3) comes inside a small box with anti-static bag protection.
Below photo shows 3 still inside their antistatic bags on top of the boxes they came in:
Home Station 24a can be set up without any tools.
Below is a photo of an opiz3 standing on 4 spacers with all 4 cables connected (on the left) and microSD card plugged in (at the back).
From top to bottom:
HDMI cable for connection to TV
Power cable to 5V
USB cable for peripherals
Ethernet cable for wired networking
Only the power cable (white one) is needed for most operations.
admin
July 11, 2024, 12:13am
3
WiFi is based on UWE5622 - the chipset used is CDTech 20U5622
root@orangepizero3:~# iw list
Wiphy phy0
wiphy index: 0
max # scan SSIDs: 12
max scan IEs length: 2304 bytes
max # sched scan SSIDs: 9
max # match sets: 9
RTS threshold: 2353
Retry short limit: 10
Retry long limit: 9
Coverage class: 0 (up to 0m)
Device supports RSN-IBSS.
Supported Ciphers:
* WEP40 (00-0f-ac:1)
* WEP104 (00-0f-ac:5)
* TKIP (00-0f-ac:2)
* CCMP-128 (00-0f-ac:4)
* WPI-SMS4 (00-14-72:1)
* CMAC (00-0f-ac:6)
* 00-0f-ac:255
Available Antennas: TX 0x1 RX 0x1
Supported interface modes:
* IBSS
* managed
* AP
* P2P-client
* P2P-GO
* P2P-device
Band 1:
Capabilities: 0x16f
RX LDPC
HT20/HT40
SM Power Save disabled
RX HT20 SGI
RX HT40 SGI
RX STBC 1-stream
Max AMSDU length: 3839 bytes
No DSSS/CCK HT40
Maximum RX AMPDU length 65535 bytes (exponent: 0x003)
Minimum RX AMPDU time spacing: 2 usec (0x04)
HT RX MCS rate indexes supported: 0-7
HT TX MCS rate indexes are undefined
Bitrates (non-HT):
* 1.0 Mbps
* 2.0 Mbps
* 5.5 Mbps
* 11.0 Mbps
* 6.0 Mbps
* 9.0 Mbps
* 12.0 Mbps
* 18.0 Mbps
* 24.0 Mbps
* 36.0 Mbps
* 48.0 Mbps
* 54.0 Mbps
* 6.5 Mbps
* 13.0 Mbps
* 19.5 Mbps
* 26.0 Mbps
* 39.0 Mbps
* 52.0 Mbps
* 58.5 Mbps
* 65.0 Mbps
* 13.0 Mbps
* 26.0 Mbps
* 39.0 Mbps
* 52.0 Mbps
* 78.0 Mbps
* 104.0 Mbps
* 117.0 Mbps
* 130.0 Mbps
Frequencies:
* 2412 MHz [1] (20.0 dBm)
* 2417 MHz [2] (20.0 dBm)
* 2422 MHz [3] (20.0 dBm)
* 2427 MHz [4] (20.0 dBm)
* 2432 MHz [5] (20.0 dBm)
* 2437 MHz [6] (20.0 dBm)
* 2442 MHz [7] (20.0 dBm)
* 2447 MHz [8] (20.0 dBm)
* 2452 MHz [9] (20.0 dBm)
* 2457 MHz [10] (20.0 dBm)
* 2462 MHz [11] (20.0 dBm)
* 2467 MHz [12] (20.0 dBm)
* 2472 MHz [13] (20.0 dBm)
* 2484 MHz [14] (20.0 dBm)
Band 2:
Capabilities: 0x16f
RX LDPC
HT20/HT40
SM Power Save disabled
RX HT20 SGI
RX HT40 SGI
RX STBC 1-stream
Max AMSDU length: 3839 bytes
No DSSS/CCK HT40
Maximum RX AMPDU length 65535 bytes (exponent: 0x003)
Minimum RX AMPDU time spacing: 2 usec (0x04)
HT RX MCS rate indexes supported: 0-7
HT TX MCS rate indexes are undefined
VHT Capabilities (0x01b07031):
Max MPDU length: 7991
Supported Channel Width: neither 160 nor 80+80
RX LDPC
short GI (80 MHz)
SU Beamformee
MU Beamformee
VHT TXOP PS
VHT RX MCS set:
1 streams: MCS 0-9
2 streams: not supported
3 streams: not supported
4 streams: not supported
5 streams: not supported
6 streams: not supported
7 streams: not supported
8 streams: not supported
VHT RX highest supported: 0 Mbps
VHT TX MCS set:
1 streams: MCS 0-9
2 streams: not supported
3 streams: not supported
4 streams: not supported
5 streams: not supported
6 streams: not supported
7 streams: not supported
8 streams: not supported
VHT TX highest supported: 0 Mbps
VHT extended NSS: not supported
Bitrates (non-HT):
* 6.0 Mbps
* 9.0 Mbps
* 12.0 Mbps
* 18.0 Mbps
* 24.0 Mbps
* 36.0 Mbps
* 48.0 Mbps
* 54.0 Mbps
* 6.5 Mbps
* 13.0 Mbps
* 19.5 Mbps
* 26.0 Mbps
* 39.0 Mbps
* 52.0 Mbps
* 58.5 Mbps
* 65.0 Mbps
* 13.0 Mbps
* 26.0 Mbps
* 39.0 Mbps
* 52.0 Mbps
* 78.0 Mbps
* 104.0 Mbps
* 117.0 Mbps
* 130.0 Mbps
Frequencies:
* 5170 MHz [34] (disabled)
* 5180 MHz [36] (20.0 dBm)
* 5200 MHz [40] (20.0 dBm)
* 5220 MHz [44] (20.0 dBm)
* 5240 MHz [48] (20.0 dBm)
* 5260 MHz [52] (20.0 dBm) (radar detection)
* 5280 MHz [56] (20.0 dBm) (radar detection)
* 5300 MHz [60] (20.0 dBm) (radar detection)
* 5320 MHz [64] (20.0 dBm) (radar detection)
* 5500 MHz [100] (20.0 dBm) (radar detection)
* 5520 MHz [104] (20.0 dBm) (radar detection)
* 5540 MHz [108] (20.0 dBm) (radar detection)
* 5560 MHz [112] (20.0 dBm) (radar detection)
* 5580 MHz [116] (20.0 dBm) (radar detection)
* 5600 MHz [120] (20.0 dBm) (radar detection)
* 5620 MHz [124] (20.0 dBm) (radar detection)
* 5640 MHz [128] (20.0 dBm) (radar detection)
* 5660 MHz [132] (20.0 dBm) (radar detection)
* 5680 MHz [136] (20.0 dBm) (radar detection)
* 5700 MHz [140] (20.0 dBm) (radar detection)
* 5720 MHz [144] (20.0 dBm) (radar detection)
* 5745 MHz [149] (20.0 dBm)
* 5765 MHz [153] (20.0 dBm)
* 5785 MHz [157] (20.0 dBm)
* 5805 MHz [161] (20.0 dBm)
* 5825 MHz [165] (20.0 dBm)
* 5920 MHz [184] (disabled)
* 5940 MHz [188] (disabled)
* 5960 MHz [2] (disabled)
* 5980 MHz [6] (disabled)
* 6000 MHz [10] (disabled)
* 6020 MHz [14] (disabled)
* 6040 MHz [18] (disabled)
* 6060 MHz [22] (disabled)
* 6080 MHz [26] (disabled)
Supported commands:
* new_interface
* set_interface
* new_key
* start_ap
* new_station
* join_ibss
* set_pmksa
* del_pmksa
* flush_pmksa
* remain_on_channel
* frame
* set_channel
* start_sched_scan
* start_p2p_device
* connect
* disconnect
* set_qos_map
* update_ft_ies
WoWLAN support:
* wake up on anything (device continues operating normally)
* wake up on disconnect
* wake up on magic packet
software interface modes (can always be added):
valid interface combinations:
* #{ managed, AP } <= 1, #{ P2P-client, P2P-GO } <= 1, #{ P2P-device } <= 1,
total <= 3, #channels <= 2
Device accepts cell base station regulatory hints.
Device supports scan flush.
Device supports randomizing MAC-addr in scans.
max # scan plans: 1
max scan plan interval: -1
max scan plan iterations: 0
Supported TX frame types:
* managed: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80 0x90 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
* AP: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80 0x90 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
* P2P-client: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80 0x90 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
* P2P-GO: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80 0x90 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
* P2P-device: 0x00 0x10 0x20 0x30 0x40 0x50 0x60 0x70 0x80 0x90 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0 0xe0 0xf0
Supported RX frame types:
* managed: 0x40 0xd0
* AP: 0x00 0x20 0x40 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0
* P2P-client: 0x40 0xd0
* P2P-GO: 0x00 0x20 0x40 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0
* P2P-device: 0x40 0xd0
Maximum associated stations in AP mode: 10
Supported extended features:
* [ SCHED_SCAN_RELATIVE_RSSI ]: sched_scan for BSS with better RSSI report
No Mesh Point
WiFi Access point
admin
July 11, 2024, 5:35am
4
Orange Pi Zero 3 has internal WiFi and Bluetooth radios based on the CDTech 20U5622 chipset. Adding extra radios is possible but not normally necessary.
If required, the Realtek RTL8821CU chipset is one option.
Reference drivers:
There are many USB Adapters with RTL8821CU chipset:8821CURTL8821CU-DataSheet_v02r06_201608161 (1).pdf (613.2 KB)
Note it is best to buy RTL8821 that does NOT require mode switch e.g.
Performing mode switching is messy and unreliable:
Realtek re-uses the 0bda:1a2b Device ID across multiple devices, so the RTL8821CU will be detected as RTL8188GU in CDROM mode initially:
Bus 001 Device 015: ID 0bda:1a2b Realtek Semiconductor Corp. RTL8188GU 802.11n WLAN Adapter (Driver CDROM Mode)
A mode switch needs to be performed to change it to:
Bus 001 Device 016: ID 0bda:c811 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. 802.11ac NIC
So RTL8821CU can be fake:
admin
July 11, 2024, 6:50am
5
Raspberry Pi 15W USB-C
Without USB peripherials, the maximum power consumption at continuous full load is about 2.8 watts.
admin
August 13, 2024, 2:41am
6
HS24.2 comes with a SPI Flash onboard which can be used to enable booting up from the network.
https://raymii.org/s/tutorials/Netboot_PXE_Armbian_on_an_Orange_Pi_Zero_3_from_SPI_with_NFS_root_filesystem.html
admin
September 30, 2024, 4:09am
8
HS24a collects the following log files each half hour.
