Home Station 2024 Model A

Orange Pi Zero 3

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.

opiz3

opiz3_back

Official Web Site:

1. Processor

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:

2. Operating Systems

Improving kernel support for Orange Pi Zero 3 from 6.6 onwards:

Default operating system

Armbian

Alternative operating systems

  1. DietPi - support details
  2. OpenWrt - support details
  3. Orange Pi Debian - support details

Set Up

The Home Station 24a consists of a minimum of 4 components:

  1. Orange Pi Zero 3
  2. USB Type C 5V Power Supply (minimum 3A)
  3. MicroSD Card (minimum 128GByte)
  4. Four 26mm Male-Female Spacers (screw thread is 6mm long and can be 2.5mm or 3mm wide)

Packaging

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:

Deployment

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:

  1. HDMI cable for connection to TV
  2. Power cable to 5V
  3. USB cable for peripherals
  4. Ethernet cable for wired networking

Only the power cable (white one) is needed for most operations.

WiFi

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

Problems

  1. No Mesh Point
    Just like the Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W there is NO "Mesh Point Mode" with Orange Pi Zero 3

  2. WiFi Access point

External USB Radio

rtl8821cu

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)

Mode Switch

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

Fake Devices

So RTL8821CU can be fake:

Power

Power Supply

rpi5vc

Raspberry Pi 15W USB-C

Maximum Consumption

Without USB peripherials, the maximum power consumption at continuous full load is about 2.8 watts.

Ethernet

Network Boot

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

Stand

4 plastic spacers

Half Hour Logs

HS24a collects the following log files each half hour.

1. WiFi MAC

2. Bluetooth MAC

3. Beacon MAC

4. Ethernet MAC

5. DNS Lookup