$25 GL.iNet 6416A is an Hackable OpenWRT Router with Easy UART and GPIO Access

There are plenty of low cost routers supporting OpenWRT, but GL.iNet 6416A has several advantages compared to devices like TP-Link WR703N. Both are based on Atheros AR9931, but GL.iNet router has more memory and storage (64MB RAM + 16MB Flash vs 32MB RAM + 4MB Flash), two Ethernet ports instead of just one, and 6 GPIOs, the serial pins, and power signals (5V, 3.3V and GND) are all easily accessible via though holes or headers. Gl.iNet 6416A can be purchased for about $25 on DealExtreme or Amazon US, and it used to be listed on eBay, but is now out of stock.

Gl/iNET 6416A specifications:

Wi-Fi SoC – Atheros AR9331 MIPS processor @ 400 MHz
System Memory – 64MB RAM
Storage – 16MB Flash
Connectivity – 2x 10/100 Mbit Ethernet ports, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-FI up to 150Mbps
USB – 1x USB 2.0 port, 1x micro USB port for power
Debugging – Serial console via UART header (GND, Tx, Rx)
Expansion – 6 GPIOs, 5V, 3.3V, and GND.
Misc – Reset button, LED indicator
Power – 5V (micro USB)
Dimension – 5.8 x 5.8 x 2.2 cm
Weight 42 grams.

The device is also said to support USB webcams (MJPG or YUV), and USB mass storage with FAT32, EXFAT, EXT-2/3/4, and NTFS file systems using the stock firmware. There are also Android and iOS apps to manage the router.

GL.iNet_6416A_Board — GL.iNet 6416A Board Description – Source: Stian Eikeland

6416A router, and its little brother, 6408A, with 8 MB flash, are now part of mainline OpenWRT. You can also follow news and access short tutorials for the board on GL.iNet website, and check out the product page.

Thanks to Nanik for the tip.

Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft)

Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.

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8 Comments

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ben

10 years ago

Do any of these modules (asiarf, tplink, etc) encourage the use of their modules as a development platform?

The product pages usually look like they’re geared to consumer users only.. not necessarily to diy’ers… I want to support any company that supplies the schematics, software toolchain instructions, forum community, etc!

stan

@ben
See carambola 2 from 8devices.

Sam Butler

I’ve been using this for several months (I purchased off the ebay store.). It is a great little device.But my familarity with OpenWRT is minimal, so I havent hacked it yet. Wht I’d love to get working is a usb dvb-t tv tuner dingle over wifi. If anyone knows where to start on this, that would be great.

Freire

Yun ShieldSKU: USD $29.90

http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/Yun-Shield-p-1930.html

Processor: 400MHz, 24K MIPS
Flash: 16MBytes
RAM: 64MBytes
External Antenna via I-Pex connector
Hardware source: https://github.com/dragino/modules/tree/master/hardware/YunShield

Basically, Yun Shield + Leonardo equally to the official Arduino Yun, that cost USD $74.95(adafruit).