OpenWrt Team Develops Advanced Wi-Fi 7 Router 'Two'

The OpenWrt development team is progressing on the 'Two,' the second official router designed for OpenWrt enthusiasts. While its predecessor, the 'One,' served as an entry-level device with basic features, the upcoming 'Two' is set to offer significantly enhanced capabilities. Currently in the planning phase, detailed specifications for the router have already been outlined.

The OpenWrt 'Two' will support Wi-Fi 7 across three frequency bands: 6 GHz, 5 GHz, and 2.4 GHz. The 6 GHz band will feature three independent MIMO streams, while the 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz bands will include a total of five streams, with four being shared via a diplexer. With a channel width of up to 320 MHz, the router aims to deliver impressive wireless transfer speeds.

In terms of connectivity, the router is expected to feature seven RJ45 Ethernet ports and two SFP+ slots, each capable of supporting speeds up to 10 Gbps. These SFP+ ports, along with five additional 2.5 Gbps Ethernet ports, will be connected to switches linked to two 10 Gbps interfaces. Additionally, two more Ethernet ports will provide a 1 Gbps connection.

For users with a fiber optic connection utilizing a standard Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON), a generic SFP+ transceiver can be employed to directly connect the router. For VDSL connections, a separate provider modem will be required.

The OpenWrt 'Two' will be powered by an upgraded Mediatek MT7988A processor (also known as Filogic 880), featuring four Cortex-A73 cores and accompanied by 4 GB of DDR4 RAM. This configuration is designed to ensure the router is equipped for future demands.

The router will come pre-installed with the open-source OpenWrt operating system on 256 MB of NAND flash storage. Additionally, there will be an M.2 slot available for a PCI-Express SSD. Two USB-C ports are planned for connecting external drives or devices such as printers, while a separate USB port will be dedicated to power supply. A fourth interface will facilitate the reading and control of data buses like I2C.

The first units of the OpenWrt 'Two' are anticipated to be available by the end of 2025, with GL.iNet scheduled to handle manufacturing. This partnership is advantageous as GL.iNet markets its devices globally through Amazon, potentially allowing the 'Two' to be accessible in Germany without import issues.