Hello, everyone.
Please tell me, can I use these modules in the Radxa E-25 device?
M2 slot B key for 4G => Sierra AirPrime EM7455 4G LTE (blob-free)
miniPCIe (full-size) for WI-FI => Qualcomm Atheros AR9380 /AR5BXB112 (blob-free)
As far as I can tell, the kernel includes the ath9k driver.
How can I verify this before purchasing?
The developers said they don’t know...
@maurer
I don't own this device anymore but I believe both modules should physically and electrically fit though I believe you would be underutilizing the platform using old wifi4 (802.11n) ath9k devices for the sake of having blob-free hw ( although the EM7455 requires firmware blobs for full operation - AT command-based modem firmware, so it's not truly blob-free in the strictest sense)
Hello @maurer
Thank you so much for your reply.
No one else replied except you ))
Could you clarify what you meant when you said that using these old modules would make the platform insufficient? What features will I be missing?
Or what won’t I be able to use?
As for the modules I chose, it’s no coincidence—these modules are completely free, work with a LIBRE kernel, and are approved by the FSF. https://www.fsf.org/ Take a look.
Sierra AirPrime EM7455 4G LTE (blob-free) https://h-node.org/threegcards/view/en/2305/Sierra-AirPrime-EM7455/1/1/undef/undef/undef/undef/wifi-works/undef
and
Qualcomm Atheros AR9380 /AR5BXB112 (blob-free) https://h-node.org/wifi/view/en/1140/Atheros-Communications-Inc--AR9300-Wireless-LAN-adaptor--rev-01-/1/1/undef/undef/undef/undef/wifi-works/ar9380
What’s more, I spoke with the developer of the libre kernel, and he confirmed this information.
does it work with free software? yes
free driver used: ath9k
I think maurer means mainly performance and features, not that the board will stop working. AR9380 is an older 802.11n card, so you miss the newer 802.11ac/ax speeds and features; it may still be fine for a small home setup if libre firmware is the priority. For OpenWrt, I would also check the exact package name: AR9380 is normally ath9k, while ath9k-htc is for USB Atheros devices. For the EM7455, verify the slot wiring and modem protocol support separately, because physical fit and driver support are two different checks.
you'll be missing the new 802.11ax features that are a game changer at least on 2.4ghz.
Also I wouldn't invest in a 4g only device when 5g is widely available nowadays.
openwrt doesn't support it so you're on your own here
Thank you so much for your responses and for your willingness to help!
@maurer As for 5G, I’ve looked into it—not in great depth, but I’ve read various articles on the subject—and it turns out that 5G offers no economic benefits. In some countries, these frequencies are already in use by the military or other agencies, and some users report that 4G works more reliably and performs better than 5G.
I think 450 Mb/s will be enough for another 10–20 years ))
Freedom and security are more important to me.
@nubeovejita27
As for your reply:
For OpenWrt, I would also check the exact package name: AR9380 is normally ath9k, while ath9k-htc is for USB Atheros devices. For the EM7455, verify the slot wiring and modem protocol support separately, because physical fit and driver support are two different checks.
I’d like to clarify: are you saying that the ath9k-htc package currently included in the kernel might not work after installing the AR9380?
Regarding the EM7455, what does it mean to check the pinout and modem protocol support? Could you explain that to me?
I’ve checked the packages for the Sierra EM7455 (4G LTE modem) — they’re all available in the repository.
Required packages: The following are usually required for it to work:
kmod-usb-net-qmi-wwan
kmod-usb-serial-qualcomm
umbim (for MBIM) or uqmi (for QMI)
comgt (for basic AT commands)
For the AR9380 wireless module (Qualcomm Atheros)
kmod-ath9k (for PCIe/Mini-PCIe cards, such as the AR9380).
This means the card should work, but at the speed of the outdated Wi-Fi 4, without 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) and 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6)
, which I can live with)
The Radxa E25 features an M.2 Key B connector (specifically supporting 2242 length modules).
Fit: The EM7455 is an M.2 Key B module, so it will physically fit the slot perfectly.
Interface: This slot supports both SATA (for SSDs) and USB 2.0/3.0 signals (for 4G modems).
The EM7455 uses the USB interface, which is supported here.
Radxa has explicitly tested this slot with similar USB-based LTE modules like the Quectel EM05
SIM Card: The board includes a dedicated Nano SIM slot that is electrically connected to this M.2 port, so no external SIM adapters are needed.
Power: The slot provides the standard 3.3V power required by the module.
[quote="tom1995, post:6, topic:251007"]
it turns out that 5G offers no economic benefits
[/quote]
I don't want to get into a debate but here's a the most important benefit of 5g - latency - for gaming or other sensitive applications like video/voice calls.
Also I don't believe the technology is here to stay for 20 years - more like 10-15...but only time will tell.
Good luck with your setup - keep us posted on the progress!
Thank you very much for your replies and help.
I’ve ordered the devices and modules; as soon as everything arrives, I’ll test them and get back to you.
As for 5G not living up to expectations, here are a few articles—I haven’t made any of this up
Economics and Costs (GSMA)
https://www.gsma.com/solutions-and-impact/technologies/networks/gsma_resources/5g-era-mobile-network-cost-evolution/
https://www.gsma.com/about-us/regions/europe/general/highlights-from-the-mobile-economy-europe-2025-launch-event/
Energy consumption
https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/analysis/power-5g-people/
Resilience now in readiness
Ironically 5G networks and connected IoT devices themselves could help prevent the very power outages which might cripple them by monitoring and managing “smart grids” to help deliver power more efficiently. Even so the greater the extent that industries like manufacturing, retail, healthcare and transportation come to rely on 5G, the greater the economic disruption in the event of power outages or blackouts, due either to human activity or natural disasters. That leaves telcos to make decisions now on how best to protect their 5G architecture from power outages in the future as the associated loads gradually increase over time
Facts: A typical 5G base station consumes almost twice as much energy as a 4G base station, and during peak loads with Massive MIMO, up to three times as much (an increase from 6 kW to 19 kW)