The Mini Pini is a Wi-Fi 6 radio module designed to meet the challenges of demanding wireless environments. This product leverages Qualcomm’s advanced QCN9074/72 chipset, ensuring efficient and reliable wireless performance across a variety of applications including industrial settings.

Built on the robust foundation of Qualcomm’s QCN9074/72 chipset, the Mini Pini series stands out for its performance and reliability according to 8Devices. It offers a 4×4 or 2×2 MU-MIMO configuration, enhancing data transfer rates and signal quality through multiple data streams. The support for a 160MHz channel width allows for faster data transmission and efficient utilization of bandwidth.

Mini Pini 2×2 block diagram
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The series’ adherence to the standard mini PCIe form factor ensures wide compatibility and integration ease. With data rates soaring up to 4.8Gbps, the Mini Pini is ideal for bandwidth-heavy applications.

Its capability to support up to 4 download and upload OFDMA users optimizes channel efficiency and reduces latency. The dual-band support, functional on both 2.4 and 5GHz bands, offers adaptability and peak performance in diverse wireless conditions.

 
Mini Pini 4×4 block diagram
(click image to enlarge)

The Mini Pini is available in three distinct versions, each tailored to meet various applications and settings:

Mini Pini25 2×2 : This model offers 2×2 MIMO and is optimized for 2.4/5GHz bands with 160 MHz support, ideal for standard commercial environments (0-60°C).

Mini Pini25-I 2×2: This variant is a Mini-PCIe 2×2 radio card, built for industrial temperature ranges (-40 to +85°C), offering a robust solution for challenging environments.

Mini Pini25 4×4: This version is a Mini-PCIe 4×4 radio card designed for commercial temperature ranges (0-60°C). It is ideal for standard enterprise environments.

Mini Pini25-I 4×4: Catering to more demanding settings, the Mini Pini-I is also a Mini-PCIe 4×4 radio card but is designed for industrial temperature ranges (-40 to +85°C).

MiniPini + heatsink
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According to the 8Devices Wiki page, this product supports both Ubuntu 22.04 LTS and OpenWrt 23.05 ( OS kernel needs to be >= 5.19 or use wireless backports >= 6.1.).

Specifications listed for the 8Devices Mini Pini:

• Connectivity:
  • MIMO Configurations – 2×2/4×4 w/ 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 support.
  • Frequency Bands – Dual-band operation on 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz.
  • Data Rates – Maximum of 4804 Mbps in 5GHz (4×4) and 2402 Mbps in 5GHz (2×2).
  • Channel Support – Ranges from 5/10 MHz in 4.9 GHz to 20/40/80/160 MHz in 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz.
  • Advanced Features – MU-MIMO, MU-OFDMA, TxBF, STBC, w/ up to 37 users per PPDU.
  • Standard Compliance – Supports IEEE 802.11 ac/ax, and other 802.11 standards.
• Security:
  • Encryption Protocols – AES-CCMP/GCMP (128/256 bits), WEP, TKIP, WAPI-2.
  • Access Security – WPA/WPA2-Personal/Enterprise, WPA3 Personal.
  • Standards Compliance – FIPS ECB.
• Other Features:
  • DFS and Agile DFS, support for monitor mode, explicit transmit beamforming (TxBF)
• Mechanical:
  • 30 x 50.95 x 15.05mm, PCIe radio card
  • PCI Express 3.0 dual-lane

Further Information

As previously mentioned, each model in the MiniPini25 series utilizes the Qualcomm QCN9074 chipset and is currently available for preorder at these prices:

• MiniPini25 2×2 ($74.00): 2×2 MIMO, for 2.4/5GHz bands, 160 MHz support.
• MiniPini25-I 2×2 ($79.00): Similar to MiniPini25 2×2, but for industrial temperatures.
• MiniPini25 4×4 ($79.00): 4×4 MIMO, for 2.4/5GHz bands, 160 MHz support, for commercial temperatures.
• MiniPini25-I 4×4 ($84.00): Like the 4×4 version, but designed for industrial temperatures.