The company Sixfab has recently launched a module or HAT with a 5G modem for the new Raspberry Pi 5. Thus, the SBC You get greater functionality, thanks to the Quectel RM502Q-AE 5G Sub-6 Ghz in the M.2 format module that can be used with any mobile data SIM card around the world, except in China, as it is not compatible. That is, you need the card and the service, as would happen with any 5G mobile device.
It must be noted that the Quectel RM50xQ module It may also support GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System), but it is not implemented in the kit offered by Sixfab for the Raspberry Pi. In addition to that, it can be connected to one of the USB 3.0 ports of the Raspberry Pi 5 to operate, which avoids having to use a standard PCIe FPC connector and makes installation easier.
However, you may think that using the USB 3.0 port you no longer have to use the header 40-pin GPIO, and therefore it is not a HAT as such, but the truth is that these pins are necessary, specifically to control the included fan, to turn the Sixfab HAT on or off when it is not used to save energy, select the SIM card (NanoSIM or eSIM), for user control, the indicative LEDs, and the FCP that controls the on and off sequence of the 5G module.
However, all of this is optional, since Sixfab itself states that with USB is enough to work, since it is not only compatible with the Raspberry Pi 5, it can also be used in other SBCs such as the Beaglebone, ASUS Tinkerboard, NXP i.MX 8 development kits, PCs with Windows and Linux, and even with the NVIDIA Jetson board Elder brother. And, some of these boards do not have GPIO or are not the same as the Pi.
Another interesting detail of this Sixfab 5G kit is that they have integrated the antennas on the PCB itself, so you don't need external antennas. This clashes with what was seen in the 5G kit that Waveshare already presented for the Raspberry Pi 4 based on Qualcomm's Snapdragon X55, and which had large external antennas...
That is, Sixfab has achieved a Pretty tiny 5G HAT, which is important for those projects where size matters, being able to fit this kit in a small space. Also, if you are interested, currently It sells for about €450, a fairly expensive price, but if you want a wireless device to connect to the 5G network without cables and with high speed, you will have no choice, besides paying your provider to obtain the SIM and the data rate...
Why 5G?
You may be wondering why you might want 5G on a Raspberry Pi, but the truth is that it can give a lot of play, such as:
- High Speed Connectivity: It serves to take advantage of the speed and low latency of 5G to achieve high-speed connections in projects that require fast data transfer. This is especially important when we do not have a wired network or a WiFi point to connect to, since you are going to use the project anywhere. It may also be interesting for those rural areas where fiber optics do not reach and you want a high-performance connection.
- Internet of Things (IoT): If you are going to experiment with IoT projects, this 5G module can also give you many communication and connectivity facilities. For example, you could program the Pi to act as a node with some function within the 5G network that you can control remotely (telemedicine, robotics, device control, Edge/Fog applications, IoT control, home automation, etc.) …
- High Definition Video Streaming: The SBC Raspberry Pi 5 isn't made for this, but if you want to stream video with recorded tutorials from the Pi itself to share, then a high-speed, low-latency network will allow you to enjoy a smoother and faster experience, just as if What you are looking for is to use the Pi 5 as a media center for the living room, and enjoy streaming platforms.
- Remote Access to Resources: Having 5G bandwidth on your Raspberry Pi 5 will also facilitate remote access to resources and services quickly, which can be useful in education, research or development applications, uploading or downloading large amounts of data, etc. The truth is that the possibilities are many.
It is important to note that the availability and performance of these applications will depend on the 5G network infrastructure available in the specific location, so before investing €450 in this 5G HAT, you should make sure that there are coverage and that service providers offer this type of connectivity.
Technical specifications of the Sixfab 5G Kit
As for the Technical specifications From this Sixfab 5G HAT kit for the new Raspberry Pi 5, we have the following:
- Sixfab 5G HAT:
- Slot or M.2 slot for the Quectel 5G module
- nanoSIM + eSIM slot
- USB 3.0 connector as a communication interface, as well as 40-pin GPIO to connect to the Raspberry Pi 5
- User button
- LEDs indicating status, power, and user
- Programmable EEPROM memory
- 2-pin fan connector
- 5V power via USB-C
- Dimensions 88.1×57.7×21.7mm
- FCC, IC, CE, UKCA certificates
- Quectel RM502Q-AE:
- M.2 form factor, to be inserted into the Sixfab HAT slot
- 5G Connectivity: 3GPP Release 15 NSA/SA, Sub-6 Ghz
- LTE Category DL Cat 20/UL Cat 18
- Maximum data range: 650 Mbps for 5G NSA Sub-6 UL and 5 Gbps for DL / 450 Mbps for 5G SA Sub-6 UL and 4.2 Gbps for DL
- USB 3.1 or PCIe 3.0 interface
- Dimensions 52x30x2.3 mm
- Weight 8.4 grams
The GPIO header, the power adapter and a plastic spacer are included... So you will have everything you need to start working from the first moment, if you already have a Raspberry Pi 5 or one of the other compatible boards or devices which I mentioned previously.