Comments, questions, feedback

[harlab]

Do you have comments or questions on CM4Ext Nano? Feature proposal for future products?
Share your thoughts here

[derwana]

Will it be Open Hardware at some point?

[harlab]

@derwana our baseline is:

• WTFPL license for software
• Release pinouts or interface schematics for hardware

[gabyavra]

CM4Ext Nano versions

Hello,

Will be multiple versions available? or 3D printed case?
For instance I'm looking for something minimalistic, with only two usb C (on only data, on for data+power), the user switch, micro sd.

[harlab]

CM4Ext Nano versions

Hello,

Will be multiple versions available? or 3D printed case?
For instance I'm looking for something minimalistic, with only two usb C (on only data, on for data+power), the user switch, micro sd.

Hi
Beefier version at the same footprint is under development. We mined Unobtanium to implement USB3 but there should be a really good reason to go from type-A to type-C for USB3, because keyboards and most of flash drives still have type-A connectors. If you describe your use case, we will think of this.

CM4Ext Nano will be shipped without case, so we consider designing 3D printed one

[gabyavra]

CM4Ext Nano versions
Hello,
Will be multiple versions available? or 3D printed case?
For instance I'm looking for something minimalistic, with only two usb C (on only data, on for data+power), the user switch, micro sd.

Hi
Beefier version at the same footprint is under development. We mined Unobtanium to implement USB3 but there should be a really good reason to go from type-A to type-C for USB3, because keyboards and most of flash drives still have type-A connectors. If you describe your use case, we will think of this.

CM4Ext Nano will be shipped without case, so we consider designing 3D printed one

For the second version do you have a timeline? And a price for both? Thank you.

[harlab]

For the second version do you have a timeline? And a price for both? Thank you.

CM4Ext Nano - $29.90
For a second one we have a good progress, but not ready to announce any details yet.

[ethanhs]

Hi, really cool little board!
I wanted to mention that the WTFPL is rather problematic (see https://opensource.google/docs/thirdparty/licenses/#wtfpl-not-allowed) and it'd be much better to license under the MIT or BSD licenses.

Also for a hardware license, the CERN open hardware license is a good option: https://ohwr.org/project/cernohl/wikis/home

[machadofelipe]

Hey @harlab , really cool board... There is a lot of users from https://github.com/OpenHD/Open.HD/ looking for something very similar as you did. We may need some more power to hook up a powerful wireless card at the USB but all the rest seems very good. Let us know once available for purchase! Congrats!

[CopterGUI]

Hello
Really awesome board.
Like Felipe above me I want to use this board with the OpenHD project.
I'd like to suggest a version with an integrated DC/DC to have the possibility of powering it directly from a 2-6s Lipo battery and some usb2.0 solder pads without power limitation.

Best greetings
Sebastian

[gabyavra]

@harlab Hello, as far as I understand from the description, it is not possible to use both USB C and USB A for data in the same time. Is it right?

[harlab]

Hi, really cool little board!
I wanted to mention that the WTFPL is rather problematic (see https://opensource.google/docs/thirdparty/licenses/#wtfpl-not-allowed) and it'd be much better to license under the MIT or BSD licenses.
Also for a hardware license, the CERN open hardware license is a good option: https://ohwr.org/project/cernohl/wikis/home

Hi @ethanhs,
Thanks for your feedback. WTFPL license was mentioned with a grain of humor. We will consider using corresponding license, especially if contributing mainline

[harlab]

Hi @machadofelipe and @CopterGUI,
Mods and features you're asking too specific for general purpose CM4Ext Nano board, but you're welcome to discuss it here: #3

[harlab]

Hello, as far as I understand from the description, it is not possible to use both USB C and USB A for data in the same time. Is it right?

Hi @gabyavra
You're correct. CM4 has only one USB2.0 port that can be used as USB host or USB device. To have both of them we need USB hub on PCIe. This is under development now and we'd like to hear your usecase to meet your expectations.

[gabyavra]

Hello, as far as I understand from the description, it is not possible to use both USB C and USB A for data in the same time. Is it right?

Hi @gabyavra
You're correct. CM4 has only one USB2.0 port that can be used as USB host or USB device. To have both of them we need USB hub on PCIe. This is under development now and we'd like to hear your usecase to meet your expectations.

I want to use this as a portable WiFi audit device. Connect and power it using usb C and ssh via emulated Ethernet (usb C) and use an additional WiFi NIC on the USB A. At the moment though I can use the embedded WiFi card, the chipset is supported by tools such as air crack-ng. So I can still use it as it is, since I can use USB C as data.

[bdhwan]

hi. when and how can i buy this?

[harlab]

I want to use this as a portable WiFi audit device. Connect and power it using usb C and ssh via emulated Ethernet (usb C) and use an additional WiFi NIC on the USB A. At the moment though I can use the embedded WiFi card, the chipset is supported by tools such as air crack-ng. So I can still use it as it is, since I can use USB C as data

Nice use case and CM4Ext model to support this is on a drawing board. However, can't announce any dates at the moment.

[gabyavra]

I want to use this as a portable WiFi audit device. Connect and power it using usb C and ssh via emulated Ethernet (usb C) and use an additional WiFi NIC on the USB A. At the moment though I can use the embedded WiFi card, the chipset is supported by tools such as air crack-ng. So I can still use it as it is, since I can use USB C as data

Nice use case and CM4Ext model to support this is on a drawing board. However, can't announce any dates at the moment.

Can you show a sneak preview of it? 😁

[harlab]

hi. when and how can i buy this?

Hi @bdhwan, we're doing our best to release it at the end of February. Stores will be announced at product page and our Twitter

[harlab]

Can you show a sneak preview of it? 😁

USB-C device, 2xUSB3, SD card and optional mini PCIe

[Azkali]

Super cool project I'm interested to make a USB multi gadget device with it.

I'm excited by the mini PCIe port but is it planned as a CMExt4_Nano feature too or does this concern the OpenHD version or another version only ?

I had in mind that it could be connected to the back of the main board between CM4 and CMExt4_Nano through a ribbon cable and be a separate daughter board for mini PCIe only but it is just an idea

[rubencg195]

Will it be open source? It'll be awesome if it could be!!

[harlab]

Hi @Azkali

Super cool project I'm interested to make a USB multi gadget device with it.
I'm excited by the mini PCIe port but is it planned as a CMExt4_Nano feature too or does this concern the OpenHD version or another version only ?
I had in mind that it could be connected to the back of the main board between CM4 and CMExt4_Nano through a ribbon cable and be a separate daughter board for mini PCIe only but it is just an idea

Thanks for your input.
Placing PCIe card between CM4 and baseboard is barely possible, because only 1.5mm thickness available when using 3.0mm stack height Hirose connectors. Instead, we prefer standard PCIe form-factors.

CM4Ext Nano design is complete and we're not going to make a big changes.

CM4Ext Nano OpenHD is a separate project from mentioned above and targeted to specific, but awesome application: low latency HD video transmission.

CM4Ext Nano with 2xUSB3.0 and PCIe support is one of our next projects and we'd like to hear your use cases to make sure it'd fit your needs.

[harlab]

Hi @rubencg195

Will it be open source? It'll be awesome if it could be!!

Currently we're going to use pretty much the same approach as RPF: open software and reduced interface schematics where applicable.
If you're thinking of your own open source hardware, let us know - we might contribute

[tmeers]

This is almost exactly what I want to have! But I'm aiming for dual CSI connectors instead of having a CSI and DSI, or possibly dual CSI and a DSI. Beyond that it's wonderful!

[Azkali]

Hi @harlab

My use case is a bit weird.

I intend to make a USB gadget device with the PiCM4 and CMExt4 with "swappable" HID's and peripherals that extends other devices.

So you could pass through any device attached to the Pi or most of them ( storage or HID's or even PCIe devices like a 4/5G module if even possible ) to another computer, tablet etc.. To extend the other device capabilities. ( Being able to stream video output to a second screen would be a must. )

I would need DSI, CSI, USB host + device ( through USB C would be better ), power fed to the Pi via a 5V battery, grove connector, USB 2/3.0 x1 ( or more ), PCIe, SDcard ( but optional ) in my project.

Thanks for your interest on this project ! I appreciate

[harlab]

@tmeers, thanks for your feedback. Can you share your application?

@Azkali, features you ask are quite possible. Only issue is that even if you have USB-C for PC-CM4Ext connection, it's still USB2.0 for data because of CM4 USB port. However CM4Ext can have USB3.0

[tmeers]

@tmeers, thanks for your feedback. Can you share your application?

@harlab it's for a dual camera set up, having both a regular camera and the NoIR camera for day and night shots. Or even stereoscopic pictures. Working with a Pi 2B and a Zero for a single cam, and it's all well and good, but I would love dual, and be on this way more compact platform.

Outside of that I have a few other ideas for using the CM4 and something like this nano board would be perfect for those applications as is!

[Azkali]

@harlab
Thanks for your answer I appreciate !

Yes I am aware that I can only use usb2.0 but it is good enough for now. But is it hardware related or software only ?
If it is the latter I'm sure someone will fix it someday 😉
If you have any plan to make such device or anything really that could help my project let me know, but thanks for your time and work on this promising board !

[racer993]

Really nice project! Adding a LAN connector would be great + alternative 5v in connector.

[gitmayer]

Seeing the Camera mounted to this, it would be nice to have a microphone built in or a jack to plug one in. Any plans to add a mic in?

[Ramtech59Sensei]

We are making list of customers who willing to get CM4Ext Nano earlier than they can be put into store. Main reason for this is that first revision of the boards has audio output quality below expectations - you hear R2D2 speaking in your headphones when CPU gets some load. We don’t want these boards to mix up in retail stores with next (fixed) batches and willing to ship these boards OLNY to a customers who are fully aware of this issue and not going to use audio output in their project. With this, boards can be sent without retail store fees as “invoice - SEPA transfer - shipping”, no MOQ. PM via Twitter with qty and your county to be added to the list

Hi I am a Mentor on a Robotic club, I'm interested on use this board for vision recognition on First robotic Competition. How can I buy one of those

[acegallagher]

I'm also interested in an "audio-issues" pre-production board, or a production ready board if you're planning to get there. Count me as another voice of support!

[Bujtar]

Hi,
I am interested in "audio-issues" boards, or production boards as well. How should I proceed with ordering?

[skkaw]

Hello I am interested in ordering a board, how can I proceed with ordering as well?

[gavan1]

We are working on a smart city project here in Tokyo and already using CM4 clusters,functional audio is not needed. Do you ship to Tokyo?

[jessecha]

Can I get the first batch boards? I don't plan on using audio.

[seatosummit]

I also would like to get in on an early order. Not concerned with poor audio performance.

[edoelas]

First, congratulations for such an outstanding product. I am curious about two features:

1. Are there plans to include an M.2 connector to use a coral accelerator? Many people will use this device to make some kind of image processing, and having a coral accelerator could be really useful.
2. Are there plans to include POE support? It would be supper handy to just to have one cable out of the camera. Not sure if it is possible due to power limitations, but that would be an incredible addition to an already incredible product.

[daydreamer79]

Hi,

I'm interested in both the CM4Ext Nano early version and the CM4Ext Nano OpenHD .
So is it still possible to et an early version. I'm belgian so shipping should be no problem.

Best Regards,

Floris

[adgbu]

Hi, I definitely want one of these and I have no plans for audio so…
Where will you ship from. Definitely best for me if you ship from EU country.
Good job on creting this!

[dustinkerstein]

Also interested in buying one from the first batch. Looking forward.

[DansDesigns]

I would love the be included in this!

[er-ck]

Hey, just thought I'd post here to show interest. Use case would be a in a portable handheld device, I'd like to make something to let me host a server on the local network and run commands to the server without needing my laptop.

[w00jay]

Please count me in.

[Bujtar]

Dear HARLAB,

Would you be so kind to write at least one word of feedback for those requests and interests??
Why don't you react at all??
If you say that it is not worth to wait, no problem.
If you say you are working on the project but have time/chip/resource/etc. issues, still OK.
But not responding is not so nice

Thank you very much for your understanding

Best regards.

[brainey]

I also would be interested in getting one or more of these CM4 Nano boards!

[pastudan]

Hi, I'm interested in an "audio issues only" board, along with the "CM4_LCD_LT070ME05000" display board. Thanks!

[li3p]

Hi, I'm interested in an "audio issues only" board, along with the "CM4_LCD_LT070ME05000" display board too. Thanks!

[eddyosp]

Also interested in buying one from the first batch. Looking forward to get one.

[markifi]

i'm also interested

[TrentonTurner]

I'd love to get ne of these too!

[Untitled86]

I’d like to order 5 of these.

[Papouc]

Hi, I would like to also sign up if there are still some of them left :D. Thanks

[elan]

Is this project still alive?

[er-ck]

I think it’s dead, posted here about a year ago and not received any updates since.

…

On 30 Oct 2022, at 01:09, Elan Feingold ***@***.***> wrote:  Is this project still alive? — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub, or unsubscribe. You are receiving this because you commented.

[mcw720]

Does anyone have any news about this project? I didn't see anything in any of the comments confirming that even a single unit has made it into the hands of buyers, though a few boards seem to have been released to reviewers.

That said, if anyone did obtain either the audio-deficient version or its successor, and would be interested in placing it in a new home, please let me know what it would take to take it off your hands.

And harlab, if you're still out there somewhere and are interested in resuscitating this board, we have an awesome new project for which it alone - out of what seems like hundreds and hundreds of aspiring competitors - has everything we need and nothing that we don't; let's at least talk about the possibilities for collaboration.

Many Thanks!

[theodric]

I was hoping to use one of these for a camera project, since it seems to be the only small carrier board out there with the full-fat 22-pin CSI connector, but I can find neither the hardware for sale nor files to make my own. Is this still alive?

[gavan1]

I don't ended up purchasing 4 of these products
https://www.waveshare.com/wiki/CM4-NANO-B

A few years ago for a cm4 cluster.
They were only $17 each when I purchased them.