Experimental upgrade Raspberry CM4 to a Radxa CM5

[KC2QMA]

If I wanted to upgrade my G2 no screen from CM4 to CM5 I have just a few basic questions.
I see this post has been going for a while now and thought I would possibly give it a try.

-What exact CM5 would be recommended *please provide Part Number for reference*?

-I have an early G2 that has the CM4 with onboard memory and no installed microSD card, Are there any dip switches that need to be changed on the Saturn board to upgrade from CM4 to CM5?

-Is there a clean image up to date file with Linux OS and all the standard apps that ship with the G2 available for download?

-Can the image file be transferred from USB ram stick to the internal microSD card?

Thanks
John
KC2QMA

[JohnFT61]

@KC2QMA

Which G2 are you using, and are you using Thetis? If you use Thetis most of the time (which I believe you do), it isn't much of a benefit to upgrade to the Radxa CM5 module. The current RP Cm4 can easily handle the transmissions of packets between the G2 and external PC. In the future, AL may be releasing an image for the RP CM5 module, but that doesn't have the same performance as the Radxa CM5. I would hope they use the Radxa module instead.

The Radxa CM5 can be purchased from ARace, for about $68 USD, and it has 8GB of RAM and 64M of eMMC storage onboard. There are more expensive options, but that version is more than enough. When running a desktop with pihpsdr, about 1.5GB of RAM is in use.

Once the image is decompressed into a folder, one uses a program like BalenaEtcher to place it on a MicroSD card.

After the Radxa CM5 module is in place, place the MicroSD card into the slot on the Saturn board, and temporary place the top cover back on G2 (so that the fan keeps the FPGA and Radxa CM5 module cool). Turn the G2 on and observe the blinking blue and yellow LEDs flashing on the Radxa CM5. When they stop blinking, remove cover and MicroSD card. Power on again, and the G2 will boot from the internal eMMC memory.

Depending on what version of the G2 you have, the G2 may need additional hardware. I have the original G2 with 7-inch display, it also needed a RP2040-PiZero card $10USD. One removes the 40-pin GPIO cable from Saturn board, and plugs it into the RP2040-PiZero card. A USB-C cable plugs into it, and needs to be wired in the 4 wires on the 10-pin USB ribbon cable from front panel to Saturn board.

I used thick double-sided tape to hold the RP2040-PIZero board to PA heatsink. I also bought a heatsink and thermal epoxy, to attach the heatsink to the Radxa's RK3588S2 8-Core CPU.

I am now using Rick's Desktop that's works well and looks great. He took Martin's original image and added a desktop.


73

Screenshot_20250205_160039.png (2.97 MiB) Viewed 6631 times

John
N2KBE

[w2ner]

Hello John, I have a Apache Labs G2 and saw your post. Other than mounting the CM5 (which I understand its plug and play), can you tell me more about how you got the CM5 all setup with the G2?

Re: Experimental upgrade Raspberry CM4 to a Radxa CM5
by JohnFT61 » Fri Feb 07, 2025 6:57 pm
@KC2QMA

Which G2 are you using, and are you using Thetis? If you use Thetis most of the time (which I believe you do), it isn't much of a benefit to upgrade to the Radxa CM5 module. The current RP Cm4 can easily handle the transmissions of packets between the G2 and external PC. In the future, AL may be releasing an image for the RP CM5 module, but that doesn't have the same performance as the Radxa CM5. I would hope they use the Radxa module instead.

The Radxa CM5 can be purchased from ARace, for about $68 USD, and it has 8GB of RAM and 64M of eMMC storage onboard. There are more expensive options, but that version is more than enough. When running a desktop with pihpsdr, about 1.5GB of RAM is in use.

Once the image is decompressed into a folder, one uses a program like BalenaEtcher to place it on a MicroSD card.

After the Radxa CM5 module is in place, place the MicroSD card into the slot on the Saturn board, and temporary place the top cover back on G2 (so that the fan keeps the FPGA and Radxa CM5 module cool). Turn the G2 on and observe the blinking blue and yellow LEDs flashing on the Radxa CM5. When they stop blinking, remove cover and MicroSD card. Power on again, and the G2 will boot from the internal eMMC memory.

Depending on what version of the G2 you have, the G2 may need additional hardware. I have the original G2 with 7-inch display, it also needed a RP2040-PiZero card $10USD. One removes the 40-pin GPIO cable from Saturn board, and plugs it into the RP2040-PiZero card. A USB-C cable plugs into it, and needs to be wired in the 4 wires on the 10-pin USB ribbon cable from front panel to Saturn board.

I used thick double-sided tape to hold the RP2040-PIZero board to PA heatsink. I also bought a heatsink and thermal epoxy, to attach the heatsink to the Radxa's RK3588S2 8-Core CPU.

I am now using Rick's Desktop that's works well and looks great. He took Martin's original image and added a desktop.


73


Screenshot_20250205_160039.png (2.97 MiB) Viewed 379 times


John
N2KBE
Attachments

Screenshot_20250205_181953.png (1.82 MiB) Viewed 379 times

[KC2QMA]

@KC2QMA

Which G2 are you using, and are you using Thetis? If you use Thetis most of the time (which I believe you do), it isn't much of a benefit to upgrade to the Radxa CM5 module. The current RP Cm4 can easily handle the transmissions of packets between the G2 and external PC. In the future, AL may be releasing an image for the RP CM5 module, but that doesn't have the same performance as the Radxa CM5. I would hope they use the Radxa module instead.

The Radxa CM5 can be purchased from ARace, for about $68 USD, and it has 8GB of RAM and 64M of eMMC storage onboard. There are more expensive options, but that version is more than enough. When running a desktop with pihpsdr, about 1.5GB of RAM is in use.

Once the image is decompressed into a folder, one uses a program like BalenaEtcher to place it on a MicroSD card.

After the Radxa CM5 module is in place, place the MicroSD card into the slot on the Saturn board, and temporary place the top cover back on G2 (so that the fan keeps the FPGA and Radxa CM5 module cool). Turn the G2 on and observe the blinking blue and yellow LEDs flashing on the Radxa CM5. When they stop blinking, remove cover and MicroSD card. Power on again, and the G2 will boot from the internal eMMC memory.

Depending on what version of the G2 you have, the G2 may need additional hardware. I have the original G2 with 7-inch display, it also needed a RP2040-PiZero card $10USD. One removes the 40-pin GPIO cable from Saturn board, and plugs it into the RP2040-PiZero card. A USB-C cable plugs into it, and needs to be wired in the 4 wires on the 10-pin USB ribbon cable from front panel to Saturn board.

I used thick double-sided tape to hold the RP2040-PIZero board to PA heatsink. I also bought a heatsink and thermal epoxy, to attach the heatsink to the Radxa's RK3588S2 8-Core CPU.

I am now using Rick's Desktop that's works well and looks great. He took Martin's original image and added a desktop.


73

Screenshot_20250205_160039.png

John
N2KBE

I have the original G2 without screen.
I think I'll wait until there is a stable RP Image before I bother with the upgrade.

Great job doing your upgrade and the performance shows its a worthy upgrade.

[JohnFT61]

[quote="w2ner"]Hello John, I have a Apache Labs G2 and saw your post. Other than mounting the CM5 (which I understand its plug and play), can you tell me more about how you got the CM5 all setup with the G2?


Hello W2NER,

Which G2 are you using? I have the G2 with the original 7-inch display. The procedure for the 8-inch G2 Ultra display is a bit different. Both are extremely easy to add the hardware including the Radxa CM5 module.



73
John
N2KBE

[w2ner]

I have the new Ultra with the 8 in display.
I ordered this today. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DP4 ... UTF8&psc=1

Hello John, I have a Apache Labs G2 and saw your post. Other than mounting the CM5 (which I understand its plug and play), can you tell me more about how you got the CM5 all setup with the G2?


Hello W2NER,

Which G2 are you using? I have the G2 with the original 7-inch display. The procedure for the 8-inch G2 Ultra display is a bit different. Both are extremely easy to add the hardware including the Radxa CM5 module.



73
John
N2KBE

[Trucker]

I talked to Tony recently about shipping time for a G2 Ultra. After his comments about that and a few other things, he mentioned that Apache labs was planning an upgrade kit for the G2 radios to switch to a CM5 that should be fairly easy to install by the end user. Plus, they will be providing any interconnecting hardware needed as well as new firmware and software to use the new CM5 . He said the price for the upgrade kit would be in the neighborhood of $100. If this is a tested solution that works, it would be great. My only question is how does this or any modification effect the warranty. ( I forgot to ask Tony that)
James
WD5GWY

[JohnFT61]

I have the new Ultra with the 8 in display.
I ordered this today. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DP4 ... UTF8&psc=1

Hello John, I have a Apache Labs G2 and saw your post. Other than mounting the CM5 (which I understand its plug and play), can you tell me more about how you got the CM5 all setup with the G2?


Hello W2NER,

Which G2 are you using? I have the G2 with the original 7-inch display. The procedure for the 8-inch G2 Ultra display is a bit different. Both are extremely easy to add the hardware including the Radxa CM5 module.



73
John
N2KBE

I believe that Raspberry Pi CM5 module is closer to a direct replacement then what is currently in your G2 Ultra. The Radxa CM5 has a performance increase over it, being it has 8-Cores and each core has it's own FPU. If you install the Raspberry Pi CM5, you just have to wait for AL to release the image for it, and place it on the MicroSD card. I elected to have a little better performance increase, because most of the time I use the pihpsdr program with the G2.


73
John
N2KBE

[w2ner]

I cancel'd that order, where can I get the Radxa CM5?

[w2ner]

Also, whats the process of doing this swap?

[n1gp]

Hi Nick,

Unless your going to wait for the AL kit, order these:

CM5, I got from arace.tech, I bought the 64GB eMMC version but
I see they only have the 128GB version, a bit more $$, you may find it
cheaper elsewhere but arace was fast and efficient for me.

https://arace.tech/products/radxa-cm5-radxa-cm5-lite?variant=42816188481716

You will need to get a 90 degree USB adapter and a mini to micro USB cable.
The arduino USB connector is so close to the FP chassis that you need the adapter.

USB Micro Male to Mini USB 5 Pin Male Conversion Adapter Cables
https://www.amazon.com/MTUERANC-Conversion-Adapter-Cameras-Tablets/dp/B0CKT8CHLX/ref=sr_1_1?crid=33AK5LP26NUL2

The sidewards micro-USB adapter I ordered here:
https://pt.aliexpress.com/item/1005006356865249.html

Hooked up will look like this:

j23.jpg (190.96 KiB) Viewed 6130 times

I'll try to put together an upgrade guide. If you get these in hand and are ready
to go, let me know...

-Rick / N1GP