Equipment Update
Big Savings, Small Trade-Offs: Switch to Orange Pi 5 SBCs
We’re always looking for ways to optimize our weather monitoring devices without compromising quality. We’ve made a significant evolution in our hardware setup: we’re transitioning from Orange Pi 5 Plus single-board computers (SBCs) to Orange Pi 5 SBCs, paired with a new, cost-effective enclosure. These changes are saving us $61 per device, which adds up fast. Here’s how we’re making it happen and what it means for our network.
Cutting Costs with the Orange Pi 5
The Orange Pi 5 Plus has served us well, but at ~$130 per board, it’s a large piece of our budget. By switching to the Orange Pi 5, priced at ~$80, we’re saving $50 per board. The Orange Pi 5 (non-plus) was previously not supported by the software we use, but is now, allowing us to make the change. We will not be removing any of the Orange Pi 5 Plus boards from service, however, as there’s nothing wrong with them.
There’s one trade-off: the Orange Pi 5 lacks the second ethernet port found on the Plus model, which we use to connect to a cellular modem. We’ve sourced a $10 ethernet-to-USB adapter that converts one of the Orange Pi 5’s unused USB ports into an ethernet port. This adapter also eliminates the need for one of our longer, flexible Cat 5 cables (costing $5-7 each due to their swivel heads). With the adapter’s built-in pigtail, we can make a simple 3-inch Cat 5 jumper in-house for next to nothing. So, while we’re adding $10 for the adapter, we’re saving ~$5-7 on cabling, making the net cost increase negligible.
A Less Expensive Enclosure
We’ve also found a new plastic enclosure that’s identical to our current one. It matches the dimensions and thickness of our current boxes but costs just $14 compared to $25—a savings of $11 per unit. These enclosures are just as durable and weather-resistant, ensuring our devices remain protected in the field.
Why This Matters
These savings don’t just help our limited budget, they allow us to produce more units and in turn deploy more units, bringing real-time weather data to the RadarOmega application. The Orange Pi 5 delivers the same reliable performance our we expect, ensuring our devices stay online and effective when able.
We’re happy about these cost-saving changes and can’t wait to see the impact as we roll out the new hardware.
