Reform Next: Removing Wi-fi, adding what?

MNT Reform
1

Hey! I asked @minute this on Mastodon but maybe it is better to post it on the shared community forum rather than adding to their workload with my questions :slight_smile:

I was wondering. Since the wi-fi/bluetooth on the Next is a dedicated card, if one wants a wi-fi/bluetooth free computer for focus etc. could the wi-fi card be removed and replaced with something else?

What could be put in there instead? How hard would it be to put in a few usb-a ports, or some sort of audio interface or a fan if temperatures would ever be an issue?

Thanks in advance!

Edit: So question 1, can I just remove the board without anything else than bluetooth and wi-fi being affected?

And question 2 is what would be possible to replace it with :smiley:

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Software defined radio. :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:

3 Likes
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I’ve been wondering about this, I think that would be very cool and honestly I don’t think you need to even remove the wifi, but I think I would sacrifice one of the port boards to make room for a bunch of antenna connectors.

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Yes.

Think big! Even if you would not remove the wifi/bt module there is a 20mm regular grid of M2 screw threads allowing you to go wild. If you do sacrifice the wifi/bt module then that means that you now have even more options of what to do with that space :smile:

5

you can replace it with esp32 chip

Yes, it is still wireless stuff, but kind of autonomous :slight_smile:

1 Like
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I don’t know about removing wifi, myself, but I would like to add a LoRa board for Meshtastic/Meshcore.
I imagine a fan probably isn’t needed, but that would be a good spot for it, too. I have a salvaged heat pipe from an old laptop that would probably go nicely there!