Ideas for a new ClockworkPi Main Board/uConsole 2

uConsole
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I’ve been thinking about possible upgrade paths for the uConsole or a second version of it. Here’s what I’d like to see. I’d love to know what the community thinks and anything else they might want. I know many of these exist as community mods but some of them I think would be better if they were integrated into a new design.

Firstly a new main board:

Something I’d love to see is switching from the SODIMM connector the CM3 uses to directly accepting the CM4/5s without needing an adapter. This unlocks all the IO from the Compute modules including PCIe (SSD on the uConsole anyone?). Upgrading the USB C port to take power delivery and act as a full USB 3 port, alongside either a second Type C with a new IO panel or a USB 3 Type A which will fit the existing IO cutouts. I’m sure I’ve seen a Type C port somewhere that has a shroud to fit in a USB-A-sized hole too but I could be imagining it as I don’t have any part numbers to mind nor can I remember where I saw it. An upgraded main board also doesn’t require a uConsole 2 design and can lean on existing parts.

A uConsole 2 could have a changeable IO shield so that future mainboards with different IO layouts can be used, similar to how you can switch between the blank cover or the cover with the hole for the 4G module’s audio jack, and also similar to the IO shield on a PC. Given the issues with GPIO-based sound, maybe find an alternative to that that will be more future-proof, for example, a USB-based soundcard on the module.

Keyboard:

The keyboard’s backlight is honestly terrible, it needs a few more LEDs to even out the lighting and make it usable in the dark.

It would be cool to see more international keyboard layouts (UK QWERTY with the " instead of @ and £ instead of #, and the AZERTY, QWERTZ etc layouts for those users). AFAIK the input can be configured by language settings on the OS so realistically all you’d need to produce is the rubber keys with different prints and the software will handle the rest.

Power Module:

Replace the soldered 18650 holder with an optional module that can be removed if you don’t want to use it without needing to de-solder. You just unplug it from a battery connector and connect your alternative LiPo like those massive 10000mAh cells people have been using. If this is done it could also justify a slimmer backplate option to reduce the overall thickness of the device. There are 3D prints out there doing this but this won’t have the thermal conductivity that a metal back has.

Wi-Fi

A hole to mount an SMA/RP-SMA connector on the top side of the uConsole would be great, either that or find a way to improve the terrible Wi-Fi caused by the antenna being stuck to the metal frame. This could be made as a hole we have to punch out to use just like the Lilygo T-Deck Pro has.

Screen Protector

They provide the PicoCalc with one, and I think it would be nice to provide one with the uConsole. You can get them from a third party regardless, but having that first one to protect it while it’s new would be a nice touch.

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For the screen : a native landscape panel!

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I’d rather them do modular upgrade releases. Allow you to select and choose what you want to upgrade. For example, I’m not really interested in more USB (via a new motherboard) or more LEDs on the keyboard. But I could understand folks would want that.

Top on my list would be a battery board for 21700 (or any other method of cramming more batteries into the unit, such as 4x 18650). Second would be a replacement back plate with a battery change door.

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Additional working USB-C ports and M2 drive support.

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I agree with everything you’ve said here, but I’d add a few things for my wish list. This is all from the perspective of someone who hasn’t used a uConsole yet.

Main Board

For compute module style boards that would be capable of it, I’d also like to see that USB-C port for charging and data, be capable of DP alt-mode as well. It’d be great to use the keyboard on the go, but be able to plug it in to my monitor, and get an external display, charging, and all the peripherals at my desk with one cable, just like I can with a laptop. There’s talk of this being possible with the right carrier board for the Raspberry Pi CMs, and this Orange Pi carrier board claims to have achieved it.

It’d be great if, when using an M.2 SSD, the SD card slot could still be read (not possible for Raspberry Pi CM modules with eMMC).

I don’t know if the various CM style boards out there are pin-compatible with the Raspberry Pi ones, we may need adaptor boards to accept other modules.

Given that this approach would mean GPIO pins are no longer being used for wifi, it’d be nice to have an extension board to break them all out on the side, so that we can use a wide variety of existing HATs. I expect this would require changing the EXT connector though. I’d be nice if we could turn off the internal audio, so we can use those pins too (I’m assuming the headphone jack would get audio from non-GPIO pins, like in the CM4/5 development carrier boards).

Keyboard

I’d like to see an option for an ortholinear keyboard, with an appropriate front panel to match. Or perhaps symmetric row stagger - I have a feeling that’d work really well with thumb typing.

Pointing

I’d love to see an option for a pointing joystick, like the one used on this uConsole inspired build. In my head, I feel like this is good for coarse control, and the small trackball would then be good for fine pointer movements (though I haven’t tried either, so maybe we don’t need both).

Top Panel

I think the top panel needs to be like the IO shield you mentioned - interchangeable. I’m imagining an EXT board for LoRa and GPS, and I’d want external antennae for them too. I’m sure the SDR enthusiasts would like an EXT board with external antennae as well.

Sales

With all these options, I’d hope we don’t have to buy the full base kit, and then buy the improved main board etc separately. Give us something like Framework’s laptop configuration process, or at least let us buy the shell and all the components separately, so we can build it with the internals we want.

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I sent an email to Alex last week and he told me that a new mother is under development, but he didn’t give me any more information besides that.
I suggested that the main priorities everybody wants are (in order of priorities)
1-SSD capabilities
2-USB 3.0/1/2
3-RJ45 Port.
He told me that would pass my suggestions to R&D but he couldn’t promise anything.
I also suggested that it should be a board and not a new uConsole, but I guess this was also their approach. Let’s see what happens…

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seems like devterm and uconsole share mainboard:

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It seems to be the same board, yes.
So if they only make a motherboard upgrade it would be a win-win for both uConsole and DevTerm users. I’m really looking forward for more updates on this.

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I would like to keep the modular system compatible with the current version as much as possible. I don’t think there is a need to radically change the design, it is authentic and beautiful, and most of the community appreciates it first of all.
Of what can be done. improve the motherboard and battery module, as you suggested. Add an internal USB hub for soldering (don’t forget about the appropriate power supply) and make GPIO available. Perhaps it is worth adding an alternative Wi-Fi to the motherboard (the one used in CM is not very good for network analysis), Reworking the main board, purely for CM, will allow you to implement a lot.

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As others have said, I would rather modular upgrades rather than a whole new uConsole. We’ve just bought the device and gotten hold of the device that’s only been out a year or so. It was difficult to get a hold of because of the manufacturing demand for it.
This little machine is a great piece of kit and we all love it (mine was a learning curve, but I feel like I’ve gotten the hang of Linux). No need to replace the whole thing, IMO.

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I call improbable.

Initiative must come from the Foundation if DP over USB-C can be achieved. And you’ll know it is so when a future Raspberry Pi comes out with a fully-featured USB-C. The claim is possible because the Orange Pi CM5 (Not to be confused with the Raspberry Pi CM5) has a third 100-pin socket with which to squeeze in DP support.

This is not to say the dream of “one USB-C to rule them all” will never happen. Unfortunately, the Foundation will have to make the first move before that change is doable.

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