# Why did you get a uconsole? **URL:** \ **Category:** uConsole\ **Tags:** community\ **Created:** [March 9, 2026, 10:49pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/why-did-you-get-a-uconsole/21793 "2026-03-09T22:49:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Astrox](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/astrox/32/13039_2.png) [@Astrox](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Astrox)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2026, 10:49pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/why-did-you-get-a-uconsole/21793/1 "2026-03-09T22:49:07Z")
I’m not saying it’s bad or anything, I just want to see all the different reasons across the community. I ordered mine, to replace my laptop, and use as my main computer. (With the laptop only for tasks which are really needed for it) ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecc23a/32.png) [@Greg\_E](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Greg_E)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 12:36am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/why-did-you-get-a-uconsole/21793/2 "2026-03-10T00:36:38Z")
Small tool I can carry around and console into network switches, as well as web browser to check other aspects. Faster and easier than a laptop for many tasks. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalDreams](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/digitaldreams/32/16007_2.png) [@DigitalDreams](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/DigitalDreams)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 7:21am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/why-did-you-get-a-uconsole/21793/3 "2026-03-10T07:21:38Z")
An alternative to my PicoCalc, an upgrade in some ways, downgrade in others. Experience with linux, to try programming in C for the second time. To keep my mind occupied… ---
**Author:** ![Codiator](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/codiator/32/15080_2.png) [@Codiator](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Codiator)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 8:18am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/why-did-you-get-a-uconsole/21793/4 "2026-03-10T08:18:46Z")
For me, the uConsole is simply a particularly handy mobile computer. Instead of a laptop, I will take a uConsole with me to customers or for unplanned emergencies when travelling. I’ve been working almost exclusively with Linux for years anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Astrox](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/astrox/32/13039_2.png) [@Astrox](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Astrox)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 9:50am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/why-did-you-get-a-uconsole/21793/5 "2026-03-10T09:50:32Z")
@Codiator @DigitalDreams @Greg_E What cores are you all using? ---
**Author:** ![Codiator](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/codiator/32/15080_2.png) [@Codiator](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Codiator)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 10:06am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/why-did-you-get-a-uconsole/21793/6 "2026-03-10T10:06:34Z")
I am still waiting for my uConsole, but a 8 GB CM4 lite is waiting already. Also some Hacker Gadgets boards and an NVMe. ---
**Author:** ![Astrox](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/astrox/32/13039_2.png) [@Astrox](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Astrox)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 11:59am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/why-did-you-get-a-uconsole/21793/7 "2026-03-10T11:59:10Z")
Oo, me too. I am waiting for my uconsole, and I am confused if I should get a 4gb cm4 or 8gb cm4 ---
**Author:** ![Codiator](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/codiator/32/15080_2.png) [@Codiator](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Codiator)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 12:21pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/why-did-you-get-a-uconsole/21793/8 "2026-03-10T12:21:50Z")
4 GB is sufficient for most use cases. However, 8 GB is a safe bet. In my opinion, 16 GB is overkill. ---
**Author:** ![white-round-square](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/white-round-square/32/10385_2.png) [@white-round-square](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/white-round-square)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 1:18pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/why-did-you-get-a-uconsole/21793/9 "2026-03-10T13:18:42Z")
> [@uConsole use cases?](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/uconsole-use-cases/12160): > > Hello all, I am considering a uConsole CM4. It is no doubt a super cool device. I am trying to “justify” the cost. To do so, I would be very interested to find out how do you use your? For retro gaming? Something else? Please do share (or, if there is already a similar thread - please point me in the right direction). Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![white-round-square](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/white-round-square/32/10385_2.png) [@white-round-square](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/white-round-square)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 1:19pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/why-did-you-get-a-uconsole/21793/10 "2026-03-10T13:19:20Z")
> [@Codiator](#): > > In my opinion, 16 GB is overkill. on cm4 it is, but on cm5 you can actually use a browser 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![DigitalDreams](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/digitaldreams/32/16007_2.png) [@DigitalDreams](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/DigitalDreams)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 1:23pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/why-did-you-get-a-uconsole/21793/11 "2026-03-10T13:23:49Z")
@Astrox CM5 lite, 16gb. Boots from a 1Tb Sandisk extreme pro microSD in 22 seconds (around 90MB/second). ---
**Author:** ![Codiator](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/codiator/32/15080_2.png) [@Codiator](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Codiator)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 1:25pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/why-did-you-get-a-uconsole/21793/12 "2026-03-10T13:25:32Z")
Indeed, on a CM5 I would also go for the 16 GB version. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Hotwire](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/mr.hotwire/32/14946_2.png) [@Mr.Hotwire](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Mr.Hotwire)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 2:57pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/why-did-you-get-a-uconsole/21793/13 "2026-03-10T14:57:19Z")
So, This is a very good question. My wife has asked many times “Why did you get (Insert Tool Name Here) ?). I spend a LOT of time traveling for work in remote places, I also have quite a few hobbies. Amateur Radio, Electronics, Network Privacy / Protection, Hobby Farmer, and I’m a “Career Student”. I am always reading and trying to learn something new to help make the OTHER things I do easier or integrated. The uConsole gives me access to 90% of the above when I am on the go. - I have a 512gb NVME drive with about 350 books that cover everything from electronics repair, sustainable living, farming, fabrication, novels, and networking. - I use (or try to use), the SDR for SW, numbers stations, local broadcasting and other SDR functions. - I use the wifi for the core networking, but also for sniffing my lodging for nefarious actors, and tunneling. - The ethernet works as a good firewall / router too. - I use the HDMI and a wireless keyboard / track pad along with a TV or monitor for obvious reasons. I could use a laptop, and I do. But I dont always have room or the weight allowance for a separate laptop, Radio, and reference documentation. This solves that issue. ---
**Author:** ![Codiator](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/codiator/32/15080_2.png) [@Codiator](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Codiator)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 3:37pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/why-did-you-get-a-uconsole/21793/14 "2026-03-10T15:37:24Z")
Please show us your collections, as I like to take screenshots of other members’ devices in forums and Facebook groups to show my wife that there are worse cases than me… 😁 ---
**Author:** ![zamuz](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/zamuz/32/10367_2.png) [@zamuz](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/zamuz)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 5:17pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/why-did-you-get-a-uconsole/21793/15 "2026-03-10T17:17:21Z")
For me it’s a toy that perfectly fits my adult life: it’s portable, it’s a Linux computer, didn’t break the bank, allows for a great amount of tinkering, good for retro gaming, and I can use it for 90% of the work I do. It’s like someone designed a device specifically for me. ---
**Author:** ![Chris\_McIntosh](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/chris_mcintosh/32/15755_2.png) [@Chris\_McIntosh](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Chris_McIntosh)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 6:40pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/why-did-you-get-a-uconsole/21793/16 "2026-03-10T18:40:11Z")
It’s mostly a toy. I tell myself I want to use it for sigint, but so far I’ve only setup kismet to find flock cameras and I haven’t even tested if it actually works. ---
**Author:** ![Chris\_McIntosh](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/chris_mcintosh/32/15755_2.png) [@Chris\_McIntosh](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Chris_McIntosh)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 6:41pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/why-did-you-get-a-uconsole/21793/17 "2026-03-10T18:41:53Z")
How are you using it for amateur radio? Id like to try to listen to ham broadcasts but I don’t know enough yet to listen in ---
**Author:** ![DigitalDreams](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/digitaldreams/32/16007_2.png) [@DigitalDreams](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/DigitalDreams)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 6:52pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/why-did-you-get-a-uconsole/21793/18 "2026-03-10T18:52:48Z")
Make and model of NVMe ?. Have you slowed it to Gen2 ?, notice a change in battery life ? ---
**Author:** ![white-round-square](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/white-round-square/32/10385_2.png) [@white-round-square](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/white-round-square)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 6:59pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/why-did-you-get-a-uconsole/21793/19 "2026-03-10T18:59:46Z")
> [@Chris\_McIntosh](#): > > How are you using it for amateur radio? you can connect with random weirdos around the world and exchange tags/postcards and then be very cool _(you can do it even with ISS while it still around)_ > **[eQSL.cc - The Electronic QSL Card Centre](https://www.eqsl.cc/qslcard/Index.cfm)** > > The Electronic QSL Card Centre ---
**Author:** ![Chris\_McIntosh](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/chris_mcintosh/32/15755_2.png) [@Chris\_McIntosh](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Chris_McIntosh)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2026, 10:23pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/why-did-you-get-a-uconsole/21793/20 "2026-03-10T22:23:27Z")
Don’t have my technician yet. was hoping to just snoop first [Next page](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/why-did-you-get-a-uconsole/21793.md?page=2)