Raspberry Pi CM4 TV Stick

Description

What can be better than Raspberry Pi 4B? Same SoC shaped into a board you need with Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4!
Raspberry Pi CM4 TV Stick plugs directly to HDMI port of your TV/monitor and needs only power via USB-C to let you:
- play retro games with RetroPie
- turn your monitor or TV into a Smart TV with Kodi
- take your Pi anywhere, no need to carry HDMI cable

Available for purchase at Makerfabs: https://www.makerfabs.com/raspberry-pi-cm4-tv-stick.html

Specs:
- compatible with Raspberry Pi CM4 eMMC and no-eMMC
- HDMI plug
- micro SD card connector
- USB-C connector
- Two USB2.0 USB-A connectors
- IR receiver
- User button (also acts as boot select for eMMC flashing)
- USB multiplexer selector switch: enable 2xUSB-A ports or CM4 USB device mode
- Power and Act LEDs
- 14 GPIOs, as well as GND, 5V and 3.3V solder pads in reverse side of PCB for hacking

Project Logs

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Everything is better with LEDs
mbs • 08/17/2021 at 14:22 • 0 comments

WS2812 LED strip arrived and after some soldering works nicely
Next will be testing WS2801
Pre-production boards
mbs • 08/14/2021 at 00:40 • 0 comments

Pre-production boards have arrived!
Time to test ambilight connector.

Testing

mbs • 07/31/2021 at 21:34 • 0 comments

Tested built in IR receiver and to a big surprise it can receive signal despite of being behind TV and looking towards the wall.

pi@raspberrypi:~ $ irw
00000000e0e0e01f 00 KEY_VOLUMEUP remote
00000000e0e0e01f 01 KEY_VOLUMEUP remote
00000000e0e0d02f 00 KEY_VOLUMEDOWN remote
00000000e0e0d02f 01 KEY_VOLUMEDOWN remote
00000000e0e0e01f 00 KEY_VOLUMEUP remote
00000000e0e0d02f 00 KEY_VOLUMEDOWN remote
00000000e0e020df 00 BTN_1 remote
00000000e0e0e01f 00 KEY_VOLUMEUP remote
00000000e0e0d02f 00 KEY_VOLUMEDOWN remote
00000000e0e020df 00 BTN_1 remote
00000000e0e0d02f 00 KEY_VOLUMEDOWN remote
00000000e0e0e01f 00 KEY_VOLUMEUP remote

Also tested with eMMC version of CM4 for flashing.
To enter eMMC programming mode:

USB multiplexer selector switch to USB-C position
Press and hold User Button
Connect USB-C cable
Release User Button
Follow software procedure

Still have to think how and where to fit connector or solder pads for Ambilight...

View all 3 project logs

Discussions

Vineel Davuluri wrote 05/12/2024 at 23:18

hi can I buy this. I am in Australia

Are you sure? yes | no

mcwargo wrote 09/30/2021 at 20:34

Not to put too fine of a point on it, but today happens to be the last day of September. Would appreciate an update on your plans to produce this bad-boy ...

- Mark

Are you sure? yes | no

mbs wrote 11/04/2021 at 00:16

Hi and thank you for following project. I just finished shipping adapters for Coral Dual Edge TPU, my another project, and think that November 12 is a good day to start Pi TV Stick sales on https://mbs-shop.online/

Are you sure? yes | no

Moshe Dahan wrote 08/24/2021 at 07:46

Great project! Can't wait to get one of those as well.
I personally would like to test it with Android TV for RPi.

One request I would ask as far as the design, I think a version with only 1 x USB-A and an RJ45 for wired network instead of the other USB-A connector would be a great option!!

It is also better to opt in for a wired connection vs a wireless if available! With BT keyboards, mouse and gamepads, you need less USB-A connectors.

Good luck!

Are you sure? yes | no

Morphy99 wrote 08/25/2021 at 15:00

+1 for the ethernet port!

Are you sure? yes | no

mbs wrote 08/30/2021 at 01:13

@Moshe Dahan @Morphy99 that can be a nice option.

Can anyone promise next feature request won't be PoE? :)

Are you sure? yes | no

paulo-sargaco-dxc wrote 08/06/2021 at 10:54

If the plug was at a 90 degree angle it would be less of a strain on the HDMI female on the TV by reducing the leverage. It would also reduce the projection of the board, allowing for the TV to be hanged on the wall.

Are you sure? yes | no

goddade wrote 08/05/2021 at 06:47

A fixed plug will cause many TVs to not have enough space to plug in.

Are you sure? yes | no

mbs wrote 08/05/2021 at 10:05

That's true, I thought about it. Same time adding flex part turns it from TV Stick to something what is less capable and more expensive than Pi 4B. In case someone really likes form factor, but can't fit TV, I'll look into options for a short flex

Are you sure? yes | no

goddade wrote 08/05/2021 at 18:51

It would be better to use a plug with short wire.

Are you sure? yes | no

Morphy99 wrote 08/25/2021 at 15:04

You can get short HDMI female to male cables for next to nothing. Amazon's Fire Stick has the same form factor however it's a lot thinner which is fine for plugging in direct to the TV via the side HDMI ports. This board would also block adjacent ports plugged in direct.

Are you sure? yes | no

Ryan wrote 08/05/2021 at 06:24

Could you give me a link to where i could buy all the needed materials.

Are you sure? yes | no

mbs wrote 08/05/2021 at 10:01

I'm going to make it available for purchase in September.

Are you sure? yes | no

Ryan wrote 08/05/2021 at 20:57

ok how much would it be?

Are you sure? yes | no

mbs wrote 08/06/2021 at 11:04

With all expenses I can foresee at the moment, price should be $35 shipped

Are you sure? yes | no

Aidan Cubley wrote 08/05/2021 at 00:54

What market is this for? I know the Euro TV standard is different from the US.

Are you sure? yes | no

mbs wrote 08/05/2021 at 09:59

It should work with any HDMI TV or monitor, just like Raspberry Pi 4B

"TV Stick" refers to the way it's connected, there is no TV RF-input and region specific circuitry

Are you sure? yes | no

Aidan Cubley wrote 08/05/2021 at 15:15

Scratching my head wondering where the dang plug was...

Are you sure? yes | no

Timo Birnschein wrote 08/04/2021 at 18:39

This is an amazing project!

I'd love to see this adapted into an iPad Pro companion in USB Gadget Mode.

Are you sure? yes | no

mbs wrote 08/04/2021 at 19:28

Hi and thanks for feedback. There is another "proto-companion" here: https://hackaday.io/project/180420-rpi-cm4-carrier-with-m2-key-a

What features do you think would make ideal iPad companion?

Are you sure? yes | no

Mike Szczys wrote 07/30/2021 at 15:21

Wow, that is awesome! Looks a bit heavy to be hanging off the port on the back of a TV ;-)

What do you think of the design so far? Any plans to release details on how to build your own?

Are you sure? yes | no

mbs wrote 07/30/2021 at 17:58

- looks heavy, but actual weight is only 46g including CM4 and slim heatsink with fasteners

- design is mostly finished, I'm only thinking of adding some handy pins for ambilight, as was suggested on Twitter. However, "last minute bright ideas" are welcome

- I'm setting up supply chain to start selling the boards in September

Are you sure? yes | no

Mike Szczys wrote 07/30/2021 at 20:43

Oooh, an Ambilight setup would be a huge value-add to this. Neat!

Good luck with everything!

Are you sure? yes | no

smartroad wrote 08/12/2021 at 06:49

Last minute bright idea: M.2 drive? Hehe

Are you sure? yes | no

mbs wrote 08/12/2021 at 11:37

@smartroad adding m.2 slot is easy, but I decided to keep PCB bottom side flat, as m.2 connector and 3D printed case might cause clearance issues on some TVs.

However, there is a place for m.2 connector in a future projects :)

Are you sure? yes | no

Raspberry Pi CM4 TV Stick

Description

Project Logs

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Everything is better with LEDs

Pre-production boards

Testing

Discussions

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Raspberry Pi CM4 TV Stick

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Testing

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