At DTV Electronics, we believe you shouldn’t have to compromise between power, flexibility, and efficiency. That’s why we built the CmRat v2.8, a compact carrier board that’s meant to be more than just a single-purpose device. It’s for makers, developers, and those who want real hardware freedom.

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👉 Read the CmRat v2.8 Full Review on the DTV Electronics ₿log https://dtvelectronics.com/cmrat-v2-8-review/

What is the CmRat?

The CmRat is a modular compute platform: a carrier board that supports swappable compute modules, native NVMe storage, microSD, PoE (Power over Ethernet), and more. Think of it like a server, media center, or node, shrunk down and made more customizable. With CmRat v2.8, you pick which compute module, storage, and how you want to enclose it — barebones if you want to build your own, or with our CNC aluminum case if you want something ready to go.

Key specs:

Feature	Specification
Compute Module	Supports Raspberry Pi CM5, CM4, Radxa CM3, CM5 Lite, Milk-V Mars, etc.
Memory	Ranges from 4 GB to 16 GB depending on the module selected
Storage	NVMe 2280 SSD + microSD card; modules with onboard eMMC storage supported
Connectivity	Gigabit Ethernet (with PoE), USB-C, HDMI output, etc.
Power Consumption	~10-15 W under load, lower when idle
Case Options	Bare carrier board or CNC machined aluminum enclosure
Size & Weight	Approx 12 × 5.5 × 3 cm; light without bulky power supplies

Setup & Experience

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👉 Read the CmRat v2.8 Full Review on the DTV Electronics ₿log https://dtvelectronics.com/cmrat-v2-8-review/

Out of the Box

Buy CmRat v2.8 as a barebones kit or “complete” with compute module and storage. If you go barebones, you’ll need to source the NVMe SSD, the microSD card (if needed), and the compute module yourself. If you order the full setup, everything comes ready to assemble including the aluminum case, power adapters, and required accessories.

Booting Up

After securing the NVMe drive in its slot and inserting or enabling the compute module, the system can boot from:

• The module’s internal storage (eMMC)

• The NVMe drive

• Or a microSD, depending on module capabilities

We recommend using eMMC or NVMe for better speed and reliability. Then you flash your OS of choice — maybe UmbrelOS for a self-hosting setup (Bitcoin node, privacy tools, etc.), or RasPi OS, DietPi, or whatever suits your project.

There’s a “boot mode” switch to make flashing easier via USB-C. Once you flash, set it back to “OS boot” mode, connect Ethernet (or PoE), power up, and follow the setup wizard via browser.

Real-World Performance

In our tests with the Raspberry Pi CM5 (8 GB module) plus a good quality NVMe SSD:

• Idle temperatures held around 30-40°C; under load (e.g. syncing a blockchain or compiling) climbed toward 45-50°C, but thermal throttling was not observed

• Power draw stayed low: about 10-15 W under moderate load

• The system feels snappy: apps launch quick, and multitasking works well

Noise is minimal — with solid aluminum casing and optional fan / heatsink add-ons, CmRat stays quiet even running 24/7.

What’s Good, What’s Tricky

Some of the strengths:

• Modularity: you choose the compute module, storage, and enclosure. Upgrades are possible without replacing the whole unit.

• Value: for what you get (NVMe, PoE, choice of module, case), the cost is solid, especially compared to locked-down consumer devices.

• Open source friendliness: software compatibility is broad, and we try to support many compute modules and operating systems.

Some challenges:

• Flashing eMMC can be a bit more technical than using a microSD; users need to follow steps carefully, especially with switching boot modes.

• For less common compute modules, OS support can lag, or require manual adjustments.

• Thermal performance depends on environment; in warm rooms or under heavy continuous load, additional cooling may be helpful.

Use Cases

Here are things the CmRat shines at:

• Self-hosting: Bitcoin / Lightning node, local file servers, VPN or proxy, etc.

• Home media center or Plex-like setups.

• Developer workstation for lightweight computing, IoT gateway, edge computing.

• Lab or testbed device — because of the modularity, you can swap modules or storage as your needs grow.

Why It Matters

In a market full of black box devices, we wanted to build something open, flexible, and accessible. CmRat v2.8 gives users the ability to tinker, upgrade, and make their own stack. It lowers the barrier for running powerful, always-on services in a small, efficient package.

If you’re interested, check out the specs and order options at dtvelectronics.com. And if you've got ideas or run into quirks, our community is always around to help.

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👉 Buy the CmRat with BTC on the DTV Electronics Store (Worldwide) 🌍 https://dtvelectronics.com/store/

👉 Read the CmRat v2.8 Full Review on the DTV Electronics ₿log https://dtvelectronics.com/cmrat-v2-8-review/