Insight: What Kind of “Radio” Is This? Understanding the New Raspberry Pi Radio Module 2

Insight: What Kind of “Radio” Is This? Understanding the New Raspberry Pi Radio Module 2

When Raspberry Pi Ltd announced the Radio Module 2—or RM2 for short—some makers got excited for all the wrong reasons. “Finally!” they thought. “A Pi-branded SDR? An FM tuner module?” Not quite. The name may conjure visions of antennae scanning shortwave bands, but that’s not what we’re dealing with here. The RM2 is a 2.4 GHz wireless communication module, built for Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth, not audio broadcasting.

To be clear: this isn’t software-defined radio (SDR). It’s not a ham radio receiver. It won’t tune your local FM station or help you build a police scanner. What it will do—and quite well—is bring wireless networking and device pairing to embedded Raspberry Pi–style projects that use chips like the RP2040. If you’ve ever used a Pico W or Pico 2 W, you’ve already benefited from the same chip. Now, you can buy it on its own for just $4.

Yes, Pico W and Pico 2 W Already Have This

Here’s where things get interesting. The RM2 is not something entirely new. It’s actually the same wireless module already soldered onto the Pico W and Pico 2 W boards. Raspberry Pi simply broke it out and made it available as a standalone component. That means if you're designing your own custom PCB around the RP2040 or RP2350 chips, you can now include the same Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth capability that made the Pico W so attractive.

This move shifts Raspberry Pi further into the component supplier space, not just as a board vendor. The foundation is essentially saying: “You want to build your own Pico W? Here’s the wireless part.”

Who Should Be Paying Attention?

If you're just beginning with Raspberry Pi or microcontrollers, the RM2 isn't your next buy. Stick with the Pico W. It's still the simplest, cleanest way to get wireless up and running. But if you’re designing your own hardware—even something as simple as a custom breakout board or a low-power IoT sensor—you now have access to the same Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth module Raspberry Pi trusts for its own boards.

This is especially relevant for:

• Intermediate users learning embedded design
• Engineers building ultra-compact wireless systems
• Educators teaching wireless microcontroller integration
• Makers working on a polished prototype for manufacturing

If you’re ready to solder small modules, wire up power and control lines, and flash firmware from scratch—this is a big step up in capability.

How Do You Actually Use It?

You don’t just plug it in and go. The RM2 connects to a host chip (like an RP2040) via SPI or SDIO, not USB. You’ll also need a handful of GPIO lines to manage power and communication. Raspberry Pi provides firmware called cyw43-driver to help your microcontroller talk to the chip and handle tasks like joining a Wi‑Fi network or advertising as a Bluetooth device.

You’ll typically mount this module onto a custom PCB, and you'll need to follow specific electrical design rules to get clean signal lines and reliable behavior. This isn’t for the faint of heart—but it’s also not out of reach. For a determined learner or hobbyist, it’s a challenge worth tackling.

If that sounds like too much, again, the Pico W and Pico 2 W are ready-made solutions that already have this module soldered on and working from day one.

What Could You Build With It?

Here’s where it gets fun. The RM2 opens the door to truly compact, power-conscious wireless designs. You could build a:

• Battery-powered weather station that uploads to the cloud every 30 minutes
• Custom Bluetooth tracker for tools or gear
• Tiny sensor node that integrates with Home Assistant or MQTT
• Low-cost classroom project where students solder and program their own wireless boards

Anything that benefits from Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth but doesn’t need a full-blown Linux OS can be a candidate. In a world full of massive boards and overbuilt gadgets, this little chip offers a return to tight, efficient design—if you’re up for the challenge.

If the name “Radio Module” had you dreaming of SDR or broadcast experiments, forgive the letdown—but also take note. This module is about talking, not tuning. It’s about giving small systems a voice on the wireless airwaves. And now that voice is available to anyone brave enough to design around it. 

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Written by Aaron Rose, software engineer and technology writer at Tech-Reader.blog.