ARA Ethernet Router Module (+ PoE Injector) for a world of 60GHZ

[Garrett Kinsman]

Not sure if this has been talked about, but I'd like to give it a different spin:

ARA Power over Ethernet Injector (PoE). 

Part of my disappointment in the screen not being removable is all of the cool things that could replace the screen. (I understand the engineering challenges in true modularity and that this is the best compromise for now). But moving forward we can replace the screen with some very interesting hardware.

PoE router:

The first thing that comes to mind is a PoE injector to power a wireless radio. This would enable ARA to act as the perfect router for Internet Infrastructure. Another thread talks about this exactly. I'm more focused on the exact hardware that would enable anyone (Even children) to build these wireless networks. An ethernet module with a series of ethernet ports would make it super east for anyone to build infrastructure. Android is the perfect platform for programming wireless radios like Ubiquity's Nanostation, or Siklu 600 radios. Anyone can point and keep a radio powered up, or plug in an ethernet cable, it's the software that poses challenges. I think a small android powered ethernet router would help greatly. 

"Well why not use OpenWRT" they say? While OpenWRT is great, Android can run apps, and these apps will be the future of the Internet, especially when such hardware is deployed in remote regions like rural india and Africa. These ARA routers can host files, run apps, and run virtual desktop environments. 

USB-C can pump out up to 100W, unfortunately we can't easily fit a proper power supply/thermal to power 24V radios in a small module. We need something the size of a screen to adapt to these requirements. 

As Google begins deploying Loons and 60GHz "Fiber" applications. A small, low cost router, connected to existing antennas will help anyone build this infrastructure. Even children should be able to set this up. Here's an antenna google is rumored to be testing for it's wireless fiber applications. Some believe this was behind its WebPass Acquisition: 

I want to take this technology to India. But in order for it to reach 1.3 billion people, it has to be ridiculously easy to deploy. Costs also must come down.

Solar charge controller with 24v PoE out:

To power this complete setup requires off-grid power in many locations. Enabling these ARA devices to be powered by solar, or even better; Manage solar charging. Again this requires a large heatsink and transformer. This could be fit into the size of a screen, being an Inch or so thick with shiny aluminum heatsink fins. It would look awesome. 

This would connect to a battery and let people easily deploy remote IP relays and manage battery and solar status from anywhere in the world.

Together, a solar charge controller and PoE router would enable anyone to easily set up and manage wireless and energy infrastructure for the next 4 billion. Also experimenting with economic models for this, but that's for another article. 

Would've to hear your thoughts about ARA as a PoE router and charge controller.