I came across this small Ethernet switch from BotBlox and these guys were really getting embedded Ethernet right. They kindly provided me a kit to play with and here are some initial thoughts.

We all have had those projects, where computing has to be mobile and preferably in custom casing containing Ethernet connected equipment(s). That pelicase gets selected by the dimensions of various gears and those 'smallest' Ethernet switches has always been 'netgear or zyxel', like we all know.

Trouble begins from their DC input requirements (typically 7.5 or 9 V) and off we go for DC/DC converters with those. Then there is this supply chain, you need to source all of that stuff from Amazon at once - because your pelicase mounts cannot stand model changes over delivery time span.

Then you have to ignore Chinese firmware inside of those black box designs and actively try to discard an though how much that firmware could love your packets flowing in LAN segment. We all encrypt LAN with macsec anyway, right?

My thoughts on this has always been, this can be done better.

I don't repeat here all technical details about the switch, but give few noticeable points from my perspective.

• Works on wide voltage range, from 5 V up.
• It is really small
• Is provided with supply guarantee
• Some clever integration points provided by design (more on this later)
• And yes, it's PoE switch

This is typical use case, where MESH radio is connected to Full HD IP video camera and provides tactical video feed. Expanding to other LAN connected devices needs Ethernet switch and size & power supply becomes quickly an issue. Silvus can only provide 500 mA and it's tight for camera + bulky consumer switch.

Taking power from your soldier power system offloads your Silvus battery from supplying camera & LAN switch and allows you dedicate radio battery to it's primary function. This small Ethernet switch can supply 5 DC to Visual Engineering helmet camera and even act as PoE source for your other LAN devices.

Silvus 4200 and Visual Engineering helmet camera integration:

Later I will address some reticulum and Push-To-Talk (PTT) aspects with this design.