It has been a few years since installing my network backboard. Since then, I've made a few updates.
Gear changes
- I relocated my Apple TV HD from the backboard to my living room, since I now I have a TV. The Apple TV still functions as my HomeKit hub.
- I added a MikroTik hAP AC2 to operate as my network router, replacing my hAP AC Lite.
- I added an Arris cable modem, replacing my hAP AC Lite WISP strategy
- I added a CyberPower UPS to the backboard.
- I added a custom-built 12v DC power system, used to power my router, modem, and doorbell:
- I added a voltage boost converter so I could power the Ring doorbell with a 12VDC power supply. My Ring wants about 14VDC minimum.
- I removed the less efficient 16.5 VAC transformer that previously powered the Ring
In all, my backboard is consuming about 24 watts of power, which includes powering these devices:
- MikroTik hAP AC2 router
- PoE gigabit switch (with attached MikroTik Cap AC access point)
- HD HomeRun TV Tuner (2 tuner version)
- Arris SB6190 cable modem
- Ring Wired video doorbell
Future Plans
I plan to add storage to my network backboard for TimeMachine backups. I hope to power this with the existing 12V bus, and to have the hAP AC2 make it available to the network. An alternative will be to use an old Apple Airport Extreme to operate as my Time Machine backup server.