Since I wanted to have both Ethernet and KVM in a single uConsole, I decided to make a prototype board for a second expansion card slot.
Although it was intended to be a board with a single connector and two traces, it turned into something rather scary, but functional.
I use a CM5 adapter from HackerGadgets, as well as an expansion card with USB3 + Ethernet.
The expansion card has GPIO on board, which I made use of.
Currently, my uConsole has:
a CM5 Adapter from HackerGadgets, an Ethernet + USB3 expansion card, a KVM expansion card, an Airspy SDR, GPS, and LoRa.
For power, a 10,000 mAh battery is installed. For convenient rebooting, a miniature relay (normally closed) and a reed switch are installed — now I can reboot the device by bringing a magnet close to it.
Power to all devices can be controlled using a script from AIOv2 (thanks to Vileer).
Thanks as well to Vileer for the tip on connecting LoRa.
I am still waiting for a shipment with the RF connector board, so the antennas are not connected yet.
It still looks scary, at least because I was too lazy to make a proper PCB and used a knife instead. I also used whatever was at hand.
Main mistakes:
1. A double-sided board is needed.
2. The board really should be manufactured properly, and the USB hub should be placed on it as well.
3. All transistors should be SMD
4. I soldered wires from my board directly to the GPIO pins — instead, an adapter with spring contacts should be made, or a ribbon cable and the GPIO contacts on the motherboard should be used.
