WanderRouter Ultra (Satellite) — Full Spec
Device ID: WV-NET-ROUTER-ULTRA Family: WanderRouter · Tier: Ultra (flagship — satellite, rugged, mobile, off-grid, emergency-ready) Chassis: Large-Rugged (new — IP54 variant of Pro v2 Large chassis + reinforced mounting) Status: spec v1.0 · SOP v2 compressed · NEW SKU added 2026-04-24 per Michael's direction Ship target: 2028-Q1 (90 days after Pro v2 launch — shares 70% BOM) Parent spec: ../router_pro_v2/WANDERROUTER-PRO-V2-SPEC.md — this doc captures the Ultra-specific delta
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Brief
WanderRouter Ultra is Pro v2 + satellite internet support + rugged/mobile deployment + emergency-readiness. The single most capable router in the WanderVerse catalog.
Why it exists: 1. Satellite internet is the only reliable connectivity for rural, remote, and mobile deployments. Starlink has 3M+ US subscribers in 2026; Amazon Kuiper shipping in 2026-Q4; OneWeb and Viasat continue growing. Users who depend on satellite want a router that treats it as a first-class WAN, not a foreign appliance behind a double-NAT. 2. HAVEN mobile safehouse deployments need a sovereign network that works whether they set up in a building with fiber or a vehicle parked at an off-grid site. 3. RV / expedition / van-life populations overlap heavily with the WanderVerse audience (LGBTQ+ travelers, queer digital nomads, HAVEN mission partners operating across jurisdictions). 4. Emergency / disaster preparedness — a router that stays up when terrestrial internet fails, that you can carry in a Pelican case, that runs on 12V car power or solar, is a legitimate household resilience investment. 5. Starlink's own router is proprietary and cannot integrate with WanderVerse ecosystem. Buyers using Starlink today have to choose between Starlink's gateway features and everything-else. Ultra fixes that.
Who it's for:
- Rural / remote households on Starlink
- HAVEN safehouses (mobile + permanent) requiring satellite + terrestrial redundancy
- RV / van-life / digital-nomad households (often queer, often high-privacy-need)
- Emergency-prep households wanting a deployable sovereign network
- Expedition / scientific deployments in remote locations
- Small nonprofits operating in disaster-response contexts
- WanderVerse Mission Partners deploying in regions with weak terrestrial internet
- Event producers (LGBTQ+ festivals, Pride events, community retreats) needing pop-up private networks
Target price: $1,999 (base Ultra) → $3,499 (full options with Starlink Gen 3 Mini kit + mmWave 5G + UPS 8-hour + redundant PSU + Lux cover).
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Platform architecture (delta from Pro v2)
Satellite integration
Primary path: Starlink via Ethernet passthrough + API
- Starlink Gen 3 terminal (user-supplied OR bundled in kit) connects to Ultra via dedicated WAN3 port (2.5G RJ45)
- Ultra handles routing, firewall, VPN, everything — Starlink terminal is in "Bypass Mode" (built-in Starlink router disabled, Ethernet passes through to Ultra)
- Ultra queries Starlink local API (
http://192.168.100.1:9200) for terminal status, data usage, obstruction detection, signal quality
- WanderOS surfaces Starlink health alongside terrestrial WAN status
Secondary path: native satellite modem (2028+ option)
- M.2 B-key slot repurposable for future satellite modems (Swarm M138, Iridium, Kuiper when available)
- Low-bandwidth emergency fallback when Starlink is obstructed or offline
Tertiary: cellular 5G — primary modem Telit FN990Axx (Perplexity-validated 2026-04-24: AT&T + FirstNet + T-Mobile + Verizon all carrier-certified explicit). Quectel RM520N-GL available as alternate.
Multi-WAN intelligence
Ultra has 4 WAN paths in priority order:
1. Terrestrial fiber/cable (Ethernet WAN1 — primary when available) 2. Starlink (WAN2 — primary in rural/mobile, failover in urban) 3. 5G cellular (WAN3 — mid-range failover, especially mobile) 4. LoRa / Iridium emergency (WAN4 — text-only, emergency comms only)
WanderOS runs active-active load balancing with per-application policy:
- Video calls → Starlink (low latency, prioritized)
- Bulk downloads → terrestrial when available, Starlink otherwise
- Emergency messages → always Iridium/LoRa if available
- Tor traffic → prefers terrestrial, avoids satellite (some Tor circuits fail over satellite due to latency)
Ruggedization
IP54 enclosure variant (vs Pro v2's indoor-only):
- Sealed case with silicone gaskets on all panels
- Filtered intake on 80 mm fan
- Weatherproof rear I/O shroud
- Rated -20°C to +55°C (vs Pro v2's 0-40°C)
- Shock/vibration tested to IEC 60068-2-27 (basic transport qual)
- Mounting options: desktop, rack (1U-1.5U), wall-mount, vehicle-mount, pelican-case-insert
Power flexibility
Triple-input PSU:
- 12V DC direct (vehicle / solar / battery)
- 24V DC direct (higher-efficiency solar arrays)
- 100-240V AC (standard mains)
- Automatic source selection with redundancy (AC fails over to DC and vice versa)
- Built-in MPPT for direct solar input (no external charge controller needed)
Integrated UPS (standard, not optional):
- LiFePO4 cell pack, 4-hour base / 8-hour extended / 16-hour hot-swap-supplemented
- Sustains Starlink terminal (~75W peak) + Ultra (~40W) for the rated duration
- Cell pack is user-replaceable (6-bolt access, no soldering)
Vehicle / mobile integration
- CAN bus input (via MCP2518FD + TJA1463 per
_HARDWARE-TOOLCHAIN.md automotive reference menu) — for RV integration (battery SoC monitoring, ignition-triggered wake, engine-run detection)
- GPS always-on (in addition to 5G modem GNSS) — dedicated u-blox M10 chip for location-based routing + HAVEN safe-zone detection
- Tilt / orientation sensor (ICM-42688-P IMU) — detects van movement, triggers travel-mode profile
- Ignition-sense input — auto-wake when vehicle starts, auto-sleep when vehicle parks-off for >6 hours
- Emergency SOS button (optional hardware button on front OR integrated with WanderBand wrist device) — triggers HAVEN alert + Iridium message + location broadcast
Emergency comms (HAVEN integration)
- LoRa mesh relay (platform, not optional like on other tiers) — Heltec LoRa32 or equivalent, integrated via PCIe
- Iridium SBD modem (optional) — Short Burst Data for emergency-only messaging when everything else fails
- Mesh-network bridge — Ultra can act as a node in the WanderMesh LoRa software layer (separate product), extending safety mesh range
- LoRa stack: Meshtastic for community mesh + ChirpStack for HAVEN private backhaul (validated Perplexity 2026-04-24 as the right split — Meshtastic green for community, ChirpStack green for self-hosted safety network, The Things Network yellow for HAVEN use case due to less deterministic ownership)
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Feature inventory (Ultra delta vs Pro v2)
Satellite-specific
- Starlink Gen 3 Ethernet passthrough + API integration ✅
- Starlink "Bypass Mode" auto-configuration at setup ✅
- Starlink usage metering + data-cap alerts ✅
- Starlink obstruction visualization ✅
- Amazon Kuiper support (when available, 2026-Q4+) ✅ future
- OneWeb / Viasat Ethernet bridges ✅ (passthrough compat)
- Iridium SBD emergency modem ✅ opt
Power / resilience
- 12V DC input ✅
- 24V DC input ✅
- AC input ✅ (all three simultaneously available)
- MPPT for direct solar ✅
- Integrated UPS (LiFePO4) — base 4-hour ✅
- UPS 8-hour extended option ✅
- UPS 16-hour with hot-swap supplement ✅ opt
- Redundant PSU ✅ opt
Ruggedization
- IP54 sealed enclosure ✅
- -20°C to +55°C operation ✅
- IEC 60068-2-27 shock qual ✅
- Vehicle/rack/wall/pelican mounting options ✅
Mobile / vehicle
- Dedicated GPS (u-blox M10) ✅
- IMU for movement detection ✅
- CAN bus input (RV integration) ✅
- Ignition-sense auto-wake/sleep ✅
- Travel-mode firmware profile (auto-selected when moving) ✅
- Per-location network profiles ✅ (remembers home vs. travel sites)
Emergency / HAVEN
- LoRa mesh relay (platform, not optional) ✅
- Iridium SBD ✅ opt
- SOS button input ✅
- WanderMesh integration ✅
All Pro v2 features inherited ✅.
eSIM + multi-carrier + travel (Ultra-tier upgrade)
- Premium eUICC chip (IDEMIA / Thales): 10 profiles default, 20 opt (+$20 retail) — for digital nomads / mobile-living
- Airalo + Holafly + Nomad + Saily + Flexiroam API integrations — load country-specific eSIMs one-tap
- GPS-aware travel-mode auto-switching — cross a border, router offers local eSIM
- Emergency "any-available-carrier" mode — critical for HAVEN mobile / remote / disaster deployments
- IMEI rotation per-profile (privacy option for high-risk identity users)
- eSIM migration — bring your loaded profiles when upgrading Standard-5G → Ultra via SGP.22
- See
../_ESIM-MULTI-CARRIER.md for full architecture
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BOM-platform (Ultra additions over Pro v2 base)
| Component | Part | Qty | Price 1k |
|---|
| **Pro v2 base platform** | (reused) | — | $759 |
| Dedicated WAN3 port (Starlink) | extra RTL8261N + magjack | 1 | $5.50 |
| Premium eUICC (multi-profile, 10-slot) | IDEMIA Essential eUICC | 1 | $5 |
| Starlink cable kit | 50ft SPX + adapter + mounting | 1 | $38 (bundled separate if user has own cable) |
| 12V DC input + protection | Schurter barrel + reverse-polarity MOSFET + SMBJ TVS + inrush | 1 | $14 |
| 24V DC input + protection | as above | 1 | $14 |
| MPPT solar controller | TI BQ24640 or equivalent | 1 | $18 |
| Source-selector OR-ing | TPS2121 redundant supply controller ×3 | 1 | $12 |
| LiFePO4 UPS base 4-hour | 4× 18650-size LiFePO4 cells + BMS + thermal mgmt | 1 | $65 |
| IP54 sealed enclosure (Large-Rugged variant) | extra CNC machining + silicone gaskets | 1 | +$25 over standard cover |
| Filtered fan intake | IP54-rated filter + housing | 1 | $4 |
| GPS receiver | u-blox M10 | 1 | $14 |
| GPS antenna | passive magnetic-mount | 1 | $8 |
| IMU | ICM-42688-P | 1 | $4 |
| LoRa module | Heltec LoRa32 v3 (integrated, platform) | 1 | $28 |
| LoRa antenna | 915 MHz 6 dBi | 1 | $6 |
| CAN bus transceiver + driver | MCP2518FD + TJA1463 + header | 1 | $8 |
| Ignition-sense opto-isolator | PC817 + protection | 1 | $1.50 |
| SOS button + indicator LED | sealed tactile + RGB LED | 1 | $4 |
| Extra thermal capacity | extra aluminum on PSU + UPS sections | 1 | $6 |
| **Ultra platform subtotal delta** | | | **+$280** |
Pro v2 base ($759) + Ultra delta ($280) = ~$1,039 FOB platform.
Retail floor: $1,999 → gross margin 48%. Good.
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BOM-modules (Ultra-specific)
| Module | Part(s) | Price 1k | Axis | Retail delta |
|---|
| Iridium SBD modem | RockBlock 9603 or Iridium 9603N | +$260 | emergency_comms | +$450 |
| mmWave 5G | M.2 B-key mmWave modem (future Quectel) | +$180 | cellular | +$340 |
| UPS 8-hour | 2× cell packs | +$85 | ups | +$180 |
| UPS 16-hour hot-swap | 4× cell packs + hot-swap dock | +$180 | ups | +$380 |
| Redundant PSU | 2nd AC PSU | +$65 | reliability | +$120 |
| Vehicle-mount kit | aluminum rails + vibration isolators + 12V harness | +$45 | mount | +$85 |
| Pelican-case insert | custom foam + hardware | +$35 | mount | +$65 |
| Rack-mount ears 1.5U | aluminum ears | +$12 | mount | +$25 |
| Starlink Gen 3 Mini kit bundle | full Starlink kit bundled | +$499 (cost) | satellite_bundle | +$599 (Ultra + Starlink kit combo) |
| External LoRa antenna upgrade | 10 dBi omni | +$28 | lora_antenna | +$50 |
| Lux Expedition cover | Hand-finished + rugged leather accents + brass | +$280 | enclosure_cover | +$550 |
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Configurator axes (Ultra adds 8 to Pro v2's 19)
Pro v2 axes 1-19 inherited. Additional:
20. Starlink bundle: no / Gen 3 Mini kit bundled ($599 retail delta) / bring-your-own terminal 21. Iridium SBD emergency modem: no / yes 22. UPS duration: 4-hour (std) / 8-hour / 16-hour hot-swap 23. Mount kit: desktop / vehicle / pelican-case / rack 1.5U 24. Vehicle integration: disabled / CAN bus + ignition-sense active 25. External LoRa antenna: standard / 10 dBi omni upgrade 26. mmWave 5G: no / yes (req. Pro v2's Sub-6 5G also) 27. Rugged enclosure finish: Standard CNC sealed / Pro rugged brushed / Lux Expedition (leather + brass Ambassador)
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Example configurations
| Config | Axes | Retail |
|---|
| **Rural household** (BYO Starlink) | Ultra base, 4hr UPS, no mmWave, desktop mount, std cover | **$1,999** |
| **Starlink kit bundle** | + Starlink Gen 3 Mini kit | **$2,598** |
| **RV / van-life** | + vehicle mount + CAN bus + GPS active + 8hr UPS | **$2,399** |
| **Expedition / fieldwork** | + 16hr UPS + Solar + Pelican mount + Iridium SBD | **$2,899** |
| **HAVEN mobile safehouse** | + redundant PSU + Iridium + external LoRa + 16hr UPS + Pro cover | **$3,099** |
| **Remote off-grid** | + Starlink bundle + Solar + 16hr UPS + Lux Expedition cover | **$3,799** |
| **Disaster-response command** | + Starlink + Iridium + redundant PSU + 16hr UPS + mmWave | **$3,499** |
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Compatibility highlights (Stage 3 delta)
- WAN3 dedicated Starlink port — MAC/GMAC allocation: Pro v2's 4× LAN + 2× SFP+ + 1× mgmt uses 7 MACs; Ultra needs a 8th for Starlink WAN. Resolves by repurposing one of the PCIe lanes for an extra RTL8261N PHY connected to a spare GMAC on the SoM.
- Power-source OR-ing with 3 inputs (AC/12V/24V) — TPS2121 controllers in cascade, Stage-5 Flux.ai simulation for switchover dynamics (must be <20ms for Starlink terminal to not drop)
- LiFePO4 cell pack thermal — needs 1.5× more thermal budget than Li-ion at equivalent capacity; LiFePO4 is safer + longer-cycle but bigger; fits in Large-Rugged chassis
- IP54 vs active cooling — filtered intake on 80mm fan preserves IP54 rating; filter change interval documented (6-12 months depending on environment)
- GPS antenna active vs passive — spec passive for simplicity; Stage-6 RF validation that GPS works behind aluminum (aluminum blocks GPS; antenna must be external via SMA bulkhead or window-mount cable)
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Compliance delta
- FCC Part 15 B/C + Part 22/24/27 (cellular) + Part 15 C for LoRa (915 MHz) — multi-radio co-existence Stage-6 test
- UL 62368-1 (mains connection + battery) — mandatory
- UN38.3 (LiFePO4 shipping — applies because UPS is integrated)
- IC RSS-210 (Canada radio)
- EN 50581 (RoHS energy)
- CE / UKCA / ISED / ACMA (Australia) — all standard
- IP54 cert (Ingress Protection) — IEC 60529 test at accredited lab
- IEC 60068-2-27 (shock/vibration) — test at environmental lab
- FCC TCB certification for Iridium (if shipped with modem)
- Starlink as a device — no separate cert (it's user-supplied equipment or our bundled-but-not-modified Starlink product)
Cert budget delta: +$30-45k over Pro v2. Total Ultra cert program: $70-120k. High but amortized over $1,999-$3,799 retail.
LiFePO4 UPS cert burden (Perplexity-validated 2026-04-24): integrated ~100Wh LiFePO4 pack requires:
- UN38.3 transport (~$3-5k + ~4-6 weeks)
- IEC 62133 cell/battery safety (~$5-10k + ~6-10 weeks)
- UL 2054 pack safety (~$5-8k + ~6 weeks)
- Subtotal: $15-25k battery-adjacent cert, 3-4 months
Amazon + Best Buy + major retailers accept LiFePO4 consumer products but expect documented transport + safety compliance + marketplace-specific logistics controls. Budget included in the $70-120k total.
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HW ↔ FW binding delta
- OpenWrt + WanderOS-Ultra overlay (superset of WanderOS-Pro)
- Starlink local-API integration (HTTP + gRPC to
192.168.100.1:9200)
- Multi-WAN priority engine with per-application routing (custom WanderOS code)
- GPS/IMU-driven travel-mode auto-switching
- CAN bus driver (MCP2518FD Linux driver — existing mainline)
- LoRa + Iridium drivers via WanderMesh software layer
- Power-source monitoring + automatic failover logic
- UPS cell-pack health + temperature monitoring
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Service flow delta
- All Pro v2 service flows apply
- Ultra-specific: battery pack replacement — user-DIY with 6 bolts (LiFePO4 safer than Li-ion for DIY), replacement packs in parts catalog
- IP54 gasket replacement — recommended every 5 years or after any cover removal; gasket kit in parts catalog
- Filter replacement — intake filter every 6-12 months; user-DIY 30 seconds
- Vehicle-install service — WanderVerse offers optional professional install for RV/van deployments ($300 service, Ambassador comes to your vehicle)
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Gate + timeline
- 2027-Q4: Pro v2 ships
- 2027-Q4: Ultra EVT starts (shares most Pro v2 validation, adds satellite + rugged + power-input + IP54 tests)
- 2028-Q1: Ultra DVT (cert cycle)
- 2028-Q2: Ultra first customer ship
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Differentiators
- Only consumer router purpose-built for satellite + terrestrial + cellular + emergency multi-WAN with active-active load balancing
- Only consumer device with triple-input power (AC + 12V + 24V + MPPT solar) + auto-failover
- Only consumer router with integrated LiFePO4 UPS + user-replaceable cell pack
- Only WanderVerse product with CAN bus input — brings RV-living into our ecosystem
- Only router with Starlink "Bypass Mode" auto-configuration + API integration (Starlink user community builds this by hand today; we make it one-tap)
- HAVEN-native emergency relay — LoRa + Iridium + WanderMesh integration
- IP54 + -20°C operation — deployable outdoors, in vehicles, in pelican cases — no consumer router does this
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Open items / risks
- Starlink TOS / API stability — SpaceX could change the local-API interface; WanderOS integration has a risk layer. Perplexity 2026-04-24: confirmed the 192.168.100.1:9200 interface is "community-used but not contractually documented by SpaceX. Treat as value-add, not core dependency." Mitigation: WanderOS handles "degraded mode" if API disappears (Ethernet passthrough still works, just without fancy monitoring). Core Ultra value (Starlink + terrestrial + cellular multi-WAN routing) works regardless of Starlink API.
- Starlink Gen 4 / successor — ship Ultra compatible with Ethernet passthrough so future Starlink terminals work regardless of API changes
- Kuiper availability — Amazon promises 2026-Q4 initial service; likely 2027 broader availability. Ultra ships with passthrough for Kuiper + any 3GPP-compatible satellite modem
- LiFePO4 supply chain — cells are commoditized but shipping regulations (UN38.3) add lead time
- IP54 cert labs — limited in US; may need EU lab for testing, adds 6-8 weeks to cert timeline
- Vehicle install liability — Ambassador-install-in-your-vehicle raises insurance questions; likely requires separate indemnification for Ambassadors doing this work. Mitigation: self-install first; professional install as optional premium service with proper insurance
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Summary
WanderRouter Ultra is the peak capability SKU in the WanderRouter family. It exists because (a) satellite internet is a permanent category now, (b) mobile / off-grid deployments are underserved by existing routers, (c) emergency preparedness is a legitimate consumer market, (d) HAVEN needs a product that works in every deployment scenario. $1,999 base → $3,799 Lux Expedition. Gross margin 48%+. Ships 2028-Q2.
This SKU, combined with Pro v2 / Standard / Bridge / Mini, gives WanderVerse a complete 6-SKU family covering every home networking use case from a $49 desk endpoint to a $3,799 expedition command post. Every SKU ambassador-assembled, platform+modular, repair-cultured, privacy-default, identity-aware. No other networking vendor ships this range.
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v1.1 AMENDMENTS — Dual-mode + Community Pool + Companion App (back-fix 2026-04-24)
Per ../_STANDALONE-AND-PLATFORM-INTEGRATION.md canonical principle (2026-04-24) and for feature parity with WanderBand v2.1 + WanderStore + WanderNode Hub v2, this spec now explicitly commits to dual-mode architecture + Community Pool integration + shipped companion apps. Most dual-mode posture inherits from Router Pro v2 parent spec; this section captures Ultra-specific satellite + rugged + mobile deltas.
Standalone + industry-integration + WanderVerse-native mode
Mode 1 — Standalone:
- Works with just: Router Ultra + any phone (iOS or Android) + at least one WAN source (Starlink / terrestrial / 5G / LoRa-text-only)
- Ultra-specific standalone features: Starlink Ethernet passthrough + local-API integration, multi-WAN priority intelligence (terrestrial → Starlink → 5G → LoRa emergency), IP54 rugged chassis, 12V car power + solar-assist input, LiFePO4 UPS 4-8 hour, RV/van-life vehicle mount, Pelican-case deployable form factor, satellite SOS button (hardware), mmWave 5G optional
- Setup: scan QR → BLE pair → configure via iOS/Android/web PWA; satellite wizard guides Starlink bypass-mode activation + multi-WAN priority config
- No cellular plan required to setup; no Starlink subscription required to use as terrestrial-only router
- All Mode 1 features from Router Pro v2 parent spec apply (SoM, Docker, BGP, NetFlow, Wi-Fi sensing, 10 GbE, NVMe RAID-1)
- Companion apps: iOS (App Store) + Android (Play Store) + web PWA on wanderverse.com
- No WanderVerse cloud required — all management is local even in mobile/off-grid deployments
Mode 2 — Industry-integrated (at or above industry standard):
- Starlink: integrates with local API at
192.168.100.1:9200 for signal, obstruction, data usage, reboot/stow/unstow telemetry; Starlink app remains usable for SpaceX-specific account management, our admin handles everything else
- Apple: HomeKit accessory, HomeKit Secure Video relay (even works over Starlink — HomeKit video traffic is routed locally where possible), Find My Network opt-in, Shortcuts, Wallet, Siri intents, Apple Silicon native Mac companion
- Google: Google Home scenes, Assistant, Matter controller, Satellite-SOS-like integration (Google Messages SOS over our LoRa fallback)
- Samsung: SmartThings scenes
- Home Assistant: first-class via MQTT + HTTP API + HA Discovery; HA Core runs as Docker container on Ultra; Starlink telemetry + multi-WAN state + UPS + LoRa activity all as HA entities
- Matter 1.3+: controller + Thread border router (via optional nRF52840)
- VPN: WireGuard, Tailscale, OpenVPN, ZeroTier, IPsec — client + server + site-to-site; Tailscale is natural fit for mobile deployments
- Cellular (5G): Telit FN990Axx Sub-6 + optional mmWave; AT&T + FirstNet + T-Mobile + Verizon carrier-certified; GSMA SGP.22 eSIM; Google Fi + major MVNO compat
- Satellite (future): M.2 B-key slot repurposable for Swarm M138, Iridium Certus, Amazon Kuiper modems when available
- Emergency comms: LoRa (Meshtastic-compatible), Iridium SBD (optional daughterboard), satellite SOS button
- NAS compat: SMB, NFS, AFP, Time Machine, WebDAV, iSCSI, S3-compatible (Docker MinIO)
- Media: Plex, Jellyfin, Emby, Navidrome, DLNA, hardware-accelerated transcoding
- pfSense / OPNsense: config-import tool (inherited from Pro v2)
- RV/overland compat: Winegard, Peplink, Pepwave, Cradlepoint — protocol-level compat for multi-WAN bonding patterns familiar to RV community
- What we MATCH: Peplink MAX Transit's multi-WAN bonding, Cradlepoint's enterprise cellular, Starlink router's native passthrough, Netgate/Protectli's firewall depth
- What we BEAT: everyone on integration (Starlink + cellular + LoRa + terrestrial + satellite-emergency in one box, no competitor); on Ambassador assembly (nobody); on 7-year parts (nobody); on open-source carrier board (nobody); on rugged IP54 + LiFePO4 UPS + 12V car power at consumer price point (nobody — closest is Peplink at $2,500+ without any of our features)
- What we lag (honest): we do NOT have Peplink's 10-year RV-community reputation (we're new to overland); we do NOT have SpaceX's Starlink app polish (we interoperate, we don't replace); we do NOT ship with a pre-activated Starlink kit at launch (bring-your-own — Starlink Gen 3 Mini is bundle-compatible)
Mode 3 — WanderVerse-native:
- WanderRouter Pro v2 / Standard / Bridge: Ultra can act as mobile satellite + home-fixed Pro v2 forms single WanderOS network across locations (user moves between home + van + HAVEN site with consistent identity + policies)
- WanderBand: RF-power auto-adjust + band-as-key + occupancy routing + panic-triggered LoRa-only mode + satellite-SOS button as backup panic channel when terrestrial + cellular are out
- WanderNode Hub: Ultra delegates Matter/Thread to Hub when paired; Ultra is preferred Matter controller for mobile/off-grid where Hub isn't deployed
- WanderCam / WanderBell / WanderLock: Ultra hosts local AI inference for object/face recognition on camera feeds (especially useful at HAVEN safehouses — no cloud exposure of vulnerable people)
- WanderVault: Ultra hosts encrypted backup target on NVMe RAID-1; LiFePO4 UPS keeps WanderVault up during power outage; satellite-delivered backup snapshot possible (low-bandwidth incremental)
- WanderSense: sensor aggregation + ML inference for mobile/off-grid deployments where Sense readings are critical (air quality, radiation, weather, intrusion)
- WanderCar: Ultra is CAR's preferred home-endpoint for Tailscale tunnel when parked; Ultra is also the SKU that rides IN the car/RV for van-life (different deployment, same SKU)
- WanderStation (HAVEN LoRa): Ultra is the default HAVEN mobile-safehouse gateway; originates + relays emergency LoRa mesh messages during internet outage
- Cross-device unlocks (Ultra-specific):
- Multi-site WanderOS: home Pro v2 + mobile Ultra = single identity-aware network following the user
- Disaster response mode: Ultra as Pelican-case-deployable emergency network for disaster-response scenarios (LGBTQ+ community after natural disaster, displaced-families ad-hoc network, post-eviction mutual aid)
- HAVEN mobile safehouse full stack: Ultra + WanderBand + WanderCam/Bell/Lock + WanderVault + WanderStation all coordinate; safehouse can relocate quickly
- Pop-up event networks: Pride events, community retreats, conference LGBTQ+ hospitality suites — deployable sovereign network with full identity-aware privacy posture
- Satellite-SOS fusion: WanderBand panic → Ultra multi-path: LoRa + cellular + satellite emergency message simultaneously, whichever gets through
Community Pool Integration
Per ~/Downloads/Claude/wandersafe/specs/WANDERVERSE-COMMUNITY-POOL-SPEC.md:
- Router Ultra hardware revenue feeds existing 60/30/10 Ambassador split:
- 60% Ambassador wages (every Ultra carries assembling Ambassador's signature; Ultra per-unit Ambassador assembly is most-complex in family — rugged chassis + LiFePO4 UPS + solar-assist wiring + vehicle-mount validation + carrier board = 60-90 min Ambassador time per unit; premium price reflects premium Ambassador labor)
- 10% PrideFund (HYSA auto-deposit)
- 30% WWP Community Pool (Layer 1 operations cap 65%; Layer 2 Ambassador-voted min 35%)
- Layer 2 categories (Ambassador-voted annually): Scholarships · Emergency Grants · HAVEN Expansion · New Ambassador Seeding · Open Community Grants · Program Reinvestment
- Governance: 1 Ambassador = 1 vote, Annual Assembly each January, 25% quorum, Board veto for 501(c)(3) legal/ethics only, 60% supermajority overrides
- Ultra's highest-per-unit pool contribution: $1,999-3,799 retail × 48%+ margin = largest per-sale Community Pool flow in Router family; even at modest volume, Ultra contributes disproportionately to the pool that funds HAVEN Expansion — poetic alignment since Ultra is the HAVEN safehouse gateway
- HAVEN Expansion category special relationship: Ambassadors routinely vote disproportionate Layer 2 allocation to HAVEN Expansion; Ultra sales fund HAVEN hardware which IS the Ultra — the revenue cycle is self-reinforcing (sell an Ultra, fund another HAVEN safehouse node, deploy Ultra to it)
- Secondary revenue: Ultra accessories (Lux Expedition covers, Starlink Gen 3 Mini kit bundles, vehicle-mount hardware, LiFePO4 cell upgrades, solar panels, Pelican case fitments, satellite modem daughterboards, mmWave 5G modules, LoRa antennas, STL printables) flow through WanderStore tiered 10/15/25 model (
../wanderstore/_REVENUE-MODEL-FINAL.md); WanderStore platform take feeds the same Community Pool
- RV-community marketplace opportunity: third-party RV/overland-specific accessories (roof-mount brackets, van-life wiring harnesses) via WanderStore; Mission Partner tier for nonprofits; 10/15/25 for makers
- Router Ultra is NOT a separate revenue silo — every sale routes through the democratic pool already designed April 2026
Companion App Spec
- iOS app — Swift + SwiftUI, App Store
- Full Ultra admin surface inherited from Pro v2 + Ultra-specific: multi-WAN priority visualization (Starlink health + signal + obstruction heatmap + data usage, cellular signal + carrier + band, LoRa mesh map, Iridium satellite link status), UPS state + remaining runtime, solar input + battery charge state, GPS position + location history, vehicle-mount install guide
- HomeKit Secure Video relay admin, Shortcuts, Wallet, Find My
- Satellite-SOS quick-access (hardware button on device has software counterpart in app)
- iPhone + iPad + Mac Catalyst + Apple Silicon native
- Android app — Kotlin + Jetpack Compose, Play Store
- Material 3 design, phone + tablet + Wear OS (RF-off + satellite SOS panic)
- Google Home scenes, Assistant, Matter controller
- Web app (PWA) — wanderverse.com/router-ultra, installable, any browser
- Desktop-first for prosumer workflows (inherits from Pro v2) + Ultra-specific: multi-WAN routing-table visualization, BGP peer over satellite, deployment-site-mapping for HAVEN Ambassador coordinators
- Mobile-responsive for on-the-go van-life + field-deployment admin
- API layer — REST + WebSocket + MQTT; Docker REST; OpenAPI 3.0; MIT-licensed SDK; OAuth-free + LDAP/SSO for HAVEN Ambassador coordinators managing multiple sites
- Engineering budget estimate: ~$200-300k NRE per Router-family amortized + ~$75k Ultra-specific UI (Starlink integration, multi-WAN visualization, satellite SOS flow, UPS/solar telemetry, vehicle-mount install wizard); total ~$275-375k amortized across Ultra launch
- Accessibility: full Apple + Android accessibility API support inherited (VoiceOver, TalkBack, Dynamic Type, Switch Control, Live Caption, AssistiveTouch); web WCAG 2.2 AA; satellite SOS flow specifically verified with screen readers (emergency accessibility is life-critical)
- Languages: 10 at launch, community-contributed additions via MIT-licensed i18n repo; first 10 languages include Spanish, Ukrainian, Farsi, Arabic, Russian, Mandarin, French, Portuguese, German, English — reflecting HAVEN's anticipated user populations