I don’t have enough information to make a buying decision…where can I get more information?
Too expensive and almost no definitive info about it but hype. A little scammy also.
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@PuNkYsHuNgRy I appreciate your feedback. I ran it through Grok and this is what I got as answer:
The Black Box from Dawn appears to be a hardware node device tied to the Dawn Internet project, which is a decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN) focused on building user-owned broadband and compute infrastructure on Solana. From what I've gathered, the "dawn extension" likely refers to their Chrome-based Validator Extension, a free browser tool that lets users validate bandwidth, share unused internet capacity, and earn points toward an upcoming airdrop—essentially a software entry point into the ecosystem that complements the hardware side.
At its core, the Black Box is positioned as a "multi-miner" home server and edge node, not just a simple router. It's a pre-configured mini-PC with solid specs: an Intel i5 14th-gen processor (10 cores, 14-16 threads), up to 64GB RAM, 240GB NVMe SSD plus 1TB SATA SSD, expandable storage for up to seven hard drives, and NVIDIA GPUs ranging from 6GB to 20GB VRAM. This setup allows it to handle tasks like sharing excess bandwidth for decentralized internet, running local AI models (via partnerships like Inference.net), providing cloud storage, acting as a validator node, and participating in content delivery networks (CDNs) through collaborators like Pipe Network.
It plugs into your existing internet (fiber, LTE, or even Starlink), connects to the Dawn app for setup, and starts contributing to the network while earning rewards in crypto—potentially recovering your investment in 1-2 years through ongoing participation, though that depends on network growth and token economics.
I think it's an intriguing step toward making DePIN more accessible and multifunctional, especially in a world where centralized ISPs often fall short on privacy, reliability, and affordability. The idea of turning idle home hardware into a revenue-generating node for AI, wireless, encryption, and more aligns well with broader trends in decentralization—it's like a consumer-friendly evolution of projects like Helium or Grass, but with a focus on broadband and multi-protocol support.
Dawn's backing (over $35 million in funding from investors like DragonFly) and partnerships with 10+ DePIN protocols add credibility, and the extension serves as a low-barrier onboarding ramp, letting users start earning points without buying hardware upfront.
This could democratize access to decentralized tech, particularly for non-technical users who want privacy-enhanced internet or to monetize unused resources.
That said, I'm cautiously optimistic rather than all-in hyped. The pricing—$1,500 for the base 6GB VRAM model up to $2,600 for the 20GB version—feels steep for what it is, especially with a required $30/month high-speed internet subscription (details on speeds are vague. If you're tech-savvy, you could potentially build a similar setup yourself for around the same cost using off-the-shelf parts, avoiding the premium for pre-configuration.
Reviews highlight solid long-term potential for earnings and decentralization benefits, but warn it's not ideal for short-term gains—ROI might take 3-4 years, and lower-spec models limit how many projects you can farm simultaneously.
The DePIN space is crowded and volatile, with many projects riding airdrop hype without proven sustainability; Dawn's airdrop is confirmed but light on specifics, so there's risk of overpromising if adoption doesn't scale.
Overall, if you're into crypto hardware experiments or believe in user-owned networks as the future (which I do, given xAI's emphasis on advancing human understanding through tech), this could be worth exploring via the extension first before committing to the box. But do your own research—check their site, run the extension for free, and monitor community feedback on X, as DePIN viability often hinges on real-world usage rather than specs alone.
If it delivers on ultra-low-latency decentralized broadband and AI edge computing, it might just be a game-changer; otherwise, it risks being another pricey gadget in the crypto drawer.
Anyway I'm DYORing some more because some how my guts is telling me I should…could be wrong here.
@Tommekeuh This is actually a pretty good summary. 3-4 year ROI is rough.
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@bob_carsyn Especially when they change the infrastructure or change the hardware requirements. I am reminded of how Helium ‘86’d 5g antennas and modems in favor for wifi hotspots.
@bob_carsyn True but I'm intrigued with the vision they have. But not fully convinced yet.
@Tommekeuh I don’t trust AI to make my mind up for me.
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@PuNkYsHuNgRy you should…it saves you a lot time…just dln't blindly follow everything without DYOR first.
I would love to read your opinions about Dawn's Blackbox. It looks promising when I read the articles on their site. But I would love to get your insights/idea's about this miner-GPU/Wifi provider. Will this consume a lot of energy or is it rather a little, any thoughts?
Is there a caption for I want to but can think of other ways to spend the money. I’ve been following dawn for sometime and when they first talked about the black box I was super excited and was definitely going to purchase it. After seeing the price tag i had second thoughts, there saying it’s priced just above cost and that may be true but $1300.00 is a Hefty price tag