Wiznet makers

Are you familiar with the Esp32-C6-Bug development board? It began on hackaday.io and quickly garnered significant attention from developers. This platform is renowned for integrating powerful wireless communication features, including Wi-Fi, Zigbee, and Thread.

Notably, technical journalist Gareth Halfacree reviewed the board in an article on hackster.io, describing it as a "compact RISC-V dev board for IoT projects with Matter and more." He highly praised its features, such as Wi-Fi 6, BLE, Zigbee/Thread wireless capabilities, and the 19 exposed GPIO pins.

The project demonstrated its strong potential by successfully raising $3,437 on CrowdSupply, significantly exceeding its $1,500 goal.

The Esp32-Bug-Eth Shield we introduce today is a powerful add-on designed to maximize the potential of the already feature-rich and expert-approved Esp32-C6-Bug. This shield adds stable wired Ethernet connectivity and Power over Ethernet (PoE) functionality, providing developers with a new level of flexibility.

💡 What Makes the Esp32-Bug-Eth Special?

The Esp32-Bug-Eth is more than just an Ethernet expansion board; it's a powerful tool designed to act as a bridge between wireless and wired protocols.

1. Stable Wired Ethernet Communication (W5500)

• The shield uses the W5500 SPI Ethernet communication chip to ensure a stable and fast wired network connection.
• This is an essential feature for industrial applications where wireless environments are unstable or high data transfer rates are required.

2. Convenient Power over Ethernet (PoE) Functionality (DP1435-5V)

• It supports PoE functionality using the DP1435-5V chip.
• PoE allows both data transmission and power supply through a single cable, making it ideal for remote locations without power outlets or projects requiring clean cabling.

3. The Core of Versatile Protocol Bridging

By combining Ethernet with the Esp32-C6-Bug's native support for Wi-Fi, Zigbee, and Thread, the following innovative projects become possible:

• Wi-Fi <-> Ethernet Gateway
• Zigbee <-> Ethernet Hub
• Thread <-> Ethernet Controller

It provides a robust platform for IoT devices to communicate seamlessly across different network environments.

4. Stemma QT Connector Support

The inclusion of a Stemma QT connector allows for quick and easy connection of additional I2C peripherals (sensors, displays, etc.). This significantly reduces prototyping time.

🛠️ The Perfect Solution for Developers

The shield goes beyond simply adding an Ethernet port. It is the ideal choice for engineers looking to leverage the Esp32-C6-Bug's wireless capabilities to develop various integrated wired and wireless solutions, such as smart home hubs, industrial data logging devices, and remote monitoring systems.

In today's market, developers increasingly prioritize compact and space-saving designs. The Esp32-C6-Bug's small form factor, combined with the Esp32-Bug-Eth's ability to stack essential PoE and Ethernet features without excessive bulk, perfectly meets this demand for powerful yet minimally invasive hardware.