Wiznet makers

Benjamin

Published July 09, 2025 ©

51 UCC

11 WCC

4 VAR

0 Contests

0 Followers

1 Following

Original Link

Network-tester---PICO-W5500

Small battery powered network tester using WIZnet W5500-EVB-Pico and 1.3" OLED Display HAT

COMPONENTS
PROJECT DESCRIPTION

🧪 Pocket Network Tester – Powered by W5500-EVB-Pico2

A portable Ethernet tester.
Fast. Simple. Battery-powered.


What it is
A handheld network tester to quickly check if an Ethernet port is live and has DHCP.
Designed for fast diagnostics in environments like hospitals, where unused ports are often left unpatched.

Powered by WIZnet’s W5500-EVB-Pico2 and a 1.3" OLED display, this tester fits in your pocket and costs under £20.
Lighter than a laptop. Always ready.


What it does

Connects via Ethernet

Checks for live link and DHCP lease

Displays result on OLED screen

Powered by rechargeable LiPo battery

Fully portable in 3D-printed case


Hardware

Main Board: WIZnet W5500-EVB-Pico2

Display: Waveshare 1.3" OLED HAT (64×128)

Battery: 3.7V 260mAh LiPo (601730)

Charging Module: TP4056 USB Type-C

Switch: Mini toggle for power

Case: Custom 3D-printed enclosure (STL files included)


Software

Language: MicroPython

Function:

Initializes Ethernet

Requests DHCP

Displays IP or failure message on OLED

Runtime: Fast boot, minimal power usage


Why W5500-EVB-Pico2?

Built-in WIZnet W5500 Ethernet chip:
Hardware TCP/IP offload for fast, reliable link detection

Raspberry Pi Pico-compatible design

Easy to code in MicroPython

Small enough to fit in any toolkit


Use Case

Perfect for:
✔ Field network technicians
✔ Hospital IT staff
✔ Makers and educators
✔ Anyone needing a fast way to check Ethernet availability


DIY-Friendly
Open-source. Affordable. Customizable.
All you need is a soldering iron, a 3D printer, and 20 minutes.


Resources

Full code in MicroPython

STL files for 3D case

GitHub: albank1/Network-tester---PICO-W5500


Documents
Comments Write