Alan's Tiny WIZnet W55RP20 Board Hides a Secret Ethernet Connection in Its USB Type-C Connector
Alan’s tiny W55RP20 board cleverly routes Ethernet through USB-C, compact but non-standard and experimental.
WIZnet - W55RP20
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A recent project featured on Hackster.io by Alan demonstrates a highly creative use of the WIZnet W55RP20 chip. This chip combines the Raspberry Pi RP2040 microcontroller with the WIZnet W5500 Ethernet controller into a single package, making it an ideal choice for ultra-compact network-enabled devices.
The Secret Inside USB Type-C
What makes this board remarkable is how the USB Type-C port is repurposed as an Ethernet port. On the outside, the board only shows a USB-C connector and standard GPIO headers. However, the Ethernet signals are cleverly rerouted through the USB-C interface. This design requires either a breakout jig or a custom Y-splitter cable to access the actual network connection, rather than a simple plug-and-play experience.
“The World’s Smallest Ethernet Module”?
Alan describes his board as the smallest Ethernet module in the world. While that claim is debatable—since the breakout jig increases the effective size—it does highlight the ingenuity of the approach. With a Y-splitter cable, the footprint could be minimized, making the concept more practical in ultra-compact setups.
Technical Significance and Limitations
- Strengths: Provides MCU functionality alongside hardware Ethernet in one compact package. Excellent for designing small network-enabled systems.
- Limitations: The non-standard use of USB-C raises compatibility and safety concerns with conventional devices. For productization, compliance with electrical and connector standards, user safety, and reliability must be addressed.
Conclusion
This project is experimental yet full of practical potential. It offers fresh inspiration for designers of compact network devices and shows how unconventional connector use can open new possibilities. However, risks tied to non-standard implementations are real, and thorough validation is essential before moving beyond the prototype stage.
Original articles by Alan:
It’s Time for the USB-C Type Ethernet to Be Commercialized
The Smallest Ethernet Module. ioNIC-USB C-Type Ethernet