ESP32-Ethernet-Kit is a modular Ethernet development platform designed for wired + wireless IoT applications. It is powered by the ESP32-WROVER series Wi-Fi/Bluetooth dual-mode module and paired with the IP101GRI 10/100 Mbps Ethernet PHY chip. It supports PoE (Power over Ethernet), making it an ideal choice for developing industrial gateways, network monitoring devices, and smart home control centers.
1. Core Positioning and Architecture
ESP32-Ethernet-Kit adopts a dual-board modular design consisting of two independent development boards that can be used separately or combined:
| Module | Core Components | Main Functions |
|---|---|---|
| Ethernet Board A | ESP32-WROVER-E/B module + IP101GRI PHY | Wi-Fi + Bluetooth dual-mode wireless, 10/100 Mbps wired Ethernet, GPIO expansion |
| PoE Board B | IEEE 802.3af compliant PoE power module | Powers the system via Ethernet cable without an external power adapter |
Core chip specifications:
- ESP32-WROVER-E/B: Dual-core Xtensa LX6 processor (240 MHz), integrated 4 MB/8 MB SPI Flash, 8 MB PSRAM (optional)
- Wireless: 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n) + Bluetooth 4.2/BLE dual-mode
- Ethernet: IP101GRI single-port 10/100 Mbps adaptive Ethernet transceiver, supports MII/RMII interface
2. Hardware Features in Detail
1. Network Connectivity
- RJ45 Ethernet Interface: Supports auto-negotiation (10/100 Mbps, full/half duplex) with integrated magnetics
- Wi-Fi + Bluetooth Antenna: On-board PCB antenna, optional external antenna (depending on version)
- Network Protocol Support: TCP/IP, UDP, HTTP, MQTT, CoAP, supports static IP and DHCP
2. Power Supply Options
- PoE Power Supply: Via PoE Board B, compliant with IEEE 802.3af, up to 15.4 W power
- USB Type-C Power: 5 V DC input, supports power and data
- External Power Input: Supports 5–12 V DC adapter
- Power Management: Integrated high-efficiency DC-DC converters providing stable 3.3 V/5 V outputs with overcurrent protection
3. Expansion and Control Interfaces
| Interface Type | Quantity | Function Description |
|---|---|---|
| GPIO Pins | 20+ | Supports I2C, SPI, UART, PWM, ADC, external sensors and actuators |
| Function Buttons | 2 | User-defined buttons (mode switch, reset, etc.) + 1 system reset button |
| LED Indicators | 3 | Power LED, Ethernet link/activity LED, user LED |
| USB Type-C | 1 | Programming, debugging, and data transfer with USB Serial/JTAG |
| Expansion Slot | 1 | Arduino Uno shield compatible expansion slot |
| Serial Ports | 2 | Hardware UART, supports RS232/RS485 via external level shifter |
4. Other Hardware Features
- OTA Firmware Update Support: Update firmware via Wi-Fi or Ethernet for easy maintenance
- Hardware Encryption Engine: AES-256, RSA, SHA and other encryption algorithms to secure data transmission
- Industrial-Grade Design: Operating temperature range -40°C to +85°C
- 5V/3.3V Logic Compatibility: All GPIO pins are 5V tolerant, reducing hardware design risks
3. Software Support and Development Environment
1. Official Development Frameworks
- ESP-IDF: Espressif official IoT development framework with full Ethernet drivers, Wi-Fi/Bluetooth stacks, and peripheral APIs
- LWIP Stack: Integrated lightweight TCP/IP stack for Ethernet and Wi-Fi networking
- MQTT Libraries: Supports MQTT v3.1.1/v5.0 for cloud platforms (AWS IoT, Alibaba Cloud IoT, etc.)
2. Third-Party Development Support
- Supports Arduino, MicroPython, CircuitPython, lowering the development barrier
- Rich open-source libraries for networking, data acquisition, and device control
- Supports Ethernet-to-Wi-Fi bridging, converting wired devices into Wi-Fi clients
3. Typical Development Workflow
- Configure Ethernet and Wi-Fi parameters using ESP-IDF
- Develop applications for data acquisition, network communication, or device control
- Flash and debug firmware via USB Type-C
- Deploy in real-world scenarios with OTA remote updates
4. Typical Application Scenarios
1. Industrial IoT Gateway
- Serial/Modbus to Ethernet/Wi-Fi: Connect PLCs, sensors, and drives for data upload and remote control
- Protocol conversion: Modbus RTU/TCP, MQTT, OPC UA, etc.
- Edge computing: Local processing of sensor data to reduce cloud load and improve response time
2. Smart Home Control Hub
- Wired + wireless hybrid gateway for unified control of Wi-Fi devices and wired appliances
- Home security center: Connect cameras, door/window sensors, alarms via Ethernet
- Energy management: Monitor power usage and remotely control smart plugs and lighting
3. Network Monitoring Devices
- IP camera: Works with camera modules (e.g., OV2640) for wired video streaming and storage
- Environmental monitoring station: Upload temperature, humidity, air quality, and light data via Ethernet
- Smart locks: Cloud-connected door locks with remote access control and log tracking
4. Other Applications
- Network printer server: Convert standard printers into network printers for multi-device sharing
- FTP server: SD card storage expansion for file upload/download
- Network time server: NTP-based time synchronization for other devices
5. Key ESP32 Advantages in This Product
| Advantage | Application Value |
|---|---|
| Dual-core Processor | Handles networking and applications simultaneously for faster response and concurrency |
| Wi-Fi + Bluetooth Dual Mode | Flexible connectivity for device-to-device and cloud communication |
| Low Power Design | Multiple sleep modes for battery or PoE-powered applications |
| Rich Peripheral Interfaces | Easy sensor and actuator integration |
| Strong Development Ecosystem | Mature toolchain and open-source libraries reduce development time |
| Hardware Security Features | Protects industrial data and user privacy |
6. Quick Specification Overview
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Processor | Dual-core Xtensa LX6, up to 240 MHz |
| Memory | 520 KB SRAM, 4 MB/8 MB Flash, 8 MB PSRAM (optional) |
| Ethernet | 10/100 Mbps adaptive, Auto MDI-X |
| Wireless Range | Wi-Fi: 100 m (open area), BLE: 50 m (open area) |
| Power Supply | PoE (802.3af), USB Type-C 5V, external 5–12 V DC |
| Operating Temperature | -40°C to +85°C (industrial grade) |
| Dimensions | Ethernet Board A: ~100 mm × 60 mm, PoE Board B: ~100 mm × 60 mm |
| Weight | ~50 g (total for both boards) |
Summary
ESP32-Ethernet-Kit is a comprehensive wired + wireless IoT development platform. Its dual-board modular design offers great flexibility, supporting applications from simple networking to complex industrial gateways.
Whether for commercial product development or maker projects, it meets requirements for network stability, data security, and expandability—making it an ideal bridge between traditional industrial equipment and modern IoT systems.
