We’ve already covered various ESP32-C6 boards, but so far none support Ethernet and PoE. The ESP32-C6-Bug board does just that thanks to its Esp32-Bug-Eth shield with W5500 Ethernet chip. RJ45 jack and PoE power module.
Like other ESP32-C6 devices, this small board supports Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth LE 5, as well as Thread and Zigbee over 802.15.4 radios, but it has a castellated design for easier soldering. It also integrates other interesting features, such as holes. Support for LiPo batteries with carrier board and integrated battery charging and protection circuitry.
ESP32-C6-Bug board specifications:
- SoC – ESP32-C6FH4
- MCU core
- 32-bit RISC-V core @ 160MHz
- 32-bit RISC-V core @ 20 MHz low-power coprocessor can perform tasks even when the main system is in deep sleep
- Memory – 512MB SRAM
- Storage – 4MB Flash
- Wireless – WiFi 6, Bluetooth LE 5, and 802.15.4 radios (Zigbee, Thread, etc.)
- MCU core
- USB – 1 x USB Type-C port for power, programming, and data
- I/O – 2x 12 pin header with through holes and castellation holes
- Up to 19x GPIO
- SPI, UART, I2C, I2S, PWM, SDIO, motor control PWM, 12-bit ADC, etc…
- others
- User-controlled LED
- External 32.768 kHz RTC oscillator and 40 MHz oscillator
- Reset button and user control button
- Antenna – PCB antenna
- power supply
- 5V via USB-C port
- LiPo battery support
- Undervoltage and reverse polarity protection
- Onboard battery charging and level measurement (with indicator LED)
- 20 uA deep sleep power consumption (with timer wake-up)
- 700mA low noise LDO
- Dimensions – Small (breadboard compatible)
This board can be used standalone, but in combination with the Esp32-Bug-Eth shield adds both 10Mbps Ethernet and PoE support to create a small IoT gateway with WiFi 6, BLE, Thread, Zigbee, and Ethernet Some users may want to do so.
Esp32-Bug-Eth add-on board features:
- Wiznet W5500 Ethernet Module
- USB – 1 x USB-C port supporting both power and data
- Expansion – STEMMA-QT connector for connecting peripherals
- power supply
- 5V via USB-C port
- Isolated PoE support provided via SDAPO DP1435-5V module
ESP32-C6-Bug can be programmed using the ESP-IDF framework or the Arduino IDE. Various examples of the Arduino IDE are available on GitHub. Namely, a blinking sample, an ethernet sample that checks wired connectivity when used in conjunction with Esp32-Bug. Telegram bot to push Eth shield, I2C OLED display sample, and BMP280 sensor to Telegram via Ethernet connection. Currently, ESP-IDF must be used to connect Zigbee and Thread, but it is not implemented on the ESP32 Arduino core.
Hardware documentation such as datasheets, PDF schematics, bills of materials (BoM), and 3D models are located in separate GitHub repositories. Prokyber sro also makes two of his 3D printable enclosures, one specifically for the ESP32-C6-Bug board and one for combination with the Ethernet shield found on Thingiverse.
Prokyber sro launched the ESP32-C6-Bug board on Crowd Supply with a funding goal of $1,500. ESP32-C6-Bug board only offers start at $29, and the Esp32-Bug-Eth shield adds an additional $34. That means the complete system will cost $63 before shipping, making this solution likely to be a hard sell. Shipping costs add $8 to the U.S. and $18 to the rest of the world. Backers should expect their benefits to be shipped by August 2024, barring any unforeseen issues.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software as a part-time job in 2010, then quit his job as a software engineering manager and began writing daily news and reviews full-time in late 2011.
