Wireless-Tag has released the WT32-ETH01 development board, which features an onboard Ethernet port and costs only $6

The board, measuring 600 x 250 mm, is also capable of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.

A Practical and Cheap ESP32 Development Board

The WT32-ETH01 is the latest product from the Chinese Internet of Things (IoT) manufacturers Wireless-Tag Technology. It blends all the functionality of regular ESP32 development boards with a convenient RJ45 connector for connecting via Ethernet.

While all ESP32 chips are Ethernet capable, very few boards provide a connector and require a separate module. The WT32-S1 wireless module at the board's core has an onboard antenna for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity and is based on the ESP32 dual-core wireless System on Chip (WISoC).

Given the ESP32's popularity among DIY smart home and IoT enthusiasts, the WT32-ETH01 is likely to be very well received.

All The Benefits of the ESP32

The functionality of the WISoC is exposed via 26 dual expansion points, with holes for pin headers and castellations along the side for surface mounting. This makes it perfect for both development using breadboards and mounting on to a larger circuit board.

WT32-ETH01 top view

All of the ESP32's features are exposed, including general-purpose input/output (GPIO), I2C, SPI, dual UART, EN, LINK, and 5/3v power.

It lacks an onboard programmer, though it can be programmed via any generic USB to TTL converter, much like the Arduino Pro Mini. Another notable omission is Power over Ethernet (PoE), which would've been convenient. Given the $6 price tag, making this board cheaper than any other with an Ethernet connector, it's likely not too big of an issue.

The board comes flashed with firmware that uses the AT command set (also known as the Hayes command set), though it works with Tasmota, an open-source software build supporting a large range of smart home devices.

The WT32-ETH01 is available to purchase at Seeedstudio and AliExpress.

Full Specifications of the WT32-ETH01

Other than the Ethernet connector, the specifications of the WT32-ETH01 are similar to most other development boards featuring the ESP32.

  • Wi-Fi: 802.11 b/g/n/e/i(802.11n,Up to 150 Mbps), A-MPDU and A-MSDU aggregation, 0.4_ s guard interval support, 2.4~2.5 GHz Frequency range
  • Bluetooth: Bluetooth v4.2 BR/EDR and BLE standards
  • Radio: NZIF receiver with -97 dBm sensitivity
  • Network Port: RJ45, 10/100Mbps, Cross-direct connection adaptive
  • Serial baud rate: 80~5000000
  • On-board flash: 32Mbit
  • Operating voltage: 5V or 3.3V
  • Operating current: Average: 80mA
  • Supply current: Minimum: 500 mA
  • Operating temperature: -40°C~+85°C
  • Packaging: Through-hole and castellations
  • Dimensions: 60 x 25 mm

The Perfect Board for Your DIY Smart Home Setup?

The WT32-ETH01 looks to be an exciting prospect for those who prefer to create their own smart home systems. That isn't to say there aren't a few hurdles. The AT command set isn't widely known, and many boards of this type support the Arduino IDE.

Platform IO is a popular alternative to the Arduino IDE that will be on the wishlist for supported platforms. However, it's great news for people using Tasmota as they can start working with this board straight away.

Given the WT32-ETH01's size, flexibility, and price, it seems likely that more options for programming will come in time.