Waveshare ESP32-S3 ETH Development Board w/ Ethernet & PoE

The board supports optional PoE via an external IEEE 802.3af-compliant module. You must solder or connect a compatible PoE splitter module (not included) to the board's designated power input pins, ensuring it provides a stable 5V output. The Ethernet data lines connect directly to the onboard RJ45 jack. Always verify the PoE module's voltage regulation matches the board's 5V requirement before powering on to prevent damage.

The board's FPC connector supports standard DVP parallel camera modules like the OV2640 (2MP) and OV5640 (5MP). You need a compatible flex cable to connect the camera's pinout to the board's 24-pin FPC socket. In Arduino IDE or ESP-IDF, use the included camera driver libraries (e.g., esp32-camera) to initialize the sensor, configure resolution and frame rate, and capture images for processing or saving to the TF card.

Yes, the ESP32-S3's network stack allows concurrent operation of Wi-Fi (as STA or AP) and Ethernet. You can configure the Ethernet interface via the SPI-connected W5500 using its dedicated library, while the ESP32's native Wi-Fi handles wireless connections. This is useful for creating a bridge or gateway that aggregates sensor data over Wi-Fi/Bluetooth and forwards it via a stable Ethernet uplink to your server or cloud platform.

Connect the board's USB Type-C port to your computer. For initial setup, you may need to press the onboard Boot button while powering on to enter download mode. In Arduino IDE, select 'ESP32-S3 Dev Module' as the board, choose the correct COM port, and upload your sketch. For ESP-IDF or PlatformIO, ensure the correct target (esp32s3) is set. The board uses a USB-to-serial chip, so install the necessary CP210x or CH34x drivers if the port isn't recognized.