SwitchBlox is a small ethernet switch with five ports designed for size constrained and tough environments.

With an overall size of 44.5mm (1.75 inches) by 44.5mm (1.75 inches), SwitchBlox is the smallest network switch in the world, making it perfect for robots, drones or any space limited network application.

Plug and play network switch

As an unmanaged network switch it works straight out the box, all you need to do is…

1. Apply a 7 to 40V DC supply.
2. Connect your devices using the included cable set.
3. It will automatically begin forwarding packets, no coding or setup needed.

For more advanced applications, you can also control SwitchBlox over SPI to implement full managed switch capabilities.

Dimensions

We’ve squeezed all necessary Ethernet circuitry into SwitchBlox without making performance compromises. We use Ethernet magnetics for improved signal integrity and electrical isolation between each ethernet bus.

We’ve also created a full mechanical model in .STEP format to help with mechanical integration.

Cabling

We use Molex Picoblade connectors on all our boards to keep them tiny, and we include all the cables needed to get started, which are…

1 x SwitchBlox to SwitchBlox Coupler (Molex male to Molex male)

Use this cable to connect two SwitchBlox together to form a larger network.

5 x SwitchBlox RJ-45 Network Cables (Molex male to RJ-45)

Use this cable to connect any external ethernet device with a RJ-45 port.

2 x SwitchBlox Power Cables (Molex male to tinned wires)

Use this cable to connect a 7 – 40V DC power supply to power SwitchBlox.

Also use this cable to get a clean 5V, 2A supply from SwitchBlox to power external devices like Embedded Computers, Motor drivers or IP Cameras.

For extra large networks, where you plan to use multiple SwitchBlox over longer distances, we recommend our SwitchBlox Cable Extension Set.

Ethernet Pinout

Below is a handy graphic that shows how we transition from a Molex Picoblade pinout to the standard RJ-45 ethernet cables. For 10/100 Mbps ethernet we use two differential channels, transmit and receive, for a total of four conductors.

Open Source

We’ve made the hardware design and software files for SwitchBlox Open Source. You’ll find that here. If you’re interested in contributing to the development of the hardware or firmware, please get in touch with us by email at botblox2020@gmail.com.