uEther Expansion Card Adds Wired Networking Easily to the uConsole

A reliable 10/100 Ethernet expansion with speaker passthrough and a bonus USB-C port. Ideal for daily wired networking without extra dongles.

What it is:
The uEther is a multi-function Expansion Card for Clockwork Pi uConsole that adds a 10/100 Mbps Ethernet NIC and a single USB-C port. For users who need stable wired networking it makes for a great dongle-free experience when connecting to networks on the go.

Manufacturer: WebmasterTD
Compatibility: Tested on uConsole with CM5

Pros & Cons

Pros

Full-size RJ45, no XJACK or other nonsense here!
Speaker passthrough preserves internal speaker functionality
Extra USB-C port for for input devices
Plug and play on Computer Module with no driver needed
Great value for the price

Cons

Top speed 10/100 Mbps — no Gigabit or mGig Ethernet support
Open-source design files have gone offline
Not currently in stock

Technical Assessment

Specs:

Ethernet: 10/100 Mbps (LAN9500A – Microchip Technology Inc.)
Audio: Internal speaker passthrough
Interface: USB 2.0 internally
Power Draw: Low; not tested under high-load conditions
Compatibility: Fully functional on Raspberry Pi OS (Rex build on CM5 as tested)

Fit and Finish

Build Quality: Clean soldering and layout; RJ45 jack feels solid. I actually quite like the pebbled finish from the 3D printed cover plate. I wish my uConsole had this finish around the edge to give it a Nikon-like hand feel!
Installation Experience: Straightforward fit; screws secure everything well in the case.
Physical Fit: No interference with neighboring modules or internal cabling. The RJ45 fits just perfectly in the expansion card bay. I get the sense Clockwork took some measurements before designing the bay!
Thermals and Ventilation: No heat buildup under light networking that I observed.

Utility and Real-World Use

iperf3 achieved the expected 100Mbps transfer speeds

Performance in Practice:
Ethernet was stable during extended SSH sessions and file transfers. Speaker passthrough worked with default internal audio config on CM5, keeping sound routing consistent. The USB-C port was convenient for connecting a keyboard or USB drive without needing a hub.
Limitations Noticed:
10/100 Ethernet is the bottleneck here. I was able to achieve For comparison, when testing with an external USB gigabit Ethernet adapter I achieved a respectable 330Mbps, so don’t expect top speeds with this card. According to the creator, this wasn’t worth the extra complexity.
Use Case Notes:
This is my new default expansion board — wired networking is central to my workflow, and having Ethernet always available (no dongle!) is ideal. Having the USB-C port makes sure my uConsole has both a USB-A and USB-C ready to connect to any peripheral I have on hand.

Reflashing my M5 Cardputer using the onboard USB C port.

Pricing and Availability

Price: $45 USD
Availability: Out of Stock
Country of Origin: Germany
License: Open Source (MIT)
Creator: Ákos Melczer (WebmasterTD)
Ports: 1x RJ45 Ethernet, 1x USB-C
Features: Wired networking via USB

Final Verdict

TL;DR:

A thoughtfully designed expansion card with Ethernet, USB-C, and speaker passthrough. Would be perfect with Gigabit support and open-source files, but still highly recommended for networking specialist.

Stay tuned for the next review in the uConsole Expansion Series or check out our roundup !