Add-On Ethernet Hat ETH0 (RJ45) port not creating a network connection.

[Jeremy Frederick]

Hello. I've got an Add-on Ethernet hat for the VOXL 2 that I'm using on a bench top and the ETH0 RJ45 full ethernet port is not properly establishing a connection to my network. I'm running a VOXL 2 with SDK 1.3, when connected via a USB - ETH converter in the USB-A port, a connection is easily established. When I change out the component with another ethernet hat, the connection is automatically established as expected.

No lights on the network switch port light up, when inspecting with $ ethtool eth0, no network connection is read, I've attempted to force set an IP address which is successful but still leads to no network connection.

Thoughts?

[Zachary Lowell 0]

@Jeremy-Frederick I am assuming you are using the M0062 hat? If so there are no lights on the ethernet receiver on the board so there is not a way to confirm from a hardware standpoint that the ethernet receiver is getting a signal. Can you try updating to sdk 1.3.3?

@Vinny might have more answers on this as well to try out.

[Vinny]

Hi @Jeremy-Frederick
Can you please provide some pictures?
It almost sounds as if you have a faulty RJ45 jack, but these are tested in factory before shipping.
If you can get some close ups of the non-working RJ45 and the LAN7500 chip, that may help.

And, can you clarify that you have Qty-2 M0062's and one works, yet one doesn't? Did the faulty one ever work for you? Was the faulty one in any type of handling mishap (like an accidental drop/fall)?
The RJ45 has integrated magnetics to save space (which is why it is so tall), but that makes them more vulnerable to shock failure than typical RJ45's.

One thing I do know that may also occur is the jack can be installed slightly tilted, making it hard to seat the RJ45 cable in firmly. There is an odd feature on the connector that sometimes allows it to seat at an off-angle, slightly pointing down making the cable slightly interfere with the PCB (but still ok to insert, since as I mentioned, we tested at the factory). Also, the metal along the sides of the RJ5 may also be stiff, preventing a smooth insertion, so sometimes just inserting the RJ45 cable a few times making sure you get that nice tactile "click" may be what is needed to ensure the contacts are engaged and kinda "breaking in" the stiff connector.