I have worked with Arduino & the esp8266 to WIFI connect, sending UDP packets it works good. What I want to do now, is use my wired ETHERNET instead. I have POE switches, already. I would like to simply break out the 2 tx/rx wires, and a 48v step-down to 5v on the same module. Do they make cheap china modules or shields like this, has anyone used them?
Real PoE is not as simple as stepping down 48v to5v; there is some negotiation involved.
The cheapest PoE modules I’ve seen run about $8 (silvertel) Silvertel AG9805M | Symmetry Electronics