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Experiment with Single Pair Ethernet to learn its benefits for industrial automation.
Ethernet is the most popular communication protocol today for residential and commercial applications. It's also widely used in industrial automation. Traditional Ethernet uses an 8-wire ethernet cable along with RJ45 cable connectors. Single Pair Ethernet is considered an improvement over traditional Ethernet for a variety of reasons. As the name suggests, Single Pair Ethernet uses only two wires for its data receive/transmit lines, at higher speeds, clearly a key benefit. For Single Pair Ethernet, the cables are smaller and lighter, and a less costly approach to transmitting data over Ethernet. Would you like to learn more about Single Pair Ethernet? Then, read on.
In this Experimenting With Single Pair Ethernet Challenge, participants will receive a kit of Single Pair Ethernet components. Four official applicants will receive a free-of-charge SPE Kit (see below). For a chance to win one of the great prizes in this challenge, a participant must blog about the experiments and/or projects they have created. The Sponsor’s kit must be used in their final project and or summary blog. Creative use of the components and interesting uses of Molex’s SPE connectors and cables are key to winning this challenge.
Who Can Join?
Any element14 member. Click here to read the FAQs. You need to submit an application entry form by the enrollment due date (see Timeline Table). If you are not an element14 Community member, please join here
The Prizes
Prizes are subject to change but will be of similar price and style.
**Grand Prize and Runner Up winners will also earn the finisher prize.
The Kit
A maximum of 4 FREE kits will be offered depending on the most qualified applicants. To be eligible to receive a kit, you must submit an application by the enrollment deadline (See to Timeline Table).
| The Sponsored Kit | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|
 |
Ethernet Cable, SPE Plug to SPE Plug, STP (Shielded Twisted Pair), 1 m, 3.3 ft |
1 |
|
Ethernet Cable, SPE Plug to SPE Plug, STP (Shielded Twisted Pair), 5 m, 16.4 ft |
1 |
 |
Modular Connector, SPE Jack, 1 x 1 (Port), 2P2C, IP20, PCB Mount |
1 |
 |
Modular Connector, SPE Jack, 1 x 1 (Port), 2P2C, IP67, PCB Mount |
1 |
 |
Ethernet Cable, M12, SPE Plug to SPE Plug, STP (Shielded Twisted Pair), 1 m, 3.3 ft |
1 |
 |
Circular Connector, Back Mount, T1 Industrial 220957 Series |
1 |
 |
Evaluation Kit, ADIN1110CCPZ, Ethernet Physical Layer Device, Ethernet MAC-PHY, 10BASE-T1L |
1 |
 |
Evaluation Kit, ADIN1100CCPZ, Ethernet Physical Layer Device, 10BASE-T1L, Robust, Industrial |
1 |
 |
SBC, Raspberry Pi4 B 4GB, BCM2711, ARM Cortex-A72, 4GB RAM, MicroSD, Linux, Wifi, 2x micro HDMI |
1 |
|
SBC, Raspberry Pi4 B 4GB, BCM2711, ARM Cortex-A72, 4GB RAM, MicroSD, Linux, Wifi, 2x micro HDMI |
1 |
|
|
Circuit Evaluation Board, LTC9111IDE#TRPBF, Raspberry Pi Platform Board |
1 |
 |
Evaluation Board, PmodTMP2, ADT7420 16-Bit Digital I2C Temperature Sensor, Pmod I/O |
1 |
The Dates
| Project Phases | Dates |
|---|---|
| Application Period | 3rd October 2025 |
| Application Deadline | 10th November 2025 |
| Challengers Announced | 20th November 2025 |
| Build Period | 20th November 2025 - 8th February 2026 |
| Projects Due | 8th February 2026 |
| Winners Announced | 28th February 2026 |
| Prizes Shipped | 28th February 2026 |
Technical Datasheets
Molex
T1 Industrial Single-Pair Ethernet (SPE) Plug Cable - Datasheet
T1 Industrial Single-Pair Ethernet (SPE) Plug Cable Assembly, IP20, 5.0m - Datasheet
T1 Industrial Single-Pair Ethernet (SPE) PCB Jack, Right-Angle, IP20 - Datasheet
T1 Industrial Single-Pair Ethernet (SPE) PCB Jack, M12, Straight, 12.50mm, IP67 - Datasheet
Analog Devices
ADI eval-adin1110ebz User Wiki
CN0575 Circuit Evaluation Board (EVAL-CN0575-RPIZ) - Datasheet
Raspberry Pi
Digilent
Blog Requirements, FAQs, & Judging
All challengers are encouraged to regularly post their build progress— with 5 forum posts or more, plus a project blog post before the closing date. Posts which are media-rich with Photos, Videos and Code samples will be viewed more favourably in the judging process.
The Challengers
Where to Ask Questions?
For any general or technical questions about the competition, you can post in the forums.
Also bookmarking this page is a good way to keep up-to-date with the competition.
Enrol to join the challenge now!
If you are not a sponsored challenger, but still want to participate in this challenge, you need to purchase and use the official element14 Community SPE Kit as described above in your project and adhere to the same Terms and Conditions to be eligible to compete for our great prizes! Non-sponsored challengers are eligible for the finisher and winner prizes, as well.
The Judges
| element14 Community Judges element14 Community Team |
 |
The Terms
Please read the full terms and conditions attached below.
About The Sponsor
Molex is a leading one-source supplier of interconnect products. Our team of highly skilled experts is focused on the design, development and distribution of innovative product solutions that touch virtually every walk of life. Our portfolio is among the world's most extensive, with over 100,000 reliable connector products, including everything from electronic, electrical and fiber optic interconnects to switches and application tooling.
Top Comments
Hey JWx , yes using and demonstrating the capabilities of the SPE cables and connectors from Molex is the main focus.
Similar to how the Light Up Your Life design challenge is focused on Würth Elektronik LEDs…
I think, at least 2 pcs of T1 connector are needed since there is no other board with T1 connector. Otherwise kit seems nice to me. I am little bit sad, that there is only 4 kits. Industrial products are…
there was also a discussion thread last year about this design challenge
RE: Seeking your Feedback on Proposed Kit and Prizes for Single Pair Ethernet Challenge
wit some unanswered questions - for example…