GigaBlox is a tiny form factor GigaBit ethernet switch with five 10/100/1000M ports, designed for space, weight and power (SWaP) limited applications.
We developed it specifically to address the need for high data throughput inside small internal volumes, a common problem for drones and robots.
GigaBlox has an footprint of 45mm x 45mm, and runs from a very wide input voltage from 5 to 60V (tolerant up to 65V). All ports are galvanically isolated from each other, and the input voltage.
GigaBlox is an unmanaged switch and works straight out the box with zero setup required. All you need to do is:
GigaBlox’s switching engine uses a non-blocking fabric, meaning that all five ports are capable of 1Gbps simultaneously. This is crucial for applications with multiple streams of data, typical in camera-based systems.
We’ve squeezed all necessary Ethernet circuitry into GigaBlox without making performance compromises. We use magnetics for improved signal integrity and electrical isolation between each ethernet bus.
We include everything you need to make this board work out of the box. Each board ships with:
5 x Molex PicoBlade to RJ-45, 8 way, 0.3 meter (Data cables)
SKU: BB-PBRJ1-8-0.3
1 x Molex PicoBlade to Tinned Leads, 4 way, 0.3 meter (Power cables)
SKU: BB-PBTL1-4-0.3
Below is a handy graphic that shows how we transition from a Molex Picoblade pinout to the standard RJ-45 ethernet cables. Gigabit ethernet uses four differential channels, for a total of eight total conductors.
Covered under the BotBlox Supply Guarantee Program
This board is covered by our supply guarantee, which guarantees availability and low lead times until at least 2028. Read more about the BotBlox Supply Guarantee Program.
We offer a fully NDAA compliant version of this hardware, simply select the option at the top of the product page.
Our NDAA version has the same design as the base product, but uses a supply chain based outside of the four adversary countries listed in Executive Order EO13981 (these are Iran, Russian, China and North Korea).
The NDAA compliant version is part of our first stage to move away from a Chinese based supply chain, to meet the needs of our customers who must ensure NDAA and EO13981 compliance in their UAS systems. Read more about our efforts here.
This allows our customers to build NDAA and EO13981 compliant UAS systems with no extra work. We are able to provide full Certificate of Conformities, Bill of Materials and Traceability statements to ensure this. Please note, there is no design difference between this board, and our standard SwitchBlox.
The NDAA compliant version can be used to build BlueUAS compliant UAS systems. Read more about this here.
All our boards are shipped with the required 0.3 meter power and data cables included, so you do not need to purchase extra cables. However if you need custom cable lengths for your application, you can order those here.
| Revision | Subrevision | Part number | Date | Changes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B | 1 | BB-GGB-B-1 | 06/Jun/2020 | First release |
| C | 1 | BB-GGB-C-1 | 03/May/2021 | Magnetics change due to stock issues |
| C | CO1 | BB-GGB-C-CO1 | 25/Mar/2021 | Added LED Header |
| C | CO2 | BB-GGB-C-CO2 | 06/Aug/2022 | Added Test Points |
| C | 3 | BB-GGB-C-3 | 12/Apr/2026 | Changed U1 DCDC Voltage regulator from TPS54160DGQ to TPS54260DGQ due to stock issues (Current Version) |
| Input Voltage Range | 5-60V |
|---|---|
| Power Consumption | 260mW (Idle), 1100mW (Max) |
| Ports | 5 x 10/100/1000Mb ports |
| Operating Temperature | -20 to +85°C |
| Maximum Frame Size | 1500 Bytes (Not Jumbo) |
| Storage Temperature | -40 to +100°C |
| Dimensions | 45mm x 45mm x 15.98mm |
| HS Tariff Code | 8517.62.00.20 |
| US ECCN | 5A991 |
| Product Status and Lifetime | Active, with a 5-Year Minimum Lifetime |
1Gbps
SKU · BB-GGB-C-3
Non-NDAA version is in stock and ready to ship. NDAA Compliant is out of stock (available by Nov.21)
GigaBlox is a small gigabit (1000BASE-T) switch that runs from 5 - 60V and provides 5 10/100/1000Mb ports in an unprecedented 45mm square footprint. This board is designed specifically for compact networking applications such as robots, drones, and small network infrastructure.
| Quantity | Discount |
|---|---|
| 10–19 | 15% off |
| 20–49 | 20% off |
| 50–99 | 25% off |
| 100–199 | 30% off |
| 200+ | 35% off |
1Gbps
SKU · BB-GGB-C-3
Non-NDAA version is in stock and ready to ship. NDAA Compliant is out of stock (available by Nov.21)
| Quantity | Discount |
|---|---|
| 10–19 | 15% off |
| 20–49 | 20% off |
| 50–99 | 25% off |
| 100–199 | 30% off |
| 200+ | 35% off |
GigaBlox is a small gigabit (1000BASE-T) switch that runs from 5 - 60V and provides 5 10/100/1000Mb ports in an unprecedented 45mm square footprint. This board is designed specifically for compact networking applications such as robots, drones, and small network infrastructure.
GigaBlox Nano is a modular ultra-compact gigabit ethernet switch, fitting 4 10/100/1000BASE-T ports in a 25mm square footprint. The ports are placed on a stackable Samtec header and allow complete flexibility on final port connector choice, leading to large space and weight savings.
GigaBlox Rugged is an ultra-compact, highly ruggedized board that provides 4 1000BASE-T Gigabit ports that can function from ambient temperatures between -40°C to +100°C. This operational range makes high-speed networking possible in a host of new, challenging applications including military and surveillance.
A small and compact, SFP fiber ethernet switch for drones and robots
Transformerless ethernet breakout board for GigaBlox Nano This is the PicoBlade stackable breakout board for GigaBlox Nano. This board routs the four ports of GigaBlox Nano onto four PicoBlade headers (the same type as used on the standard GigaBlox). Power for GigaBlox Nano is routed onto a PicoBlade header. The pinout used is the same as on our GigaBlox. INCLUDED CABLES
