The advantage is that the only free USB port can be used elsewhere and you can still connect a USB device – without a hub. With the ENC28J60 module, it is possible to create a network connection via an Ethernet cable. The Raspberry Pi has a 40-headed GPIO bar, which can even be extended, so there are hardly any restrictions here. You can either connect it via USB a WLAN adapter, or use the GPIOs: To give up on a keyboard and control the Pi via SSH, you will need a network connection.

If you connect a keyboard, then you will need another USB hub for your other USB devices (active), which also need to be powered on and that can also cause cable clutters. The Raspberry Pi Model Zero has only a single USB port just like the Model A+. In order to connect these models with the network by Ethernet cable without a WLAN adapter, one can do this over the GPIOs: All you need is the “ENC28J60” module, the connection of which is shown in this tutorial. That would not be a problem, if not just a single (micro) USB port onboard. One disadvantage which the Zero (not W) and A+ models have is the lack of Ethernet connectivity. Thanks to the inexpensive Raspberry Pi Zero, Internet of Things (IoT) projects will continue to grow.

Set up raspberry pi zero