Just come across this link:
/url http://www.embeddedethernet.com/
something to think about…
another step towards the midibox pc!
Matt Carus
I seem to recall a site showing how to get a raw 68HC11 (Motorola) with one of those ethernet baluns (??) to talk ethernet without the need for a controller chip. Â (ok will hunt it down… )
Porting that to PIC might pose a better solution as the protection Baluns are probably common (that or strip off an old ethernet card) with people already having access to the PIC chip.
(I always have a fear or sole supplier components, as I am often forced to redesign equipment when a sole supplier vaporises, or stops production)
But yes, all these peripherals are cool, and worthy of investigating..