diff --git a/src/inet/emulation/linklayer/ethernet/ExtEthernetSocket.cc b/src/inet/emulation/linklayer/ethernet/ExtEthernetSocket.cc
index e610cbd1e09..892a1731fef 100644
--- a/src/inet/emulation/linklayer/ethernet/ExtEthernetSocket.cc
+++ b/src/inet/emulation/linklayer/ethernet/ExtEthernetSocket.cc
@@ -66,12 +66,9 @@ void ExtEthernetSocket::handleMessage(cMessage *message)
     socket_address.sll_addr[4] = macAddress.getAddressByte(4);
     socket_address.sll_addr[5] = macAddress.getAddressByte(5);
 
-    uint8_t buffer[packet->getByteLength()];
-    auto bytesChunk = packet->peekAllAsBytes();
-    size_t packetLength = bytesChunk->copyToBuffer(buffer, sizeof(buffer));
-    ASSERT(packetLength == (size_t)packet->getByteLength());
-
-    int sent = sendto(fd, buffer, packetLength, 0, (struct sockaddr *)&socket_address, sizeof(socket_address));
+    auto bytes = packet->peekDataAsBytes()->getBytes();
+    auto packetLength = bytes.size();
+    int sent = sendto(fd, bytes.data(), packetLength, 0, (struct sockaddr *)&socket_address, sizeof(socket_address));
     if ((size_t)sent == packetLength)
         EV_INFO << "Sent " << packetLength << " packet to '" << device << "' device.\n";
     else
diff --git a/src/inet/emulation/linklayer/ethernet/ExtLowerEthernetInterface.ned b/src/inet/emulation/linklayer/ethernet/ExtLowerEthernetInterface.ned
index cfe85fc4f64..5eccbc2e3ef 100644
--- a/src/inet/emulation/linklayer/ethernet/ExtLowerEthernetInterface.ned
+++ b/src/inet/emulation/linklayer/ethernet/ExtLowerEthernetInterface.ned
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ package inet.emulation.linklayer.ethernet;
 import inet.emulation.common.ExtInterface;
 import inet.linklayer.contract.IEthernetInterface;
 
+import inet.physicallayer.wired.ethernet.IEthernetPhyLayer;
+
 //
 // This module provides an Ethernet network interface suitable for emulation.
 // The lower part of the network interface is realized in the real world using
@@ -20,6 +22,7 @@ module ExtLowerEthernetInterface extends ExtInterface like IEthernetInterface
     parameters:
         string protocol = default("ethernetmac");
         double bitrate @unit(bps) = default(nan bps);
+        *.bitrate = default(this.bitrate);
     gates:
         input cutthroughIn @loose;
         output cutthroughOut @loose;
@@ -29,7 +32,13 @@ module ExtLowerEthernetInterface extends ExtInterface like IEthernetInterface
             parameters:
                 @display("p=300,200");
         }
+        phyLayer: <default("EthernetPhyLayer")> like IEthernetPhyLayer {
+            parameters:
+                transmitter.clockModule = default("");
+                @display("p=400,500");
+        }
     connections allowunconnected:
-        upperLayerIn --> { @display("m=n"); } --> socket.upperLayerIn;
+        phys$i --> { @display("m=s"); } --> phyLayer.lowerLayerIn;
+        phyLayer.upperLayerOut --> socket.upperLayerIn;
         upperLayerOut <-- { @display("m=n"); } <-- socket.upperLayerOut;
 }