Cannot get LD2420 to work

ESPHome
1

I have installed esphome on an esp32, this one to be specific.

I have the below .yaml, but the binary presence sensor, shows as unknown

I have followed the page on the esphome webiste, and tried both wiring variations.
Incidentally, the sensor i created to show firmware version, sensor.master_bedroom_sensors_ld2420_firmware also shows as unknown

I have also tried both baud rates, and neither give any different results

any help would be really appreciated, as this is driving me mad, very frustrating

esphome:
  name: esphome-web-70c95c
  friendly_name: master-bedroom-sensors
  min_version: 2025.11.0
  name_add_mac_suffix: false

esp32:
  variant: esp32
  framework:
    type: esp-idf

# Enable logging
logger:

# Enable Home Assistant API
api:

# Allow Over-The-Air updates
ota:
- platform: esphome

web_server:
  port: 80

wifi:
  ssid: !secret wifi_ssid
  password: !secret wifi_password

uart:
  tx_pin: GPIO1
  rx_pin: GPIO3
  #baud_rate: 256000
  baud_rate: 115200
  parity: NONE
  stop_bits: 1


ld2420:

text_sensor:
  - platform: ld2420
    fw_version:
      name: LD2420 Firmware

sensor:
  - platform: ld2420
    moving_distance:
      name : Moving Distance

binary_sensor:
  - platform: ld2420
    has_target:
      name: Presence

select:
  - platform: ld2420
    operating_mode:
      name: Operating Mode

number:
  - platform: ld2420
    presence_timeout:
      name: Detection Presence Timeout
    min_gate_distance:
      name: Detection Gate Minimum
    max_gate_distance:
      name: Detection Gate Maximum
    # See "Number" section below for detail
    gate_select:
      name: Select Gate to Set
    still_threshold:
      name: Set Still Threshold Value
    move_threshold:
      name: Set Move Threshold Value

button:
  - platform: ld2420
    apply_config:
      name: Apply Config
    factory_reset:
      name: Factory Reset
    restart_module:
      name: Restart Module
    revert_config:
      name: Undo Edits

EDIT

Just noticed this in the log,

[17:54:33.505][W][ld2420:212]: Firmware version v0.0.0 and older supports Simple Mode only
[17:54:33.505][E][component:226]:   ld2420 is marked FAILED: unspecified
2

Try with Rx and Tx on some other pins like gpio16 and 17 (on code and physically).
Or if you have soldered wiring, at least set logger baud rate to zero.

3

Yes, disabling logger is mandatory, otherwise uart will be occupied by logger and it won’t work with LD:

logger:
  baud_rate: 0
4

I have done this, and still no joy.
Tried Rx and Tx on pins 16 and 17, and the 2 different firmware variations of wiring. And changed the baud rate

I have disabled baud rate logger, also does not help.

I have also checked the wiring, and I am using the ESP32 3.3v pin, i read that any more can fry the LD2420.

5

It’s incorrect to say so. With uart on default tx/rx and logger enabled the communication can’t work, so for sure it helps.
You just have other problems on top of that.
So keep uart on 16/17 and now try parameters/wiring for both firmwares.

6

I have already done this:

Should have mentioned this is with the logger baud rate disabled.
But for sure I will try again, although this will be the umpteenth time.

7

Add debug to your uart and observe logs…

uart:
 ...
  debug:
    direction: BOTH