What was the RSSI before?
Don’t really know, because it was never any issue before. Only added the RSSI last night to see how bad it was. I suspect a recent Asus firmware update on the access point caused it.
I thought I’d share my experience following @tom_l’s excellent instructions in this thread.
I took dBm readings from 16 locations before and after splicing a WiFi antenna onto a Firebeetle ESP32-E using a U.FL to female RP-SMA cable, as instructed. Overall, it’s a mixed bag. The modification improved signal in some locations, but worsened it in others. I think that improvements were due solely to the new ability to position the antenna and that overall there was probably some additional loss of signal due to the extra centimeters of cable and perhaps the solder joints on the dev board. I guess this makes sense, as as antenna can’t increase power, but just help direct it a little.
Unfortunately for me, the location I need to install my project in was not one of those that had a net benefit from being able to position the antenna.
I am curious to know if this is consistent with other people’s experience.
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Whilst directivity is the main way an antenna achieves a gain, there is also radiation efficiency to consider. Don’t buy cheap 2.4GHz antennas. They are nothing more than a 1/4 wavelength of wire in a plastic housing.
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Me too please.
And Thank You.
Old laptop antenna btw. Wifi or BT. Not sure.PXL_20230808_153848781|375x500
I have a board like this in my garage:
https://pt.aliexpress.com/item/1005003161500835.html
I just put an antenna on it to see if it solves a problem I’m having with some disconnections.
It improved by about 10db.
The topic helped a lot.
Thanks
Modifying them to use external is definitely possible but very easy to mess up if your solder skills arent good and then its no better or potentially worse afterwards.
For external antenna I see roughly 25% increase but it will be a case by case difference obviously.
Unless you need it for something like an 8 channel relay module w/esp32 built in and you cant find one available wirh external antenna, I would strongly suggest just buying a 5 pack of esp32 with that capability.
Order a 5 pack of esp32, 5pc antenna set, 5pc esp32 breakout board and your next 5 projects will be quick to get up and going and looking clean!
@Fallingaway24 I don’t understand your point. Are you saying that using a breakout board I don’t need to de-solder and solder the resistance to use the antenna? Or based on the fact that the gain is only the 25% it doesn’t make sense?
-65dbm to -50dbm is a considerable improvement. A 3dbm change is a doubling of signal.
Please explain, with a “esp32 breakout board” I can use the external antenna without solder? How?
The picture with the breakout board has a U.Fl connector. It’s not a modification of an ESP32 with a built in antenna( so simple answer is no to your question). I do use those ESP32 with U.Fl and you do get a really much better signal on both Wifi and Bluetooth. This would be a good solution if you don’t want to experiment with soldering. Impedence in antenna is a really big rabbit hole.
Hi, Justin, could you give a link to the ones you use, please?
TIA
Andrew
No, the breakoutboard hss nothing to do with the antenna. I was only making rhe case that its a good base to build a project on. You can use breakout boards with or without external antenna. Rather than modifying the esp board, just buy one thats made for an external antenna already… They’re litterally the same price which is why i said buy 5 packs. When you buy in bulk then you have options for future projects like sometimes i need external antenna and sometimes I dont and because i buy them in 5"s it simplifies things, thats all I was saying, its just a tip.
As far as links, come on folks just use the search box wherever you normally buy things “esp32 external antenna” “esp32 breakout board”
I’ve modified my NodeMCU v2 as per instructions of FunkyBoT. Antenna was exactly like his photo.
The difference: The NodeMCU v2 has a shield around the ESP8266.
Ground is on the conductor just below the signal wire (blue arrow).
Antenna used: Antenna from an old Alfa USB WiFi card.
I’ve got a signal improvement of:
- Inside the house; -71dBm → -50dBm.
- Outside in the garden: -90dBm → -87dBm.
The 3dBm in the garden makes the ESP8266 work in the garden just fine, but still its a marginal WiFi link.
Thanx for your help.