What's your favourite ESP32 board? (# Best, good, cheap, quality, reliable)

Yes. From Ali Express Lolin store.


AU $5.86 | S2 Mini V1.0.0 - LOLIN WIFI IOT Board based ESP32-S2FN4R2 ESP32-S2 4MB FLASH 2MB PSRAM MicroPython Arduino Compatible

The Seeed Xaio C3 has turned up and a minimal test show that it works as expected. As with the other C3 modules I have tested the ESPHome default settings for the C3 don’t work, you need to add the “board_build.flash_mode: dio” line under esphome:.

The inbuilt JTAG/Serial works fine for the initial programming but the serial port only works for programming, it does not work as a local serial monitor.

INFO Reading configuration /config/esphome/xaio-c3-test1.yaml...
INFO Starting log output from xaio-c3-test1.local using esphome API
INFO Successfully connected to xaio-c3-test1.local
[13:27:14][I][app:102]: ESPHome version 2022.8.0 compiled on Aug 30 2022, 13:25:18
[13:27:14][C][wifi:491]: WiFi:
[13:27:14][C][wifi:353]:   Local MAC: [redacted]
[13:27:14][C][wifi:354]:   SSID: [redacted]
[13:27:14][C][wifi:355]:   IP Address: 10.0.0.134
[13:27:14][C][wifi:357]:   BSSID: [redacted]
[13:27:14][C][wifi:358]:   Hostname: 'xaio-c3-test1'
[13:27:14][C][wifi:360]:   Signal strength: -27 dB ▂▄▆█
[13:27:14][C][wifi:364]:   Channel: 11
[13:27:14][C][wifi:365]:   Subnet: 255.255.0.0
[13:27:14][C][wifi:366]:   Gateway: 10.0.0.1
[13:27:14][C][wifi:367]:   DNS1: 10.0.0.1
[13:27:14][C][wifi:368]:   DNS2: 0.0.0.0
[13:27:14][C][logger:275]: Logger:
[13:27:14][C][logger:276]:   Level: DEBUG
[13:27:14][C][logger:277]:   Log Baud Rate: 115200
[13:27:14][C][logger:278]:   Hardware UART: UART0
[13:27:14][C][mdns:094]: mDNS:
[13:27:14][C][mdns:095]:   Hostname: xaio-c3-test1
[13:27:14][C][ota:085]: Over-The-Air Updates:
[13:27:14][C][ota:086]:   Address: xaio-c3-test1.local:3232
[13:27:14][C][ota:089]:   Using Password.
[13:27:14][C][api:138]: API Server:
[13:27:14][C][api:139]:   Address: xaio-c3-test1.local:6053
[13:27:14][C][api:143]:   Using noise encryption: NO
[13:27:14][C][wifi_signal.sensor:009]: WiFi Signal 'Xaio-C3 WiFi'
[13:27:14][C][wifi_signal.sensor:009]:   Device Class: 'signal_strength'
[13:27:14][C][wifi_signal.sensor:009]:   State Class: 'measurement'
[13:27:14][C][wifi_signal.sensor:009]:   Unit of Measurement: 'dBm'
[13:27:14][C][wifi_signal.sensor:009]:   Accuracy Decimals: 0
[13:27:21][D][sensor:127]: 'Xaio-C3 WiFi': Sending state -27.00000 dBm with 0 decimals of accuracy
[13:27:31][D][sensor:127]: 'Xaio-C3 WiFi': Sending state -30.00000 dBm with 0 decimals of accuracy
[13:27:41][D][sensor:127]: 'Xaio-C3 WiFi': Sending state -38.00000 dBm with 0 decimals of accuracy
[13:27:51][D][sensor:127]: 'Xaio-C3 WiFi': Sending state -36.00000 dBm with 0 decimals of accuracy
[13:28:01][D][sensor:127]: 'Xaio-C3 WiFi': Sending state -32.00000 dBm with 0 decimals of accuracy
[13:28:11][D][sensor:127]: 'Xaio-C3 WiFi': Sending state -30.00000 dBm with 0 decimals of accuracy
[13:28:21][D][sensor:127]: 'Xaio-C3 WiFi': Sending state -55.00000 dBm with 0 decimals of accuracy
[13:28:31][D][sensor:127]: 'Xaio-C3 WiFi': Sending state -31.00000 dBm with 0 decimals of accuracy
[13:28:41][D][sensor:127]: 'Xaio-C3 WiFi': Sending state -43.00000 dBm with 0 decimals of accuracy
[13:28:51][D][sensor:127]: 'Xaio-C3 WiFi': Sending state -37.00000 dBm with 0 decimals of accuracy
[13:29:01][D][sensor:127]: 'Xaio-C3 WiFi': Sending state -39.00000 dBm with 0 decimals of accuracy
[13:29:11][D][sensor:127]: 'Xaio-C3 WiFi': Sending state -39.00000 dBm with 0 decimals of accuracy

[13:31:50][I][ota:105]: Boot seems successful, resetting boot loop counter.
[13:31:50][D][esp32.preferences:113]: Saving 1 preferences to flash...
[13:31:50][D][esp32.preferences:142]: Saving 1 preferences to flash: 0 cached, 1 written, 0 failed
[13:31:51][D][sensor:127]: 'Xaio-C3 WiFi': Sending state -40.00000 dBm with 0 decimals of accuracy
[13:32:01][D][sensor:127]: 'Xaio-C3 WiFi': Sending state -42.00000 dBm with 0 decimals of accuracy
[13:32:11][D][sensor:127]: 'Xaio-C3 WiFi': Sending state -40.00000 dBm with 0 decimals of accuracy

3 Likes

I have a few of these same Lolin S2 Mini boards, but I haven’t been able to get them working on ESPhome. How are you using them?

There is an open pull request on the esphome project to support this, but it has been sitting idle for a while now waiting to be merged.

What is the problem with them? Do they have some obscure esp32 variant?

Topic is What’s your favourite ESP32 board? (# Best, good, cheap, quality, reliable) :bulb:

Best would be to open a new topic to discuss your problems (and get them solved) :+1:

Only just got around to testing them but can’t get it working with ESPHome. And therefore can’t really recommend them just yet.

There’s a ESPHome Discord thread on the topic: ’ Cant get Lolin S2 mini work ’

Edit: Got it working with details on that thread and right button combination. Haven’t tested in detail yet

Edit#2: I seemed to have stability issues with it and so cannot recommend at this point.

esp32:
  board: lolin_s2_mini
  variant: ESP32S2
  framework:
    type: arduino
    version: 2.0.3
    platform_version: 5.0.0

https://www.wemos.cc/en/latest/tutorials/s2/get_started_with_arduino_s2.html#upload-code

As @orange-assistant suggested though further dicussion should probably go on a dedicated thread.

Is the C3 Mini V2.1.0 - LOLIN good?

I’m interested in using one as a Bluetooth proxy and maybe with sensors eventually.

I think you’d likely find you’d be an early adopter and may find there’s limited information/support around. I can’t comment on the design myself.

The ESPHome Discord has a few posts about it if you do a search. @jesserockz has one.

The jury is still out about my Lolin S2 Mini’s. I seem to be having stability issues but need to do more testing.

1 Like

Are you just using these board settings for the QuinLED? Cheers.

esphome:
  name: 'q1_quinled_quad'
  platform: ESP32
  board: mhetesp32devkit

As @Mahko_Mahko already flagged, the Lolin C3 Mini (v1.0.0 in my case) does not work out of the box.
It did took some trial&error to get it working, but while esp32_ble_tracker is working stable bluetooth_proxy on the other hand will still result in a non reactive state.
In addition, to prevent a bootloop the wifi output_power needs to be set as low as 8.5.
Enjoy the yaml:

esphome:
  name: lolin-c3-1_0_0
  platformio_options:
    board_build.flash_mode: dio  

esp32:
  board: esp32-c3-devkitm-1
  variant: ESP32C3
  framework:
    type: esp-idf
    sdkconfig_options:
      CONFIG_ESP_TASK_WDT_TIMEOUT_S: "10"
      CONFIG_BT_BLE_50_FEATURES_SUPPORTED: y
      CONFIG_BT_BLE_42_FEATURES_SUPPORTED: y

wifi:
  ssid: !secret wifi_ssid
  password: !secret wifi_password
  output_power: 8.5  # will result in a bootloop otherwise

esp32_ble_tracker:
# bluetooth_proxy:  will result in a non reactive state

The Lolin S2 Mini (v1.0.0) took quite some effort as well. No bluetooth support for this ESP32, but it does provide more GPIO and a higher clocked CPU.
Some yaml here as well as the out-of-the-box experience here was also not ok.

esphome:
  name: lolin-s2-1_0_0
  platformio_options:   
    board_build.mcu: esp32s2

esp32:
  board: lolin_s2_mini
  variant: ESP32S2
  framework:
    type: esp-idf
    platform_version: https://github.com/jhamhader/platform-espressif32#8bc085573e4f6986ffcda7050b9607739f3c6976
4 Likes

bluetooth_proxy: will result in a non reactive state

Do you mean that the C3 Mini will not connect to wifi? Because I had this problem. But it works with this config:

note that I have v2.1.0

esphome:
  name: salle-a-manger
  platformio_options:
    board_build.flash_mode: dio

esp32:
  board: esp32-c3-devkitm-1
  framework:
    type: esp-idf
    version: recommended
    sdkconfig_options:
      CONFIG_COMPILER_OPTIMIZATION_SIZE: y
      CONFIG_BT_BLE_42_FEATURES_SUPPORTED: y
    advanced:
      ignore_efuse_mac_crc: false
  variant: esp32c3

logger:

api:
  password: "some_password"
  port: 6053

ota:
  password: "some_password"

wifi:
  output_power: "8.5"
  ssid: "my_ssid"
  password: "another_password"

  ap:
    ssid: "Salle A Manger Fallback Hotspot"
    password: "another_password2"

esp32_ble_tracker:
text_sensor:
  - platform: ble_scanner
    name: "BLE Scanner"

bluetooth_proxy:
  active: true

@tom_l
good afternoon… currently, which Esp32 recommends? especially on AliExpress or somewhere in europe

Good morning, sorry to reply for @tom_l , but I imagine his answer is still What's your favourite ESP32 board? (# Best, good, cheap, quality, reliable) - #3 by tom_l

2 Likes

Ditto for me

1 Like

Does anyone know how Quinled stack-up for low power projects?

Like maybe these kind of metrics?

I didn’t spot anything on the extra board details.

I’m also wondering if disconnecting the led is a viable and worthwhile option.

I’m using it for a battery/solar powered/deep sleep project.

I just received one and cannot install it in ESPhome
Have you received yours ? where have you ordered from ?
(me PiHut … a uk based shot and I received some customs fees cause I’m EU based :cry: )

I’ve posted here :

I’ve used a couple of the Picos them. The C3U is on the shelf, I hope there are no bigger issues setting them up with ESPHome. I wanted to try these days.

M5Stamp Pico (no big surprise here):

esphome:
  name: test
  platform: esp32
  board: pico32

That’s the C3U I’m struggeling with
Even it’s the first time I’m ‘playing’ with those kind of boards
I’m not sure I’ll buy C3U any more

Thx for that quick reponce.

Any one buying from amazon ?
I’ve seen a lot of Ebays, Ali Express
What do you think about this one for eg :
https://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B08BTRQNB3/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A1X7QLRQH87QA3&psc=1

I just ordered from https://thepihut.com/ and had some big customms fees (uk shop and I’m EU based)
fees were 25€ out of a 50€ order :’(

I grouped a few names seen on this post.

Lolin seems to have succes but not all supported and long delivery time from what i see.
LILYGO® TTGO T7 V1.5 Mini32 also on aliexpress seemed to have more then one good review here !

  • QuinLED-ESP32
  • Olimex POE
  • MH-ET LIVE D1 mini’s
  • LILYGO® TTGO T7 V1.5 Mini32 > more than one good comment
  • LOLIN D1 mini
  • Waveshare ESP32 One A Mini
  • TinyPICO
  • MicroDev microS2
  • Seeed Studio Xaio ESP32-C3
  • nodemcu V4
  • wesp32
  • Lolin S2 Mini > attention
  • Lolin C3 Mini > attention

I have a M5stack STAMP-C3U > first time playing with those but I’m struggeling

Really, we can’t see your cart on amazon.