ESP8266-XX - buy vs build - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: eclipse_real
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 20, 2018, 09:49:49 pm
content: I was looking at all the ESP models and it seems there is nothing that really suits my requirement.I think the ESP-05 would be great, since it allows an external antenna, and pin headers, however, most of those only ship with 512K of flash. I was hoping to get a bit more... 4MB would be perfect. Considering my code is 650k, and I want to be able to do OTA updates, I'm stuck.The 12E has 4MB but doesn't have the smc external antenna mount or pin headers. I can get them with nodemcu's but still don't have the antenna and now the price just went up for the cp2102 built in...So the question is - what's the best thing to do here?I asked a few suppliers on ALIbaba if they can do the ESP-05 with 4MB and am waiting to see what happens.But should I just try to dig up the schematics and then get a custom PCBA done for this so that I can get the 05 with a 4MB chip- or am I missing something blatantly obvious here.Again the requirement is->ESP8266 with:-4MB flash-smc external antenna mount-pin headersThanks...

author: The Doktor
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 20, 2018, 11:30:46 pm
content: I don't believe you can program an ESP-05, due to lack of pins. Buy your ESP-05, and a module you can program, like ESP-01. Replace the ESP-01 memory module with the 4MB part, program it with something that includes OTA updating, then transplant your programmed 4MB memory to the ESP-05. Now you have an ESP-05 with 4MB memory which can be updated OTAJust be sure that any programs you upload to it include the OTA update function.Ed

author: Nusa
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 21, 2018, 01:15:06 am
content: I'd suggest the ESP-07S, which will have your memory and antenna connector. Any ESP-07 breakout board should work, or you can roll your own.http://wiki.ai-thinker.com/_media/esp8266/docs/aithinker_esp_07s_datasheet_en.pdf

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 21, 2018, 01:18:22 am
content: ESP07 doesnt have pin headers.ESP201 would work but all I see are 4mbit versions.I'm sure you can find something on ali, its just a question of if its worth the price and if size is a problem or not:https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1PCS-WAVGAT-D1-mini-Pro-16M-bytes-external-antenna-connector-ESP8266-WIFI/32803100718.htmlIf ESP05 is great, then get that and transplant your own flash with hot air as suggested by Doktor.

author: Nusa
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 21, 2018, 01:31:27 am
content: I know that, I said that. But if you can't have it all off the shelf, the pin-header requirement is the easiest one to solve yourself. Soldering the module to an adapter is way easier than transplanting memory chips.

author: The Doktor
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 21, 2018, 02:01:38 am
content: Quote from: Nusa on February 21, 2018, 01:31:27 amYou serious? It's a little chip with generous lead spacing.And where does the adapter come from?

author: Nusa
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 21, 2018, 03:02:05 am
content: Quote from: The Doktor on February 21, 2018, 02:01:38 amNot nearly as generous as the 2mm pitch pads of the module. And off the shelf breakouts are available and cheap:https://www.aliexpress.com/item/10pcs-For-ESP8266-WiFi-Module-Breakout-Board-Adapter-Plate-for-ESP-07-ESP-12-ESP-08/32771538892.html

author: krho
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 21, 2018, 06:45:00 pm
content: The Wroom modules from Espressif itself don't work for you? They now have the ones with external antenna connector. Flash itself AFAIR is still limited to 2MiB

author: eclipse_real
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 22, 2018, 08:35:50 pm
content: OK - thanks a lot guys, I couldn't find the wroom module with the external antenna, but I did find this wemos d1 mini pro. Seems the basic ESP sets didn't have exactly what I needed but going outside to these other brands / models solved it.It has 16MB and the smc for mounting an external antenna.It also has the pin headers I needed and can be powered by the 5V pin or USB.Price is pretty good too. I just grabbed one from ebay now for testing, but in quantity on Alibaba they seem to be decent.A link to their WIKI...https://wiki.wemos.cc/products:d1:d1_mini_pro

author: krho
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2018, 01:22:07 pm
content: ESP-WROOM-02U

author: eclipse_real
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 23, 2018, 06:01:41 pm
content: -> ESP-WROOM-02U this does not have an external antenna mount.