ESP32 range enhancement with external wifi antenna. How far will it go?

[@fredbloggs4829]

In the world of antennas, bigger is not better. You want an efficient antenna (probably 1/4 wavelength) that radiates as much of the transmitted power as possible. I would think a good starting point is to use your phone running the app WiFi Analyzer which will give you an indication of the transmitted power increase as you change the antenna. This way you can put a number to the dB gain by using the external antenna for transmit. Also I wonder if ESP has the equivalent of WiFi Analyzer where you can display the received power. Again this gives you a quantative number for the gain of the receive antenna - I would expect roughly the same Tx/Rx gain. You could then experiment with different antennas to see which are more efficient.

[@jamiegoegebeur2239]

Awesome content! And sense of range is hard to judge sometimes. Good results

[@EctoMorpheus]

Nice test! 40 meters is MUCH more than I'd have expected from the builtin antenna...

[@patilmm123]

Bro its 80 meters not 40..watch video till the end 😂 he wrote results at the end

[@jackd6134]

I would think the better approach is to use directional antennas at proper lengths per frequency used, and/or boost power to them? Andreas Spiess has done a lot on this.

[@wattage2007]

Your antennae orientation is all wrong. With the antennae pointing like swords at each other, the radiation is being is being focused 90° away from where it should be. With dipoles like these they’re supposed to be parallel to each other.

[@BlondieSL]

I know that this is an old video, but I'm not surprised that the distance didn't increase substantially. For one, that antenna is way too long for 2.4Ghz. For this frequency, the antennas are about 1/2 to 1/3 the length of what you have there. When not cut to the right frequency, there's a degradation in performance. I'm just now getting into ESP32, coming from Arduino and nRF2401 radios, so I wonder if with the ESP32 you can select the radio's transmitter power level. On the Arduino with nRF2401 you can select several power levels. I have been using full power as I have some distances here as well as obstacles. Using the right antenna really does help increase range. I saw a video where this guy, who really knows the nRF24, demonstrated how, with an external "outdoor" long-range antenna and being a high elevations, he was actually able to get about 15 KM (I think it was).... seriously far range! But that was up high, mountain range to mountain range, line of sight, not obstacles. I have some of the nRF24 radios that don't work so well, but I kept them for parts. I'll be able to desolder the connectors, solder to the ESP32s and use the antennas that I know already work. THIS is where I hope that there's a way to actually see a signal level strength. -In fact, I'll research that now.- STRIKE THAT. I just remembered that I did see a guy capture info of WiFi signals around and it did show signal levels. so.. YAYYY!

[@yasyasmarangoz3577]

Thank you, even if the comment seems a bit chaotic.

[@ijustwants]

Hmm.... I did a test yeasterday and went out to 620m and still had signal. I used a 32U version with U.fl connector and a shorter antenna

[@patilmm123]

Which connector u said?

[@ultrabob]

Hi I just tumbled on this video and am also messing with ESP32 in Japan. I think Jeany is likely into something with her comment about your new antenna not being used even though you soldered it in. The esp32-cam comes with an antenna connection, but to make it work you need to move a resistor to away from the internal antenna and on to the external antenna. You can only use one at a time. I assume a similar process is required for the wiring in an antenna for esp32 prime.

[@ringoton]

As I was researching in the internet I had found a guide for connecting an external antenna, I just followed that blindly. If an additional resistor is necessary, that would explain why my range is so short. Apparently, there is also a special wifi setting for ESP32 for long range. I might have to try that one out as well. In any case, I just wanted to make sure my remote control would be sufficient for visual operation, therefore my current setup covers that range completely :)

[@RaisalPradiptaBro]

@@ringoton No your method is correct. the resistor @ultrabob mentioned is just but a 0 Ohm resistor used as a jumper to select whether to use the PCB antenna or the external antenna (IPX connector) that exist on WROOM-1U model. The extended range is also reasonable, imo. Do keep in mind that PCB antenna does have directionality. Not to mention when u were testing it, the perf board were directly obstructing the line of sight between ur reciever and transmitter; possibly affecting the transmitted signal. If you had flipped the facing direction of your receiver, you might've gained a bit of distance increase when using the PCB antenna..

[@MR-wm3nn]

Very very good!

[@jeanyluisa8483]

Size matters, but it's still not always as bigger as better. Your optimism to get a bigger reach because of the size of this anttennas makes me a bit suspicious. Antennas dont have toi be big, their length must match the frequency. I think those ESP modules you buy with an external antenna, come with shorter ones. So maybe it makes sense to try another antenna or even buy an Esp module with external antenna. Another thing is, that you have to cut some traces to disconnect the integrated antenna when you add an internal one. The video doesnt show if you did that.

[@njoudsaleh3025]

Good job! I wanna ask about the antenna ? Any specific characteristics ?

[@tahayt6142]

Is there not a board that u can plug the pins in to a antenna mod

[@MR-wm3nn]

Thanks!!!

[@ashishmalaviya]

150Meter is not bad at all, do you think putting on hight will give you more range?

[@vulcan4d]

My Esp32 has crap bluetooth, gets about 15ft from my temperature monitors. Hope an antenna will fix it.

[@saokogroup]

It will be better with panel directional antennas.

[@TheSharathbhushan]

It's a nice test :) Can you please share the link of the wifi antenna ? :)

[@jimsnodgrass8454]

Great comparative demo. Thanks

[@agussuwardono1373]

Good work broow...👍👍👍👍

[@bamsfamily2419]

hello dude, sorry,how many dBi is that external antenna?

[@congbang2709]

Did you use Long Range mode (WIFI_PROTOCOL_LR) on your transmitter? I think you will get range > 200m

[@ringoton]

I used esp-now protocol. I don't think that has a LR mode.

[@uranium_donut]

From 1:32 it's just a backwards bhop montage

[@thetechbuddy8432]

Nice bro

[@0x19840228]

You're filming in Yokohama.

[@ringoton]

Actually, it's Tokyo ;)

[@Leilektsoglou]

This trace is grounded, just I wanted to point it out.

[@BlondieSL]

Yes, the trace does show a "short" condition. I wondered about why that was. However, from what I'm reading, it seems that once the 2 end traces are separated, one is still ground (the one closest to the edge) while the other is the actual antenna connection into the module. That's something that I'll do once I get the network going. I just started with ESP32 today only. LOL I've been an Arduino guy for years and finally "moved up." LOL As I learn the radio system on the ESP32, I HOPE that, like the Arduino, it's possible to select the radio's transmit power levels. I also HOPE that UNLIKE the Arduino nRF24 radios, that there's a way to actually monitor true signal strength. So far, I'm liking this ESP32.

[@Leilektsoglou]

@@BlondieSL So the more distant trace from the edge u r talking about (not the grounded but what is left of this trace), goes somewhere?

[@edinfific2576]

An annoying choice of background "tunes".

[@ringoton]

Could you recommend me something that would be better?