How to add an external antenna to an ESP32-CAM (2 methods)

In this video, I show the process of adding an external antenna to a ESP32-CAM with either a hot air gun or soldering iron.
This provides better signal integrity which can help with more stable frames and less external interference on the camera stream.This is a documentation video for EyeTrackVR

Timestamps:
0:00 - Using a hot air gun
2:10 - Using a soldering iron

Equipment used in this video:

Links:

Music used:

[ratkocom]

Thanks a lot. just used my esp32-cam for 3 days with external antena, till I moved it to another room and realized, that there is something wrong. Just soldered the resistor and removed it. Just bridged the the Pins and that was it. 🙂

[baxter]

Very clear and straight forward. Thanx! 👍🏿

[jumbo]

They should just use pin jumper. This is bad design.

[volkinaxe]

thanks now my esp32 can work from the other side of the hose now

[being]

Just so y’all know, you can usually pull two antennas from one laptop is you have a dead one lying around.

Both are usually located in the bezel of the laptop and have one wire each leading down to a small WiFi board attached to the laptop’s motherboard

[bserking]

Thanks for the video. Again YT didn't failed me with my random questions :)

[igeekeu]

Great job, thx . I got to try because got bad signal outside

[adicsbtw]

Very helpful. I think I just need better tools at this point. I'm like 90% sure the "flux" that shipped with my kit is just candle wax at this point lol

[SKDong-czno]

In the second method, the resistor is not necessary?

[akaoui]

Can i remove the resistance and do a bridge between pad directly ?

[KattSenpai]

will there be a setup for the wired versions (FREENOVE ESP32-S3-WROOM CAM Board)? as the documentation isnt really clear on what to do for wired and im kinda lost

[HABIBURRAHMAN-kwhg]

Ok, I had a problem. The connection from the metal cover (where the esp32 is located) is ruined. There is no solder left in that connection. And I couldn't solder it with the external antenna connection.

[pumpkinbook]

Hey, thanks for the video.

I just went and bought the recommended parts and figured I'd take a look through the guide to see what I'm getting into. Quick question, do the XIAO ESP32-S3 Sense Modules that are currently recommended still need this kind of work done on them to avoid interference with Vive trackers if I'm planning on using it wired anyways?

[metalfusionf]

Argh. tried to solder this and failed. I don't have such fine tip for the solder iron and the solder refused to stick to the pads, instead flowing around the tip to the metal cover. The board became a mess of burt flux and in the end I managed to fill the antenna connector with solder, game over :(

[seibastianmustermann]

Does anyone know where the left contact goes? I accidentally ripped the pad out. the middle one is fine

[ConorFenlon]

I just bricked my board trying to do this... Word of warning, DO NOT attempt this if you don't have a needle-point soldering tip, and good quality flux and solder!

[megamacy]

why dont they just add a little dip to it -.-

[hubertchang]

Damn the second method is so hard. A lot of solder went into the hole where the antenna is supposed to be inserted... now my board is broken...

[forrest]

Your pronunciation of solder… is interesting

[jerrysyd]

it is so small can't really see it