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ESP32-C3 SuperMini connecting to wifi work only when touching antenna

Posted: Wed Sep 18, 2024 10:23 am
by jingo09
Hi, I bought a new board and I can only connect to wifi when I touch with my finger (some other objects might also work) above or on the side of the antenna or under the antenna (under the pcb). this is only help when i try to connect to wifi but with esp-now delivery is failed.
I tried a separate power supply but still the same. What can cause that issue and dose anyone have a fix for this?

Re: ESP32-C3 SuperMini connecting to wifi work only when touching antenna

Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2024 7:47 am
by MicroController

Re: ESP32-C3 SuperMini connecting to wifi work only when touching antenna

Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2024 10:33 am
by jingo09
MicroController wrote:
Thu Sep 19, 2024 7:47 am
May be the same issue: https://esp32.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=41899#p137764
Thank you, it worked. I needed also WIFI_STA before and 40/10db.

Code: Select all

WiFi.mode(WIFI_STA);
esp_wifi_set_max_tx_power(40); 
Dose the cause of the problem is the board circuit? I noticed it different than my other ones and it also doesn't look the same as the product page image.

Re: ESP32-C3 SuperMini connecting to wifi work only when touching antenna

Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2024 4:30 pm
by Fusion
It is related to antenna design. I made a custom board where it was very hard to implement the recommended antenna keep-out clearance and used a similar ceramic antenna. I had to reduce tx power to get it to connect to networks. This is not an issue if the board is always close to the router.

Re: ESP32-C3 SuperMini connecting to wifi work only when touching antenna

Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2024 5:31 pm
by jingo09
Fusion wrote:
Thu Sep 19, 2024 4:30 pm
the recommended antenna keep-out clearance
I see now, the good boards have a lot more clearance and they also have small holes. thanks.

Re: ESP32-C3 SuperMini connecting to wifi work only when touching antenna

Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2024 9:37 am
by BerndN
I tested the workaround

Code: Select all

WiFi.mode(WIFI_STA);
esp_wifi_set_max_tx_power(40);
Then I saw in
http://esp32.io/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=42069
the pin 21 issue.
I soldered out the single row male pin 21 and removed

Code: Select all

esp_wifi_set_max_tx_power(40);
again and it connected every time. :shock: