Duet3D Logo Duet3D
    • Tags
    • Documentation
    • Order
    • Register
    • Login

    Converting the Duet WiFi to use an external antenna

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved
    Duet Hardware and wiring
    10
    27
    10.5k
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • Edward_Spudundefined
      Edward_Spud
      last edited by

      For anyone interested in replacing the WiFi module, link to ESP-07S data sheet below:

      https://www.rfsolutions.co.uk/downloads/1494602250ESP-07S_Datasheet.pdf

      Depending upon your location and your preferred supplier, the module will cost between £3.00 and <£2.00, e.g. http://www.electrodragon.com/product/esp-07s-esp8266-serial-wifi-module/

      You will also need a IPEX/u.FL to SMA adaptor coax lead, similar to:

      http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/IPX-u-fl-to-SMA-Jack-Female-Bulkhead-Pigtail-Cable-Mini-PCI-RF-Assemblies-15cm-/282614159063?hash=item41cd1dd6d7:

      and a

      2.4GHz antenna, similar to:

      https://www.wifi-antennas.co.uk/2db-sma-male-omni-directional-antenna-2-4ghz.html

      I would guess that most hobbyists will have a spare 2.4GHz antenna somewhere in the house (i.e. supplied with that old WiFi router you previously upgraded) however if you do need to purchase, make sure you get one with a SMA to match the coax lead (or if you already have a RP-SMA antenna, make sure you purchase a Coax with a RP-SMA connector to suit! - you cannot mix RP-SMA and SMA connectors.

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • Willy510undefined
        Willy510
        last edited by

        I did the modification on one of my Duet's and it did improve my signal strength but there are easier ways to do that than possibly ruining the control board. I would not recommend this mod for the novice or faint of heart. It can go really well or really bad in the space of a few seconds. But if you still want to do it one thing that wasn't mentioned is that you will have to load the wifiserver bin on to the new wifi module once you solder it on via USB and SD card using an M997 S1 command or at least thats how I got mine to work.

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • fmaundefined
          fma
          last edited by

          David, do you confirm that this module is OK?

          https://www.ebay.fr/itm/ESP8266-ESP-07S-Power-Set-32Mbit-Flash-I-O-Adapter-6dbi-Antenne-IPEX-Adapt/282350765775

          Frédéric

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • dc42undefined
            dc42 administrators
            last edited by

            Yes, the ESP-07S is OK.

            Duet WiFi hardware designer and firmware engineer
            Please do not ask me for Duet support via PM or email, use the forum
            http://www.escher3d.com, https://miscsolutions.wordpress.com

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • fmaundefined
              fma
              last edited by

              thanks.

              Frédéric

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • fmaundefined
                fma
                last edited by

                Ok, I just changed my wifi module, but I can't set ssid/password (get "Bad or missing parameter"). Here are the logs:

                >>> M997 S1
                SENDING:M997 S1
                Trying to connect at 460800 baud:
                 success
                Erasing 302928 bytes...
                Uploading file...
                5% complete
                10% complete
                15% complete
                20% complete
                25% complete
                30% complete
                35% complete
                40% complete
                45% complete
                50% complete
                55% complete
                60% complete
                65% complete
                70% complete
                75% complete
                80% complete
                85% complete
                90% complete
                95% complete
                Upload successful
                >>> M552 S0
                SENDING:M552 S0
                WiFi module started
                >>> M587 Sxxx Pxyyy
                SENDING:M587 Sxxx Pyyy
                M587: Bad or missing parameter
                >>> M122
                SENDING:M122
                === Diagnostics ===
                Used output buffers: 1 of 32 (9 max)
                === Platform ===
                RepRapFirmware for Duet WiFi version 1.20beta8 running on Duet WiFi 1.0
                Board ID: 08DDM-9FAM2-LW4S8-6JTDG-3SD6Q-13YRX
                Static ram used: 15488
                Dynamic ram used: 99136
                Recycled dynamic ram: 64
                Stack ram used: 4328 current, 5532 maximum
                Never used ram: 10852
                Last reset 00:19:36 ago, cause: reset button or watchdog
                Last software reset reason: User, spinning module GCodes, available RAM 11504 bytes (slot 4)
                Software reset code 0x0003, HFSR 0x00000000, CFSR 0x00000000, ICSR 0x00400000, BFAR 0xe000ed38, SP 0xffffffff
                Error status: 0
                [ERROR] Error status: 0
                
                Free file entries: 10
                SD card 0 detected, interface speed: 20.0MBytes/sec
                SD card longest block write time: 0.0ms
                MCU temperature: min 26.4, current 27.2, max 27.4
                Supply voltage: min 1.7, current 1.7, max 1.7, under voltage events: 0, over voltage events: 0
                Driver 0: ok
                Driver 1: ok
                Driver 2: ok
                Driver 3: ok
                Driver 4: ok
                Date/time: 1970-01-01 00:00:00
                Cache data hit count 1442288766
                Slowest main loop (seconds): 3.074205; fastest: 0.000033
                === Move ===
                MaxReps: 0, StepErrors: 0, FreeDm: 240, MinFreeDm 240, MaxWait: 0ms, Underruns: 0, 0
                Scheduled moves: 0, completed moves: 0
                Bed compensation in use: none
                Bed probe heights: 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
                === Heat ===
                Bed heater = 0, chamber heater = -1
                === GCodes ===
                Segments left: 0
                Stack records: 1 allocated, 0 in use
                Movement lock held by null
                http is idle in state(s) 0
                telnet is idle in state(s) 0
                file is idle in state(s) 0
                serial is ready with "M122" in state(s) 0
                aux is idle in state(s) 0
                daemon is idle in state(s) 0
                queue is idle in state(s) 0
                autopause is idle in state(s) 0
                Code queue is empty.
                Network state is running
                WiFi module is idle
                Failed messages: pending 0, notready 0, noresp 0
                WiFi firmware version 1.20b9
                WiFi MAC address 5c:cf:7f:61:99:c5
                WiFi Vcc 3.35, reset reason Turned on by main processor
                WiFi flash size 4194304, free heap 32376
                HTTP sessions: 0 of 8
                Socket states:  0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
                Responder states: HTTP(0) HTTP(0) HTTP(0) HTTP(0) FTP(0) Telnet(0)
                
                

                Any idea?

                Frédéric

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • dc42undefined
                  dc42 administrators
                  last edited by

                  Are you putting the ssid and password inside double quote characters?

                  Duet WiFi hardware designer and firmware engineer
                  Please do not ask me for Duet support via PM or email, use the forum
                  http://www.escher3d.com, https://miscsolutions.wordpress.com

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • fmaundefined
                    fma
                    last edited by

                    Yes. I tried with Pronterface (using single quote to prefix each lower case char), and with minicom. Same error each time.

                    Whatever I use as S/P values, I get the error.

                    Did I fry the esp module? I don't think, as the firmware was successfully updated, but…

                    Frédéric

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • fmaundefined
                      fma
                      last edited by

                      I just upgraded to lastest stable firmwares (1.20), and all is now working fine!

                      Frédéric

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • fmaundefined
                        fma
                        last edited by

                        I have a question… M122 returns:

                        WiFi signal strength -73dBm
                        
                        

                        But my router says:

                        Signal    Noise     RX Rate       TX Rate
                        -59 dBm   -89 dBm   54.0 Mbit/s   65.0 Mbit/s
                        
                        

                        Why is there such difference in signal level? In fact, while I'm now using the ESP-07 with a +6dB gain antenna, the signal level returned by M122 didn't changes that much (I think I was around -75dB before)…

                        Frédéric

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • garyd9undefined
                          garyd9
                          last edited by

                          Large differences is wifi signal strength are normal for differing wifi devices. Each one "hears" the other differently. This can be due so many different factors it's impractical to enumerate. Usually, it's different radio power, different antennas, or different propagation paths.

                          In your case, it appears the router has "bigger ears" (better antenna.)

                          "I'm not saying that you are wrong - I'm just trying to fit it into my real world simulated experience."

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • fmaundefined
                            fma
                            last edited by

                            Ok, I see.

                            But why switching from the default ESP (no antenna) to the new one (6dB gain antenna) didn't change that much the signal strength returned by the Duet?

                            I don't have signal values given by the router with the default ESP (didn't think to read it at the time); so I don't know if it really changed. But the thing is I know have a much better connection: transfers are very fast and I don't get any disconnection anymore.

                            Frédéric

                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • dc42undefined
                              dc42 administrators
                              last edited by

                              If M122 is telling you that the signal strength is -73dBm now, that is already very low. If it was even lower before, that would explain the disconnections you had.

                              Which wifi channel is your router set to? Does the reported signal strength vary if you switch between channels 1, 6 and 11?

                              Duet WiFi hardware designer and firmware engineer
                              Please do not ask me for Duet support via PM or email, use the forum
                              http://www.escher3d.com, https://miscsolutions.wordpress.com

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • fmaundefined
                                fma
                                last edited by

                                Yes, it is low. But, as said, real transmissions work much better and faster, now. And no more disconnection.

                                I will make tests with different channels (I think I'm on channel 1 - the router is in auto and chose this one).

                                Frédéric

                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • parovoZZundefined
                                  parovoZZ
                                  last edited by

                                  Hi!

                                  I have WiFi signal strength -61dBm in three meters from the router. The ESP-07 has a very very weak antenna ((
                                  I will change to ESP-07S or connect external to ESP-07.
                                  Laptop, iPhone, Nokia etc. - everything works fine.

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • fmaundefined
                                    fma
                                    last edited by

                                    I used a wifi analyser on my phone, and noticed that there where 3 other AP on channel 1. In fact, it depends where I am in the house, and on the AP side, they are not detected. So the AP chose this channel. But on the printer side, they where as powerfull as my AP!

                                    I moved to channel 3, unused by other wifi AP, and I now have -66dB strength…

                                    Frédéric

                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • ephemerisundefined
                                      ephemeris
                                      last edited by

                                      Will this be available as a build option?

                                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • martinsundefined
                                        martins
                                        last edited by

                                        ESP-07S sold out in RS-online 🙂 how thats possible

                                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                        • S1lencerundefined
                                          S1lencer
                                          last edited by

                                          Hi, i have a problem since i changed the Module.
                                          I can only connect to the Duet Wifi in Accesspoint mode. If i change it to M552S1 it only says: Wifi reported error: no known networks found.
                                          The wifi is defenitly present.
                                          Did flash the right firmware files main as also the Wifiserver one.
                                          Running 1.21

                                          Anyone a clue why this could be?

                                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • S1lencerundefined
                                            S1lencer
                                            last edited by

                                            Got the Problem solved.
                                            David, i think the firmware 1.21 has a problem with loading the M587 with the Router data from the config.g to the remembered list.
                                            Got my problem solved with Repetier host, did send the M587 with ssid and password via g-code console.

                                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                            • First post
                                              Last post
                                            Unless otherwise noted, all forum content is licensed under CC-BY-SA