Pete´s Playground

My personal log of various projects

Converting a NodeMCU (ESP-12F)/Duet 2 WiFi to a ESP 07(S) without a Hotair Solder Station

If you are using and NodeMCU or Duet 2 WiFi in a metal box the signal strenght of the WiFi would be quite bad.

So a external antenna is needed. Two options are possible

The trickiest part is the desoldering of the Modul.

  • Using and HotAir Station is the "normal" way to do it. Heat the solder points of the ESP up and it comes easily loose
  • But not everybody got and hotair station. But there is a way to do it without!:

For the desoldering without hotair you will need:

  1. Soldering iron
  2. Copper wire
  3. Solder
  4. Solder wick
  5. ESP07(S) modul

My inspiration for this comes from this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVsmwFAkf7I&t

Step 1 is bending the copper wire like this

Step 2 applying a lot of solder to the wire so it become a giant "solder snake". Then heat everthing out and push the ESP away

Step 3 ESP is now desolderd. Now clean the solderpoints with some solder wick and retin them

Step 4 Place the ESP07(S) on the old solder points. And solder the modul onto the board

Step 5 After soldering the board so not forget to reflash the firmware of the ESP!

Step 6 Finish! You can now use an external antenna with the NodeMCU

August 27, 2020

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