DEVLOG #16

The ESP was not the problem

After the original PCB failed during WLAN authentication, I redesigned the mmWave carrier as PCB-02 and isolated the ESP to find the real cause.

PCB-02 replaces the too-small ESP contact pads with proper through-hole header rows, keeps the case-compatible outline, protects the antenna area, and retains the SMD capacitors. The routing and electrical checks passed, and the Gerbers are ready to order.

The important experiment came next. I unsoldered the suspect ESP from the old PCB and powered it by itself. It joined csi-test, answered every ping, and returned HTTP 200 from /ota/status. A second ESP did exactly the same without any PCB attached.

This was the key finding: both ESPs work outside the PCB. The earlier auth → init failure is therefore very unlikely to be a dead ESP. The likely cause is the old PCB assembly, its soldered fly-wires, power delivery, or the antenna/contact area.

The LD2450 UART and radar path are still unverified.

Next: as an interim solution, continue on a breadboard with one known-good ESP and the LD2450 before moving to manufactured PCB-02.