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Cheap WiFi / BLE Antennas

shabaz

I don't know how long they have been available, but anyone noticed that Raspberrypi.com do cheap antennas?: Mnfr product code SC0480 .

It is intended for the Pi Compute Module 4 according to the datasheet, but that's no reason not to use it for other purposes.

The antenna is approx 108 mm long. The supplied cable has about 180 mm of coax between the end connectors.

image

The cable has a U.FL connector at one end. Annoyingly, the other connection on the cable/antenna is reverse-polarity SMA (i.e., RP-SMA) and not normal SMA (it's because these are low-cost consumer antennas, so RP-SMA will prevent users from attaching higher-gain antennas to the connector. Still, it's a bit weird because I thought most Compute Module use-cases would be industrial/enterprise, not consumer-oriented).

Still, not bad for the low price if you need a WiFi and/or BLE antenna.

image

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  • Nice.
    Now, on to find a way to attach this to an ESP32 board with an integrated antenna and no UFL connector...

  • in reply to obones

    That will be not easy, however there are some ESP modules with U.FL connector instead, but otherwise compatible, so that could be an option too.

    I ended up using a couple of these raspberrypi antennas for Bluetooth audio. I retrofitted Bluetooth audio input into a 1990's Pioneer Hi-Fi separates system for a friend (and stuck a metallic Bluetooth sticker on the Tape 2 button, it's now doing a much more useful thing!). And retrofitted an ultra-high-end Pioneer car stereo too (it's got a glowing valve/tube at the front..).

    I didn't take any or many photos unfortunately, and am away from PC to check, otherwise I would have shared a photo.

  • in reply to shabaz

    Photo of the Hi-Fi upgrade..

    The Bluetooth board is visible at the left side, It's on a custom board with custom power supply etc. I put the Pioneer logo onto the copper layer (gold plating to look nice!). At the top of the photo there is a non-flammable plastic cover over the terminals, to prevent anyone electrocuting themselves with their finger etc even if they open the chassis.

    image

    The power regulator feeding the Bluetooth board:

    image

    These are the only photos I have : (

  • in reply to shabaz

    Very cool! This turned out really nice.

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