2Pcs USB to ESP8266 ESP-01 - Review

If you are a tech enthusiast or someone who works with embedded systems, you are probably familiar with the ESP8266 module. This tiny module is known for its WiFi capabilities and is widely used in IoT applications. However, working with this module requires some form of communication interface. That's where the Shutao 2Pcs USB to ESP8266 ESP-01 ESP-01S Serial to WiFi Module Adapter comes in. In this product review, we'll take a look at this adapter and see how it stacks up.

First impressions

The Shutao adapter comes in a small plastic box that contains two adapters and a short USB cable. The adapters are designed to fit the ESP-01 and ESP-01S versions of the ESP8266 module. The first thing I noticed was the overall quality of the adapters. The PCBs were well designed and soldered, and all components were securely attached. The USB connector and the toggle switch felt sturdy and of good quality.

Installation and setup

Using the adapter is very straightforward. Simply plug in the ESP8266 module onto the adapter, connect the USB cable to your computer, and you're ready to go. The adapter uses the CH340 serial interface chip, which is widely used in many USB-to-serial adapters. The driver for the CH340 chip can be easily found on the internet and is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

After installing the driver, I connected the adapter to my computer and opened a serial console program. The adapter was automatically detected, and I was able to communicate with the ESP8266 module. I tested the adapter with a simple program that prints a message through the serial port, and it worked flawlessly.

Features

Aside from the basic USB-to-serial functionality, the Shutao adapter has some additional features. The adapter has a 1000uF polymer capacitor that helps ensure a stable power supply to the ESP8266 module. This is important since power problems can be a common cause of instability in these modules. The adapter also uses a 3255 crystal oscillator, which enhances the stability of the serial port.

Another notable feature of the adapter is the toggle switch that allows you to select the working mode. There are two modes available: UART and PROG. In UART mode, the adapter acts as a serial TTL interface, allowing you to communicate with the ESP8266 module using standard AT commands. This is useful for debugging and testing your code. In PROG mode, the adapter acts as a programmer, allowing you to flash new firmware to the ESP8266 module. This is a very convenient feature since it eliminates the need for an additional programmer.

Performance

In terms of performance, the Shutao adapter worked very well. The serial communication was stable and reliable, and I was able to communicate with the ESP8266 module without any issues. The adapter also performed well in firmware programming mode, allowing me to flash new firmware to the ESP8266 module without any problems.

Conclusion

Overall, the Shutao 2Pcs USB to ESP8266 ESP-01 ESP-01S Serial to WiFi Module Adapter is a great product that offers a lot of value for its price. The adapter is well designed and made of quality components, and the additional features like the power stabilizer capacitor and the toggle switch make it a very versatile tool. I highly recommend this product to anyone who works with the ESP8266 module, whether you are a hobbyist or a professional. It's a great investment that will save you a lot of time and effort.

2Pcs USB to ESP8266 ESP-01

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