Add External Antenna to Pi Zero 2 W [Comparison, Tutorial, and Benchmarks]
14,712
Published 2021-12-03
In this video, we go over a comparison of the main improvements of the new Pi Zero series board over the previous generation, we benchmark to show the performance improvements, and then show how to add an external antenna to the new board, both using a hot air rework station, and just a regular soldering iron with a chisel tip. Also just for kicks, we see what happens if you don't fully disconnect the PCB antenna (Hint: performance becometh blah).
GIVEAWAY HAD ENDED
Congratulations to the winners!
• Eusebiu M. from Romania
• Ben R. from Melbourne, Australia
• Scott K. from California, USA
• Theofanis M. from Larnaca, Cyprus
• Luigi S. from Padua, Italy
Original giveaway link: gleam.io/subpl/raspberry-pi-zero-2-w-giveaway
I modified a few Pis and am making them available in case anyone wants to get one that already has the modification. They are available here (until I run out):
Pi Zero 2 W - www.ebay.com/itm/115117982940
If you already have a Pi and want it modified, check out the service here: funand.tech/shop
Timestamps:
0:00 - Introduction
0:21 - Changes in new board
1:13 - Benchmark comparison
2:30 - Adding External Antenna (Hot Air Technique)
4:35 - Adding External Antenna (Soldering Iron Only Technique)
7:34 - Why you should cut the trace
8:29 - Closing remarks
WiFi Measurement Script:
github.com/techdude/misc/blob/main/measure_wifi.py
Parts used in the video:
$15 - Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W: www.adafruit.com/product/5291
$1.91 - 206994-0100 Molex antenna: Mouser or Digikey
$0.69 - CONUFL001-SMD Linx U.FL Coax SMD: Mouser or Digikey
Other videos in this series:
Pi Zero W - • Add External Antenna to Pi Zero W [Tu...
Pi 3 and older - • Add External Antenna to Pi 3 and Pi 4...
Pi 4 - • Add External Antenna to Pi 4 [Detaile...
Music:
"Desert Sunrise" by Chris Huelsbeck.
"Woot the Funk (Why Not?)" by Chris Huelsbeck.
Used under a royalty-free license, please visit www.patreon.com/chris_huelsbeck for more info!
All Comments (21)
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The Signal with the built in antenna would have been amazing for comparison! :D To see how much an added antenna improoves it all.
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Absolutely fantastic detail. Thanks very much for the vid.
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I'm glad there's a tutorial like this. I've got a CaribouLite on the way, so I decided to pick up a 2 W CanaKit. I want to add an external antenna because I'm worried about the SDR blocking the wifi antenna in some orientations, and I think it'd be cool to have an enclosure with 3 radio antennas sticking out from it :P
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Thanks for your fantastic video! I just finished my mod of my Pi zero 2, and works wonders.
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I purchased one of your modded W 1s at the beginning of 2021 and it worked great. I'll be checking your eBay page for these to be back in stock so I can also grab a modded W 2s.
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\i did this to my pi 4 once using your video and man was it difficult to do with my simple iron but i got it. This Explanation sure is an upgrade and would've helped back then and will for the next one!
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Hey, your tutorials are amazing. We want to feature them on our channel (with proper credits). If it sounds good, then kindly reply.
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Any update on the winners of the contest? Thanks for offering the chance at the modded board. It is very kind of you.
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Congratulations for your manual skills. Which microscope are you using ?
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Thank you for this. I went to a laptop repair shop, they have the right tools for this job. It works better with external antenna but there it's a problem, the board gets very hot. I did the test with 2 boards, the one I added external antenna and another one with normal antenna. The boards are raspberry pi zero 2 w. Did you noticed any increase in temperature after adding the external antenna? Thank you.
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Did you measured the signal level of the on board antenna as well?
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Hello and thank you for the video!I have a question since am not that much into electronics!A similar resistor with the double rating power will do aswell for the job or i need a resistor with the exact same characteristics please?
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Do you have a link to the resistor you used? As a noob it shows me a ton of 0201 0 Ohms resistors on Mouser ... Also, whats the purpose of a 0Ohm resistor? + thanks for the great vidoe, really! Cheers from Austria
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could this possibly give the pi 0 2W a 5ghz compatibility? thanks :)
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I often see these "soldering flux reballing" material you use in that video, mix of tin and flux. What is it and where to buy? Many thx
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A bit late but is that 0 ohm resistor really needed ? Bridging those teo small pads with some solder should also do the trick …right ?!
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Hi, I've done the mod yesterday, removing the curved trace after the resistor pads wasn't an easy task! Anyway I've managed to install the resistor and the antenna connector... everything seems connected properly, but even if it's receiveng signals, the reception seems worse than before. Maybe the antenna connector is too close to the usb port? I don't know what to check :/
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for the "no disconnect" test was that with an antenna connected to the u.fl? if so compared to the no antenna signal strength?
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Do you still offer the RPi Zero 2 with this mod already done for sale?
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is the resistor nessicary?
