SparkFun ESP8266 Thing - Dev Board (with Headers)

The SparkFun ESP8266 Thing Dev Board is a comprehensive development board designed specifically for the ESP8266 microcontroller. It comes with an integrated FTDI USB-to-Serial chip and pre-soldered headers for easy use. The ESP8266 is a cost-effective, WiFi-enabled microcontroller that can be used for various applications such as blinking LEDs, triggering relays, monitoring sensors or automating appliances. This board is a one-stop solution for almost any internet-connected project, thanks to its integrated WiFi controller. It is user-friendly and can be programmed in Arduino through a simple serial interface.

The SparkFun ESP8266 Thing Dev Board is fondly referred to as the "Thing" because it provides the perfect base for your Internet of Things (IoT) project. It can perform a variety of tasks, from turning on an LED to posting data online, and can be programmed just like any other microcontroller. The Thing can be programmed through the Arduino IDE by installing the ESP8266 Arduino add-on.

The SparkFun ESP8266 Thing Dev Board is a relatively uncomplicated board. The pins are broken out into two parallel, breadboard-compatible rows. It also includes a USB connector, an optional power supply input, and an ON/OFF switch. The board features LEDs that indicate power, charge, and status of the IC. The ESP8266 operates at a maximum voltage of 3.6V, so the board includes a 3.3V regulator to deliver a safe, consistent voltage to the IC. This means that the ESP8266’s I/O pins also operate at 3.3V. If your project requires a power source other than USB, the board includes footprints for a 2-pin JST, 2-pin 3.5mm screw terminal, or a simple 2.54mm-pitch 2-pin header.

The Thing Dev Board comes with a PCB trace antenna as a default WiFi antenna. It is cost-effective and works exceptionally well. If a more sensitive antenna is required, or if you need to route outside an enclosure, a U.FL connector is also available on the board. Some soldering will be required to get the U.FL connector functioning.

The SparkFun ESP8266 Thing Dev Board comes with a range of features such as all module pins broken out, onboard FTDI USB-to-Serial, 802.11 b/g/n, WiFi Direct (P2P), soft-AP, integrated TCP/IP protocol stack, integrated TR switch, balun, LNA, power amplifier and matching network, integrated PLLs, regulators, DCXO and power management units, integrated low-power 32-bit CPU that could be used as an application processor, +19.5dBm output power in 802.11b mode, and pre-soldered headers.