SparkFun Thing Plus - ESP32 WROOM (U.FL)

The SparkFun ESP32 Thing Plus (U.FL) is the perfect foundation for your Internet of Things projects that require specific or unique antennae. Powered by the ESP32-WROOM-32UE module from Espressif™, this board provides a scalable environment for your wireless applications. The module features an Xtensa® Dual-Core 32-bit LX6 microprocessor running at up to 240MHz, along with 16MB of embedded Flash storage and 520KB of internal SRAM.

This board provides reliable wireless communication tailored for custom installations and challenging environments:

• WiFi (802.11b/g/n): Dependable 2.4GHz transceiver for local network and cloud connectivity.
• Dual-Mode Bluetooth®: Support for both Classic Bluetooth and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE).
• Hardware Encryption: Built-in acceleration for AES, SHA2, ECC, and RSA-4096 to keep your data secure.

While this board is nearly identical to our micro-B version, the inclusion of a U.FL connector on the ESP32 module lets you attach your own external antenna rather than relying on the fixed PCB trace typically found on Espressif's SoCs. This is particularly beneficial when your project is housed inside a metal enclosure or requires an extended wireless range that only a specialised external antenna can provide.

The Thing Plus Advantage

This board is built using the SparkFun Thing Plus form factor, making it fully compatible with the popular Adafruit Feather footprint. It breaks out 21 multifunctional GPIO pins to standard 0.1-inch spaced headers. The ESP32 integrates an excellent set of peripherals, giving you access to capacitive touch sensors, high-speed SPI, UART, I²S audio output, and I²C.

To make using the ESP32 WROOM Thing+ as easy to use as possible, we have equipped this board with several built-in features:

• Solderless Qwiic Connector: Seamlessly integrate the board into SparkFun's ecosystem of plug-and-play I²C sensors, actuators, and displays.
• Integrated Power Management: Features a micro-B USB connector for power and programming, plus a 2-pin JST connector and built-in charging circuit for an external LiPo battery.
• Status Indicators: Includes a yellow charge LED and a blue status/test LED for quick visual feedback.

Whether you are turning on a single LED or streaming data to your chosen IoT platform, the ESP32 WROOM Thing Plus can be programmed just like any standard microcontroller. You can even utilise the familiar Arduino IDE by installing the updated ESP32 Arduino Core, making this a foundational starting point for your next connected build.

• Schematic
• Eagle Files
• Hookup Guide
• Board Dimensions
• Datasheet (ESP32-WROOM-32UE)
• Technical Reference Manual (ESP32)
• Compare Thing Plus Boards
• How SparkFun Uses Espressif SoCs
• Qwiic Info Page
• GitHub Hardware Repo