ESP8266 Community Forum

- Wed Aug 26, 2020 10:13 am #88489 Hello,

My project requires the smallest form factor possible and I am currently using the ESP12 as the microcontroller. My application does not need WiFi, so my question is: Can I simply cut off the antenna section of the ESP12E with a small saw to make the size smaller? Will cutting the antenna disable any of the functions of the ESP12 besides WiFi? I am aware of smaller modules, such as the ESP07S, but I do not have the time to wait for shipping at the moment and only have ESP12E on hand.

Thanks

- Mon Aug 31, 2020 7:59 pm #88617 I personally would just purchase one with an external antenna mount - you can never be too sure how they have wired up the board

If you have a spare module you're prepared to fry you could just try it out though - they are so cheap.

- Tue Sep 01, 2020 6:39 am #88632 Looking at the pcb layout there does not appear to be any traces under the antenna section so I would think it is fairly safe.

- Tue Sep 01, 2020 11:07 am #88634 esp-05 is smaller then esp-12 without antenna