1. Install Arduino IDE

The Repeater Controller, SatBox, Temperature, Humidity, and Atmospheric Pressure Monitor, and other projects use the ESP32-S3. I use Arduino IDE to develop and upload their programs. This guide explains how to install Arduino IDE on Windows 11 and set it up for the ESP32-S3.

Arduino IDE is development software for editing programs, compiling them into a form a microcontroller can run, and uploading them to the board. It is available free of charge from the official Arduino website.

1. Open the official Arduino download page and download the Windows installer for Arduino IDE 2.x. For Windows 11, select the 64-bit Windows version.
2. Double-click the downloaded .exe file and follow the installer instructions. Review the license terms and choose the installation location and other options.
3. Once installation is complete, launch Arduino IDE. You can also open it from the Start menu.
4. On the first launch, preparing the required files may take a little time. Wait until the interface is ready. Keep your computer connected to the internet for the following steps, as you will also need to download the ESP32 board package.

Installing Arduino IDE alone does not enable uploads to the ESP32-S3. Next, add the ESP32 board package provided by Espressif Systems. The Arduino IDE version and the ESP32 board package version are separate.

For more detailed instructions, see the official Arduino installation guide.

2. Add the ESP32 Boards Manager URL

In Arduino IDE, open “File” → “Preferences,” enter the following URL in “Additional boards manager URLs,” and click “OK.”

https://espressif.github.io/arduino-esp32/package_esp32_index.json

If another URL is already listed, keep it and use the list-editing button on the right to add the ESP32 URL. This is the stable-release URL listed in the official Espressif installation instructions.

3. Install the ESP32 Board Package

Open “Boards Manager” on the left and enter esp32 in the search field. Select esp32 by Espressif Systems from the list and click “Install.”

For this guide, select board package version 3.3.12. If the program download page specifies a different version, use that version instead.

Wait for the download and installation to finish.
If the board list does not update after installation, restart Arduino IDE.

4. Select the ESP32-S3 Board

Select “Tools”→“Board”→“esp32”→ESP32S3 Dev Module. ESP32, ESP32-S2, and ESP32-S3 are different models, so select the board that matches your ESP32-S3.

5. Check the USB Connection and COM Port

Connect the ESP32-S3 to your computer using a USB cable that supports data transfer. Under “Tools” → “Port,” select the COM port for the connected ESP32-S3.

If you are unsure which COM port to use, look for the port that disappears when you unplug the USB cable and reappears when you reconnect it. Charge-only USB cables cannot carry data. If no port appears, check the cable and USB connection. Boards with a USB-to-serial converter may require a driver for that chip.

6. Set the Partition Scheme for SatBox

SatBox has a large program, so under “Tools” → “Partition Scheme,” select Huge APP (3MB No OTA/1MB SPIFFS). This setting provides more space for storing the program.

Repeater Controller and Temperature, Humidity, and Atmospheric Pressure Monitor can use the default Partition Scheme unless their download pages specify otherwise. Set Flash Size, PSRAM, and other options according to your board and the program instructions.

7. Open and Upload the Program

If the program is distributed as a ZIP file, extract it first. In Arduino IDE, open the .ino file in the project folder. If the project includes .cpp or .h files, keep them in the same folder.

Install the libraries required by the program according to the instructions on its download page. Installing the ESP32 board package does not automatically install all the libraries each project needs.

Click the check mark (“Verify”) at the top left to compile the program. Once it compiles without errors, click the right-pointing arrow (“Upload”). Check the selected board and COM port again before uploading.

To view startup messages in the Serial Monitor, set its baud rate to the value specified in the program. For more details, see the official Arduino upload instructions.