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Arduino IDE (Ver 1.8.19) Board Manager not showing ESP32-CAM Board in the Drop-down Menu

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(@kontrol77x)
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Joined: 6 months ago
Posts: 7
Topic starter  

Hi.  I have successfully used the Arduino IDE (Ver 1.8.19) on several home projects, typically with the MEGA 2560, and would like to use it to program the ESP32-CAM board.  I am using the ESP32-CAM-MB to interface the ESP32-CAM to my PC and the Arduino IDE.  The connection and uploading of programs (NOT involving the camera feature) seem to work OK.  For example, I can get the bright LED on the -CAM board to light on command if I select the board type as "ESP32 Dev Module".

In order to set up the Arduino IDE for use with the ESP32-CAM board, I have tried the following URLs in the "Additional Boards Manager URLs" in the "Preferences", "Settings" tab:

https://dl.espressif.com/dl/package_esp32_index.json&source=gmail&ust=1715043584030000&usg=AOvVaw2YuEzZJhADotRo8VMqK5P b"> https://dl.espressif.com/dl/package_esp32_index.json

https://espressif.github.io/arduino-esp32/package_esp32_dev_index.json&source=gmail&ust=1715043584030000&usg=AOvVaw2uMqc6Ec63re_xj0WeyzQ Z"> https://espressif.github.io/arduino-esp32/package_esp32_dev_index.json

https://dl.espressif.com/dl/package_esp32_index.json&source=gmail&ust=1715043584030000&usg=AOvVaw2YuEzZJhADotRo8VMqK5P b"> https://dl.espressif.com/dl/package_esp32_index.json

and

https://arduino.esp8266.com/stable/package_esp8266com_index.json&source=gmail&ust=1715043584030000&usg=AOvVaw3P5ITwH0YtvzUvE0pb2GX U"> https://arduino.esp8266.com/stable/package_esp8266com_index.json

However, when it comes time to select the board that is being used in the "Board", "Board Manager" section, the list of boards does NOT contain the ESP32-CAM board.  Without that, accessing the camera throws a run-time error during code execution. 

By loading an earlier version of one of the URLs (Espressif Systems V 1.0.1), I was finally able to get the pin definitions for "MODEL_AI_THINKER" to show up (which doesn't do me any good, but at least it is recognized).

Any thoughts on how to get to a URL that has the pin defs for the ESP32-CAM board (or is this just an obsolete board that is no longer supported)?

Thanks.

Bob


   
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(@davee)
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Joined: 3 years ago
Posts: 1866
 

Hi Bob @kontrol77x,

I only went through Bill (@dronebot-workshop)'s video + blog, a long time ago, and haven't looked at it since, but the preferences address he uses is:

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/espressif/arduino-esp32/gh-pages/package_esp32_index.json

Furthermore, I have that in my 'preferences' list, with Arduino IDE 2.3.2, and I can see AI Thinker ESP32-CAM  in the list of available boards.

Sorry, if I am missing the point, but your URL addresses look a bit 'strange', compared to the one above. 

Maybe, have a look at Bill's videos + blogs. Those were made a while ago, but so far as I know, still relevant, e.g.

https://dronebotworkshop.com/esp32-intro/

https://dronebotworkshop.com/esp32-cam-intro/

---------

I would also respectfully suggest you move to Arduino IDE 2.3.2 (or later). It now seems a lot better than the 1.8.x used to be.

Best wishes, Dave


   
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Ron
 Ron
(@zander)
Father of a miniature Wookie
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 7660
 

@kontrol77x Bob, switch to IDE2 ASAP, and also use the following in your board manager. I play with the ESP32-CAM module a lot so I know this works. The esp32 is from the official site at 

https://docs.espressif.com/projects/arduino-esp32/en/latest/installing.html

and for 8266 at https://arduino-esp8266.readthedocs.io/en/latest/installing.html

https://arduino.esp8266.com/stable/package_esp8266com_index.json
https://espressif.github.io/arduino-esp32/package_esp32_index.json

First computer 1959. Retired from my own computer company 2004.
Hardware - Expert in 1401, and 360, fairly knowledge in PC plus numerous MPU's and MCU's
Major Languages - Machine language, 360 Macro Assembler, Intel Assembler, PL/I and PL1, Pascal, Basic, C plus numerous job control and scripting languages.
My personal scorecard is now 1 PC hardware fix (circa 1982), 1 open source fix (at age 82), and 2 zero day bugs in a major OS.


   
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Ron
 Ron
(@zander)
Father of a miniature Wookie
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 7660
 

@kontrol77x Bob, 

Here is a screen shot of what your esp32 boards should look like

Screenshot 2024 05 06 at 19.22.57

First computer 1959. Retired from my own computer company 2004.
Hardware - Expert in 1401, and 360, fairly knowledge in PC plus numerous MPU's and MCU's
Major Languages - Machine language, 360 Macro Assembler, Intel Assembler, PL/I and PL1, Pascal, Basic, C plus numerous job control and scripting languages.
My personal scorecard is now 1 PC hardware fix (circa 1982), 1 open source fix (at age 82), and 2 zero day bugs in a major OS.


   
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Ron
 Ron
(@zander)
Father of a miniature Wookie
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 7660
 

@kontrol77x Bob,  Just to clarify for you

By loading an earlier version of one of the URLs (Espressif Systems V 1.0.1), I was finally able to get the pin definitions for "MODEL_AI_THINKER" to show up (which doesn't do me any good, but at least it is recognized).

Any thoughts on how to get to a URL that has the pin defs for the ESP32-CAM board (or is this just an obsolete board that is no longer supported)?

MODEL_AI_THINKER is the board you want. 

I gave you the OFFICIAL URL's for the boards manager earlier, and the ESP32-CAM is most definitly still supported.

Here is a screen grab.

Screenshot 2024 05 06 at 19.40.29

 

First computer 1959. Retired from my own computer company 2004.
Hardware - Expert in 1401, and 360, fairly knowledge in PC plus numerous MPU's and MCU's
Major Languages - Machine language, 360 Macro Assembler, Intel Assembler, PL/I and PL1, Pascal, Basic, C plus numerous job control and scripting languages.
My personal scorecard is now 1 PC hardware fix (circa 1982), 1 open source fix (at age 82), and 2 zero day bugs in a major OS.


   
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Ron
 Ron
(@zander)
Father of a miniature Wookie
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 7660
 

@kontrol77x The board is easier to find using the IDE2 board search tool. Here is a sc reen grab.

 

Screenshot 2024 05 08 at 10.03.18
Screenshot 2024 05 08 at 10.03.30
Screenshot 2024 05 08 at 09.58.54

First computer 1959. Retired from my own computer company 2004.
Hardware - Expert in 1401, and 360, fairly knowledge in PC plus numerous MPU's and MCU's
Major Languages - Machine language, 360 Macro Assembler, Intel Assembler, PL/I and PL1, Pascal, Basic, C plus numerous job control and scripting languages.
My personal scorecard is now 1 PC hardware fix (circa 1982), 1 open source fix (at age 82), and 2 zero day bugs in a major OS.


   
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(@kontrol77x)
Member
Joined: 6 months ago
Posts: 7
Topic starter  

@zander 

Thank you so much for the responses.

I did not realize how badly my pasted URLs (on my initial post) got "bent, folded, spindled, and mutilated" (and, if you understand that reference, you're as old as me!). 

They should have been displayed as:

https://dl.espressif.com/dl/package_esp32_index.json

https://espressif.github.io/arduino-esp32/package_esp32_dev_index.json

https://dl.espressif.com/dl/package_esp32_index.json

https://arduino.esp8266.com/stable/package_esp8266com_index.json

Anyway, I had been studiously avoiding Arduino's IDE ver 2.0, b/c I thought their website indicated that it was for Win 10 and over;  I am using Win 7.

Based on responses I have been receiving, I guess I will give 2.0 a try, along with the your previously sent URL.

Thanks again - I will post later and say how that went.

Sincerely,

Bob


   
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Ron
 Ron
(@zander)
Father of a miniature Wookie
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 7660
 

@kontrol77x 3 of those are esp32, 2 of which are identical. Here is the official

https://arduino.esp8266.com/stable/package_esp8266com_index.json
https://espressif.github.io/arduino-esp32/package_esp32_index.json

with 2.0, you can use the search feature to find the esp32-cam. The board file is NOT in any kind of order for the esp32, IIRC, the esp88266 is tho.

FYI, I have attached pics of my complete Preferences and boards.

Screenshot 2024 05 09 at 17.07.04
Screenshot 2024 05 09 at 17.07.27

 

First computer 1959. Retired from my own computer company 2004.
Hardware - Expert in 1401, and 360, fairly knowledge in PC plus numerous MPU's and MCU's
Major Languages - Machine language, 360 Macro Assembler, Intel Assembler, PL/I and PL1, Pascal, Basic, C plus numerous job control and scripting languages.
My personal scorecard is now 1 PC hardware fix (circa 1982), 1 open source fix (at age 82), and 2 zero day bugs in a major OS.


   
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Ron
 Ron
(@zander)
Father of a miniature Wookie
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 7660
 

@kontrol77x As of Jan 10, 2023 Win 7 is no longer receiving security updates. You REALLY want to upgrade ASAP. Go straight to Win 11. If you don't, please remove any personal or banking info from that computer and do not use it to access exploitable sites like banking, government sites, amazon, paypal etc.

Good luck and all the best,

Ron (@zander)

First computer 1959. Retired from my own computer company 2004.
Hardware - Expert in 1401, and 360, fairly knowledge in PC plus numerous MPU's and MCU's
Major Languages - Machine language, 360 Macro Assembler, Intel Assembler, PL/I and PL1, Pascal, Basic, C plus numerous job control and scripting languages.
My personal scorecard is now 1 PC hardware fix (circa 1982), 1 open source fix (at age 82), and 2 zero day bugs in a major OS.


   
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Ron
 Ron
(@zander)
Father of a miniature Wookie
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 7660
 

@kontrol77x Just an FYI, here is screen grab showing where the esp32-cam is in my boards list. It is NOT in any known order.

BTW, the first time I 'played' with a computer was 1959. Joined IBM Jan 1966.

Screenshot 2024 05 09 at 17.41.11

First computer 1959. Retired from my own computer company 2004.
Hardware - Expert in 1401, and 360, fairly knowledge in PC plus numerous MPU's and MCU's
Major Languages - Machine language, 360 Macro Assembler, Intel Assembler, PL/I and PL1, Pascal, Basic, C plus numerous job control and scripting languages.
My personal scorecard is now 1 PC hardware fix (circa 1982), 1 open source fix (at age 82), and 2 zero day bugs in a major OS.


   
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(@davee)
Member
Joined: 3 years ago
Posts: 1866
 

Hi @kontrol77x ,

 I tend to agree with Ron on replacing Win 7 or WIn 8, and from sometime next year (October perhaps?), Win 10 will be joining the obsolete gang.

Even if you don't have banking details, etc., you could still get caught in other scams. If I recall correctly, a lot of UK hospitals got caught with one of the encrypt/ransomeware scams, preventing them from using medical scan data, etc.

Of course, there are no guarantees that the 'latest and greatest' are totally secure, but software as old as Win 7 is like an open gate.

I do appreciate, this probably also means hardware replacement, and I feel guilty about mentioning it, but the world has some unpleasant people, and the Internet brings a touch of that unpleasantness to us all.

You might consider something like Ubuntu (Linux) as an alternate. Arduino IDE 2.x.x seems to run fine. And it's free. But it too likes to have enough processor power, memory, etc. to play nicely.  It is not usually as fussy as Win 11, although I have a laptop that is fine with both Win 10 and Win 11, but crashes intermittently with Ubuntu and its variants, so nothing is 100% reliable.

I hope this doesn't sound too much like we are ganging up on you ... that is the last thing I would want to do. With Win 10 going obsolete next year, there is going to a lot of us in an awkward postion.

Take care, good luck and best wishes, Dave


   
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(@kontrol77x)
Member
Joined: 6 months ago
Posts: 7
Topic starter  

@davee 

Thanks for the thoughts on a Win update.  I know technology marches on, and I may have to give in and upgrade.

The Linux route also sounds interesting;  I have a Linux machine, but have not used it for any serious programming.

And, no, I don't think you are ganging up on me.  I'm looking for a solution, so I am glad for the responses!

Bob


   
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Ron
 Ron
(@zander)
Father of a miniature Wookie
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 7660
 

@davee @kontrol77x October 14, 2025 unless you are a business and pay for the service.

I do have Win10 before and Win11 now on one of those $100 mini PC's since I have a couple pieces of Win only software and buying the Mini PC was cheaper than the VM annual fee.

Have a look at Zorin, it is *nix but can look like any of the later Windows GUI. The $48 Pro version offers even more.

First computer 1959. Retired from my own computer company 2004.
Hardware - Expert in 1401, and 360, fairly knowledge in PC plus numerous MPU's and MCU's
Major Languages - Machine language, 360 Macro Assembler, Intel Assembler, PL/I and PL1, Pascal, Basic, C plus numerous job control and scripting languages.
My personal scorecard is now 1 PC hardware fix (circa 1982), 1 open source fix (at age 82), and 2 zero day bugs in a major OS.


   
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Ron
 Ron
(@zander)
Father of a miniature Wookie
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 7660
 

@kontrol77x I just wanted to check back to see if your issue is resolved as I am going to be stepping away from the forum and want to close any outstanding issues.

First computer 1959. Retired from my own computer company 2004.
Hardware - Expert in 1401, and 360, fairly knowledge in PC plus numerous MPU's and MCU's
Major Languages - Machine language, 360 Macro Assembler, Intel Assembler, PL/I and PL1, Pascal, Basic, C plus numerous job control and scripting languages.
My personal scorecard is now 1 PC hardware fix (circa 1982), 1 open source fix (at age 82), and 2 zero day bugs in a major OS.


   
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(@kontrol77x)
Member
Joined: 6 months ago
Posts: 7
Topic starter  

@zander 

Thanks so much for all the advice and ideas.  At this time, I'm going to give up on the ESP32-CAM board.  The IDE just doesn't seem to be able to find it, and if I try any of the other "kind of sounds like this" boards (e.g., ESP32-CAM-LCD) I just get compiler errors.  Whatever I thought I might save in $$$, I certainly have lost through wasted time.

You can close this thread out.

Sincerely,

Bob


   
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