This is what I call the “ORIGINAL” module pair, an ESP32-CAM and ESP-32-CAM-MB board combo.

 Information gathered using https://espressif.github.io/esptool-js/:

MAC=[34:98:7a:6b:5b:08] “ORIGINAL.” 
ESP32-DOWDQ6-V3  (revision 3).  Wi-Fi, BT, Dual Core, 240MHZ, VRef calibration in effuse, Coding Scheme None. Crystal is 40MHZ    [34:98:7a belongs to Espressif as of 2022-11.

Origins:

“ORIGINAL” was purchased from ???, at least one year prior to 2025, but likely more. 

I will attempt this for the other modules in a different "reply." 

Modules 2 and 3. These are pictures of module pairs “A of 2” and “B of 2.” These are separated to display both sides of both boards:

Information gathered using https://espressif.github.io/esptool-js/:

MAC= [68:25:dd:2d:58:38]  “A of 2”. 
ESP32-DOWD-V3 (revision 3)  Wi-Fi, BT, Dual Core, 240MHZ, VRef calibration in effuse, Coding Scheme None. Crystal is 40MHZ     [68:25:dd belongs to Espressif as of 2025-01.

MAC= [68:25: dd:2f:50:a0]  “B of 2”. 
ESP32-DOWD-V3 (revision 3)  Wi-Fi, BT, Dual Core, 240MHZ, VRef calibration in effuse, Coding Scheme None. Crystal is 40MHZ     [68:25:dd belongs to Espressif as of 2025-01.

Origins:

This is what I call the “Kit w antenna, supplied, w/o USB module.”  There is only one board, but this displays both sides of it. 

Information gathered using https://espressif.github.io/esptool-js/:

MAC= [68:25:dd:2e:1a:10]  “Kit w antenna, supplied, w/o USB module.” 
ESP32-DOWD-V3 (revision 3)  Wi-Fi, BT, Dual Core, 240MHZ, VRef calibration in effuse, Coding Scheme None. Crystal is 40MHZ     [68:25:dd belongs to Espressif as of 2025-01.
Note:I used the USB board from “A of 2.” to communicate.

Origins:

My main problem has been that many of these boards use a version of the ch34x USB driver. I found a comment on another forum that some are cheap knock offs and do not work well with the newest usb driver. On some boards it did connect, but did not work, on some it just did not connect.

I did a WEB search and found several links to an older version from 2014 I think. My timestamp says I downloaded it in 2017.

With windows and maybe mac also there is a caveat - you have to temporarily disable updates, delete the current ch34x driver version and then install the older one. Windows thinks it is smart and will replace the driver with the newest one when ever you let it update, so you will have to do this all over again.

Just an FYI on the KIT w Antenna - if the board is jumped to use the external antenna and there is NOT one connected, you might burn up the transmitter! I had one of these boards and thought the antenna was connected, but the little connector had twisted enough that it was NOT making good contact. Now that board is toast and gets very hot if I try and use it.

@thespamcatcher Thank you for a quick response!  Do I understand correctly that the ch34x USB driver will not be an issue until I find the correct board driver?  Or is there a way to check that first?

I never thought about needing a load on the antenna.  Any idea how long it takes to  burn out the transmitter?  It would be terrible to damage it before even testing that it was OK before that.  I'll keep it connected going further.

I appreciate your input, and invite input on the other questions too.

Thanks!

If you are using Windows, no IDE yet  just plugging a USB cable into the board should cause your PC to make a sound unless you have it turned off. Then bring up the Device Manager to see Ports - USB-Serial and driver name + (com#) or if it is an arduino it will probably say arduino and com number.

This will only tell you which driver, click on the USB-Serial and then the properties, then Driver tab.

If you don't see a serial port and driver name after plugging in the USB cable, nothing else will help. Go do what I said in my previous response.

If you do see the proper driver and your IDE still has problems,  also go with the older USB driver. ( some ESP and other boards us a different USB driver) Many use a cp2102 or something like that, which has never given me a problem. 

Your use of "board manager" is confusing. I assume you are connected to the Arduino IDE and are talking about the board manager there? ( I have been using Platformio(new version) on Microsoft Visual studio and haven't used the Arduino IDE in a while)

As for how long to fry the transmitter -I don't know, but if WIFI doesn't work after loading your program - that might be the problem - AND my ESP gets very hot to the touch!

Just to be clear the ch34x USB driver is for the ch34x serial chip on your device which is normally a ch340 or a cp2102 serial chip. The cp2102 needs the cp2102 USB driver.

I am on thin ice here, but I was able to communicate with https://espressif.github.io/esptool-js/

Therefore, I thought my com port driver was OK.  But maybe that is not where you have a concern.  This is my Device Manager Info:

 If there is something wrong there, please advise. 

This is a screenshot of where I think I need to get answers:

 This was my best guess for the board manager, and I thought I could compare its pin definitions with what I have.  I don't see how to do that comparison.  (question #2 at the top of this thread.)

I am totally locked here, unless I can get answers to the questions I originally asked, I am afraid to proceed for fear of destroying the modules. (question #1 and #2.)

I want this really badly. I put a great deal of time into organizing all the information I could find to this point.  Literally days.  I really don't like to think that I ever give up but the rest of my life is going to make me drop this hobby without some outside help.  

Please do not let my fatigue and frustration come off like I am being impolite.  

Thanks!

@thespamcatcher

I forgot to ask--when you use the platform I/O for programming, where did you find information about which hardware to select?

Thanks!

The FTDI might be OK, I have one but have never needed it. But the FTDI has a serial interface- what chip it uses could also be a problem I suppose.

I found that you should always use the Create project to start projects. I just moved files into the platformio structure for my first few projects and had a lot of problems. After creating a project you can copy a file into the correct place and edit it, that works better.

As for what to put in the platformio.ini file, use the Board Explorer - But I also found that lots of WEB searching helps. You can find all kinds of info on different forums for the ESP and Arduino devices.

I like Platformio IDE but it takes more to learn how to use it than the Arduino IDE. I have only looked at Expressif for reference.

There is a special version of platformio for ESP devices, it's on github, but I forget where - search, lots of searching!

By the way, I have one of those ESP32-CAM with motherboards, I got it from my local Microcenter, their WEB has info on it I think. I had the ck340 problem with it though. I think I found info on some WEB forum about it also.

The WEB is your friend, if you get the hang of proper search terms you can find gold.

I programmed lots of micros, minis and mainframe computers for 25 years without a nice IDE, this is work but not as frustrating. My problems is it has been 25 years since I did all of that other stuff. I worked on some weird stuff in the late 60s and some more weird stuff later, but the new dev boards we can get now make my brain overflow.

You just have to pick a few and stick with them I think.