ZeroTrace AirLeak Pro
Why Two Processors?
How the Pro adds 5 GHz Wi-Fi without giving up what makes AirLeak fast
The standard AirLeak uses a single ESP32-S3, and there's a detailed page on why that chip is the right one for a BLE-only scanner. But the S3 has one hard limit: it can't do 5 GHz Wi-Fi. AirLeak Pro needed 5 GHz. So rather than swap the S3 for a lesser chip, the Pro adds a second processor dedicated to Wi-Fi.
The short version: keep the S3 as the brain, add a dual-band chip as the radio. You get the S3's strengths and full dual-band Wi-Fi.
The problem
Modern Wi-Fi lives on two bands. The fastest, newest networks are usually on 5 GHz, exactly the ones a serious survey can't afford to miss. A single ESP32-S3 only sees 2.4 GHz.
The obvious "fix" would be to switch the whole board to a newer dual-band chip. But as the Why ESP32-S3 page explains in detail, that newer chip is a downgrade for the heavy decoding-and-streaming work AirLeak does, fewer cores for a dispatch-heavy workload, less memory, and a less-proven software stack. Trading the S3 away to get 5 GHz would make the whole device worse at its core job.
The solution: divide the labour
AirLeak Pro uses both chips, each doing what it's best at:
| Main processor (ESP32-S3) | Wi-Fi co-processor (ESP32-C5) | |
|---|---|---|
| Role | The brain | The dual-band radio |
| Does | 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi + Bluetooth, decoding, classification, the app link, GPS, microSD, battery, LED | Scans 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi |
| Why it's here | It's the fastest chip for the decode-heavy work and owns all the I/O | It's the chip that can do 5 GHz |
The co-processor does one thing, scan both Wi-Fi bands, and hands its results to the main processor over a private internal link. The main processor merges everything (Wi-Fi from the co-processor, Bluetooth from its own radio, GPS, storage) into one picture and streams it to your phone.
You never interact with the two chips separately. You pair with one device, pick one mode, and see one merged capture. The split is purely internal, it's just how the Pro watches both Wi-Fi bands at once without slowing down the brain.
What you get from the split
- Both Wi-Fi bands, 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz in one pass, the "Pro" capability.
- No compromise on the brain, the S3 keeps doing the fast decoding and streaming AirLeak is built around.
- Bluetooth runs in parallel, on the main processor, uncontended by the Wi-Fi work.
- All the I/O stays put, GPS, microSD, battery and the status LED all hang off the main processor, right where the fast chip can use them.
The trade-off, honestly
Two chips means a bit more board, a bit more power draw (hence the battery), and a co-processor that has its own firmware. In exchange you get true dual-band Wi-Fi without weakening the part of the device that does the hard work. For a survey tool, that's the right trade.
AirLeak keeps 2.4 GHz + Bluetooth on the chip that's best at the heavy lifting, and bolts on a second chip whose only job is to add 5 GHz. You get dual-band Wi-Fi without giving up what makes AirLeak fast.