With earlier ESP-xx modules, these two products (the USB-to-serial adapter along with the regulator) needed to be acquired separately and become wired to the ESP-xx circuit. Present day ESP8266 boards like the NodeMCU are easier to work with and present much more GPIO pins. Almost all of the boards detailed http://stephenqroif.imblogs.net/16441222/the-2-minute-rule-for-wifi-full-form