groundfungus:
You have a version of the ESP that requires an external antenna. Do you have an antenna?
The ESP-07 on the breakout board has a ceramic antenna and it works well. although the ESP-12f I've read has a better antenna configuration. (can't find the source sorry)
Thanks for the correction, zhomeslice. I thought that the antenna was required. Have to try one of my -07s to see the difference in range with and without an external antenna.