Serial WiFi module

[Art]

Hi Guys
I ordered a couple of these cheap all in one wifi modules today:
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Serial-Wi...QAAOSwm8VU0BGp

I’m wondering has anyone here used them, and perhaps have any code to donate?
I’d like to start with acquiring time from a time server and writing software for the bigger platform to set it’s system clock.
Assuming it’s a pic or Atmel on the board, I guess I’ll find out when it arrives.

Does anyone have another wifi module to suggest for a PBP pic?
There doesn’t appear to be a specific forum section for wifi.
Cheers, Art.

[Heckler]

no time for a lengthy reply right now, Art, but I have played with them a bit.

Check out youtube and search on "allaboutee" and/or "esp8266"


some are working to get a version of BASIC working on them...
http://www.esp8266basic.com/

I'll post more this evening.

[Art]

Nice Looking at other threads that were put in here for opening this section,
starting out with zero networking experience is going to be a pain in the bum

I aim to get one connected to a serial port of an old Commodore Amiga,
with software on the Amiga side to update it’s system clock from the internet.
Supposing the chip in the module can do the work, and simply send the time to
whatever the big computer is, so long as the wifi module doesn’t have to do anything else.

[Heckler]

Hi Art,

These esp8266 modules are NOT 5V tolerant! you must use 3.3v

I highly recommend one of these... (also available on Tindie) as it makes it much easier to program and has a breadboard friendly header strip to access the pins of the module. Has a spot for the module to plug into it, a 3.3v regulator on board, reset button and jumpers to put it into flash mode, etc

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CP2102-USB-T...QAAOSwBahVAS39

Since the pin spacing does not fit a typical breadboard you may need to buy or build one of these...



I've seen some of your prototyping work so should be no problem for you :-)


There are several ways to go as far as programming, first you can choose to use the native OS that comes with them which responds to old school modem like commands that begin with "AT"

or you can load a different OS, for example one that is very popular is NODEMCU and then program in a language called LUA

or you could try the BASIC (I have not)

I have mostly had success with the LUA but I am terrible at anything other than BASIC so it has been a real struggle.

there is a pretty nice tool called ESPLORER...
http://esp8266.ru/esplorer/

to load the NODEMCU OS I have used esp8266flasher.exe
which allows you to flash a different OS like NODEMCU

these little modules are amazing!! some have shown using them at a range of >1000 ft in ideal conditions.

using the LUA language I have been able to read a ds18b20 temp sensor connected directly to the module (with pull up resistor) and generate an email sent directly from the module via my email provider

Lots of possibilities, not enough time (or knowledge)

good luck

[HenrikOlsson]

If you are looking for PBP code to drive them via the "stock" AT commands I did a very short test/example in this post. And as I'm sure you've figured out by now there's no PIC or AVR on the module. The chip is the ESP8266 which is complete SoC with processor, TCP/IP, Wifi and everything.

/Henrik.

[MichelJasmin]

Some more PBP code: http://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=20178
and a (stupid?) project: http://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=20083

For time service the easy way I found was to put a dead simple web page on my Windows Home Server

default.aspx:

<%
response.write("*" & Format(now, "yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss") & "J")

select case Format(now, "ddd")
	case "Sun"
		response.write("1")
	case "Mon"
		response.write("2")
	case "Tue"
		response.write("3")
	case "Wed"
		response.write("4")
	case "Thu"
		response.write("5")
	case "Fri"
		response.write("6")
	case "Sat"
		response.write("7")
	case else
		response.write("0")
end select
response.write("*" & VbCrLf)

'response.write("*" & Format(now, "yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss ddd") & "<BR>")
'response.write("*" & Format(dateadd("d", 1, now), "yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss ddd") & "<BR>")
'response.write("*" & Format(dateadd("d", 2, now), "yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss ddd") & "<BR>")
'response.write("*" & Format(dateadd("d", 3, now), "yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss ddd") & "<BR>")
'response.write("*" & Format(dateadd("d", 4, now), "yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss ddd") & "<BR>")
'response.write("*" & Format(dateadd("d", 5, now), "yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss ddd") & "<BR>")
'response.write("*" & Format(dateadd("d", 6, now), "yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss ddd") & "<BR>")
'response.write("*" & Format(dateadd("d", 7, now), "yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss ddd") & "<BR>")

%>

Web.Config:

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<configuration>
	<appSettings/>
	<system.web>
		<compilation debug="true"/>
	  	<customErrors mode="Off"/>
		<authentication mode="Windows"/>
		<identity impersonate="true"/>
		<httpRuntime enableVersionHeader="false" />
	</system.web>
</configuration>

and the response is:

*2015-11-13 10:05:40J6*

The "J" in the response means "Jour" (french word = "day").

If you find de way to call a SNTP server with PBP please share!

[Art]

Thanks for the replies
I don’t have too many rock solid goals with it as a project, but getting time will be essential. This is where I can get help from someone who has done time and weather.
It was C++ he used if I recall correctly, and extra pins on the chip were used to drive an LCD to print it on which was pretty cool.

This video was sent to me personally, but I have checked it’s ok to share relating to my projects:


In fact, the fellow that wrote it wanted to get my LCD graphics working with it, and I shared the code,
but he gave me the impression there is little RAM left on the chip for that.

ps. It looks like that one int he video can take 5V supply, but I got the cheaper one