Sharing my enthusiasm too!

[ardhuru]

After seeing the excellent projects by guys on this forum using an ESP8266, I couldn't help sharing my own modest project, as also my opinion(s) for the benefit of those intending to use the ESP8266.

The core project (host) is a pic based water level monitor and pump controlling system. What I thought would be nice to have was a way to check the readings remotely, using any browser. I do not have a static IP, and I found port forwarding on the router to be quite cumbersome, so I decided to post my data on Thingspeak, from where it could be read on any browser.

I went around in circles trying to decide the environment for writing my code for the ESP, and here are my observations (not everybody would agree with this part, I'm sure)

1) Native AT command set: too complex.

2) Lua: Great environment, but I found the learning curve a bit too steep.

3) ESP8266Basic: For anyone who has used PBP, should be very easy to use. But, I somehow could not get a stable installation.

4) Arduino IDE: I was reluctant to try out the Arduino all these years, but for the ESP I believe this is the best option currently available, with loads of support. The best part being most of the existing libraries and sketches written for the Arduino can be directly ported to the ESP.

The Thingspeak channel is at:

https://thingspeak.com/channels/98492

The updates might be suspended for some time, while I tweak the code in the host device.

Lastly, how I wish the good folks at MELABS would work on a basic for this module!

Regards,

Anand

[Dave]

Anand, You do realize that the commands sent by the Arduino are the AT commands. The bigest thing I don't like about the Arduino enviroment is the lack of documentation on the code contributors part as someone will take a piece of code, modify it and repost it without any modified comments or documentation. Then you spend hours sifting through someone elses code to figure out what they are doing.. I agree with you about the ESPBasic. It is yery unstable, Especially when modifing or editing the code you have flashed into the device.

[pedja089]

Dave,
you can actually run arduino sketches on ESP module.
Checkout this
https://hackaday.io/project/5150-ard...ickstart-guide

[ardhuru]

Dave, I should have been more explicit in describing option 4; I just use the Arduino IDE, and directly program the code into an ESP8266, there's no physical Arduino involved.

As of Arduino IDE ver 1.6.5 (I think), the IDE lets you choose an ESP8266 as the target, in place of a real Arduino. All you do is re-map the gpio pins.

And as Pedja pointed out, you can use most of the existing libraries, and code sketches, directly into the ESP.

And the fact that it sells so cheap, it doesn't really make sense using an Arduino in any project, even if you don't need the wifi.

And Pedja, ESP support for Arduino IDE is now official, so you can directly download and install the latest version (1.6.8) from the Arduino site.

[pedja089]

I didn't know that. Thanks.

[Heckler]

Hi Ardhuru,

Which ESP module are you using?

I'm surprised you had problems getting ESPbasic up and running.
What was the issue?
Anything I can help you with??

I am not saying I am a wizard at the coding of stuff on it (mostly trial and error and looking at others examples) but it seemed pretty easy to get it installed and running.

Although there was a time when one of his versions was a bit unstable so I backed up to an earlier version and it cleared up the problems and I didn't need what was in the newer version.

I think I am using ESPbasic V 1.67 for my clock.

Let me know if I can help you with the ESPbasic if you want to get it working.
Or if you are happy with the direction you have gone then all is good.

The ESPbasic is actually built on the foundation of the arduino implimentation, I believe, so if you are comfortable with the C-like language of arduino then it may be more capable.

[Dave]

pedja089, This looks interesting. I think I will give it a try. It has been a while since I looked at anything having to do with the Arduino... Thanks...