====== ESP8266 ======

====Hardware====

The ESP8266 is a cheap WiFi SoC. It should allow us to make gateway nodes which do not require a PC to upload to the internet.

{{:ideas:esp8266_pinout.png?200|}}

Out of the box the module can be controlled via AT commands at 57600 baud serial. I found controlling it using an AVR to be a bit sketchy at this speed, but worked better at 9600 baud after updating the SoC firmware. It runs at 3.3v and needs a reasonable supply (240mA peak during tx, 70mA idle).

<del>As of writing it seems only WEP encryption is supported. With any luck this will soon change with a firmware update as the hardware supposedly supports it.</del> I have flashed my chip with [[http://www.electrodragon.com/w/File:V0.9.2.2_AT_Firmware.bin.zip|V0.9.2.2]] from [[http://www.electrodragon.com/w/Wi07c|electrodragon]] and WPA2/PSK seems to be working. :D

The chip has a whole bunch of quite nice features, including SPI, meaning that in theory you should be able to eliminate the micro from the equation. [[http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181566167457?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT|ESP-03]] with more GPIO's ordered, need to do some digging to figure out how the SPI works.

====Node====

I had some boards made by Hackvana with an RFM69HW, ATMega328P and various headers including one for the ESP8266.
[[https://www.flickr.com/photos/68579973@N02/15041892634/|{{:ideas:espnode.jpg?350}}]]

I'm using a 8MHz crystal and an LM2937-3.3 SOT-223 3.3v regulator.

====Software====

I put together a library for sending HTTP POST requests to the ukhasnet server from an ESP8266 via AT commands.
The ESP8266 Library, repeater/gateway code (credit to Phil) and PCB files are up at [[https://github.com/chrisstubbs93/ESP8266]]

You will probably need to flash the [[http://www.electrodragon.com/w/File:V0.9.2.2_AT_Firmware.bin.zip|V0.9.2.2]] firmware from [[http://www.electrodragon.com/w/Wi07c|electrodragon]] (upload instructions there) for this to work, as the AT command responses are slightly different.

==== Links: ====

GitHub wiki with compiler info etc: https://github.com/esp8266/esp8266-wiki/wiki

Other info: https://nurdspace.nl/ESP8266

Post on my blog about the board: http://chris-stubbs.co.uk/wp/?p=563