[chbot] ESP8266 WIFI Internet of Things beginner...

[Stephen Irons]

Another ESP32 fan here, and ESP8266 anti-fan.

My preferred device is the 50x50 mm M5Stack range, in a nice housing 
with LCD and buttons, with a fairly wide range of expansion modules for 
GPS, LoRa, motor control, relays, etc. They also sell a prototype 
module with the internal connector and about 35x45 mm of donut-board 
for you to wire up your own things.

I have also used a number of PCB-only modules (by Heltec and any number 
of other manufacturers), but far prefer the protection provided by the 
M5Stack.

Be aware, however, that over the years, M5Stack have changed the device 
internally, but provide no way to tell them apart, either 
electronically or by simple inspection.
Display changed from TFT to IPS with the same LCD controller. A nice 
improvement, except that the colours are inverted, and there is no way 
to tell, except by displaying a colour and inspecting to see what you 
have.Different accelerometer device, with the same I2C address, and a 
different accelerometer device with a different I2C address, so you 
have to do some careful probing.Flash has changed size.Other changes 
which I can't remember off the top of my head, having blanked out the 
wasted hours trying to find out why it does not work.
Schematics are available for all hardware. However, the schematic for 
the main module is from 2017, and does not represent the 2018 version; 
later versions have more differences, but no new schematic.

Personally, I like Micropython. Years of playing around with 
low-quality, special-purpose IDEs put me off the Arduino ecosystem, but 
it is probably better now, and probably has more libraries readily 
available than Micropython.

Stephen Irons


On Fri, May 20, 2022 at 10:14, Mark Beckett <m.beckett at amuri.net> wrote:
> Mike
> 
> I have both ESP8266 and also the ESP32 in various forms.
> 
> These were useful as small standalone boards and I soldered headers 
> at right angle while developing the project.
> 
> www.aliexpress.com/item/32595394980.html 
> <http://www.aliexpress.com/item/32595394980.html>.
> 
> 
> Some ESP32 have the ability to use an external antenna.
> 
> www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001438925793.html 
> <http://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001438925793.html>
> 
> 
> 
> There are plenty of ESP32 on Aliexpress just put ESP32 into the 
> search, but I have purchased some of these.
> 
> www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001636677018.html 
> <http://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001636677018.html>
> 
> www.aliexpress.com/item/33006577783.html 
> <http://www.aliexpress.com/item/33006577783.html>
> 
> 
> 
> The support in Arduino IDE is good including fauxmoesp which allows 
> emulation to directly interface to Alexa
> 
> <https://github.com/vintlabs/fauxmoESP>
> 
> 
> Mark
> 
> 
> On 19/05/22 23:52, Mike Barnes wrote:
>> Hi Team,
>> I’m looking to have a play with IOT, very much with learner plates 
>> on.
>> 
>> Just watched a getting started with IOT 
>> <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFCmTZUoZ1M>
>> 
>> What board do people here recommend for having a play initially with 
>> WiFi on my farm?
>> 
>> These seem attractive price wise at $5 each landed, but are they OK 
>> or should I get something else?
>> 
>> <https://www.banggood.com/Geekcreit-Wireless-NodeMcu-Lua-CH340G-V3-Based-ESP8266-WIFI-Internet-of-Things-IOT-Development-Module-p-1420166.html?cur_warehouse=CN&ID=511073&rmmds=search>
>> 
>> Arduino IOT seems very simple for us non coders 😀
>> 
>> Looking to dip my toe in.
>> 
>> Regards
>> 
>> Mike
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Sent from my Galaxy
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
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