My adventure with ESP8266 (1/2)

Introduction
This article will explain all the steps I did to succesfully use the ESP8266 chip.
The ESP8266 is a an incredible low cost chip (< 5$!) to enable wifi communication for your project.
It is capable of:

• create a wifi network: a wifi hotspot
• connect to existing wifi hotspot
• programmable digital pins: with I2C or SPI support!

I think this is ideal for many IOT project, at least in a prototype stage.
The chip is pretty new but thanks to its "open" nature and its cost, there are already some alternative firmware available.
This guide is tested for OSX Yosemite, but you can find similar tools also for Linux and Windows.
You can find different variants of ESP8266, but I think this tutorial will work equally with all the versions.

My version is the "04":

isn't it too cute ??? :D

My Hardware

• CH340G USB to Serial (TTL) converter
• ESP8266: I have the version 04
• A stable 3.3v power with enough ampere to power the chip: I used a step down converter from 5V to 3.3V, the LM2596 calibrated with a multimeter and connected to a 5V/2A phone charger
• a computer

Software

• driver for CH340G here
• kermit-c or any serial terminal software (minicom for example). For OSX
• a firmware to flash: read below
• esptool.py here
• luatool here: valid only with nodemcu firwmare

Firmwares
The default firmware of the chip can be outdated.
This firmware exchange data with AT command on serial line.
A list of commands is here, but commands can change in every firmware.
This firmware is good if you need to connect the ESP8266 to other components (for example an arduino).
My esp8266 comes with a firmware not capable of talk with AT commands in any f*****g way, it started as an hotspot (see image) but I was not able to talk with at any serial speed.

BTW, the hotspot check is a good way to control if the ESP8266 is correctly connected

I flashed a new updated version of the official firmware.
The default firmware is splitted in 4 .bin files: I have to power off and than power on the chip after each flash.
I than tested the AT command with kermit-c, pressing CTRL+J in the terminal after every typed command.
As far as I know, It is possible to create custom programs using the EspressIf SDK and C++.

NodeMCU
I decided to test another firmware and the choice was the nodemcu firmware.
This firmware lets you write scripts in LUA language; it's a new language for me, but the syntax is pretty simple.
The advantage here are:

• upload scripts, without reflashing the firmware
• the availability of a powerful and simple API with a good documentation

[the second part is available here]