Re: new option for a very low cost WiFi client for IoT

[Gallymimu]

As long as the chip was intend for IoT, obviously the product manufacturer will have to pass FCC as so as UL, CE, etc.. The chip manufacturer have in mind this as long as they target a high volume sells.

-an

HA, no one who does any volume would use an expensive module!  They would do a discrete chip design silly boy!  The whole point of a module is very low volume, the real VALUE in the module is regulatory compliance already taken care of, as well as some easy to use APIs.

Posted on: November 18, 2014, 04:59:54 04:59 - Automerged
Personally I'm most excited about TI's CC3200MOD which isn't officially released that.  That thing is TITS.

[an007_rld]

now the ESP8266 module (with chip antenna) it's $3 for 10pcs: http://www.aliexpress.com/item/10pcs-lot-ESP8266-serial-WIFI-model-ESP-07-Authenticity-Guaranteed/32225666559.html. If you compare with CC3200 (which is intend to be sold as IC @ $8 budgetary price) the BOM cost will be more than $11.

Hope helps,
-an

[bobcat1]

HI

This new module although it look like(FCC logo printed on can) is not FCC certified!

All the best

Bobi 

[LzEn]

HA, no one who does any volume would use an expensive module!  They would do a discrete chip design silly boy!  The whole point of a module is very low volume, the real VALUE in the module is regulatory compliance already taken care of, as well as some easy to use APIs.

Posted on: November 18, 2014, 04:59:54 04:59 - Automerged
Personally I'm most excited about TI's CC3200MOD which isn't officially released that.  That thing is TITS.

I got myself a CC3200 launchpad and I am going to start playing with it. In my opinion the ESP is not meant as direct competitor to the CC3200 or other high end devices. The one my friend have seems pretty slow, so although it will be good enough to send some commands to it over wifi. I highly doubt that it will be of any help for more advanced applications (Audio streaming ...). Anw that is why I got myself a CC3200 launchpad and I will start testing their Audio streaming example from the SDK very soon.

Regards,

[frasenci]

Hi there, I am only a hobbyst but still can think of interesting applications for this cheap module.
I have one unit at hand and been testing with Terminal and Pic combinations.}
It works surprisingly well !

Would like to share my key links for info so far with everybody interested,

Updated AT commands , English  and usefull links for compiler setup ( Manufacter Supported )

Code:

https://github.com/espressif/esp8266_at/wiki

Latest Firmware

Code:

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B3dUKfqzZnlwRjFaNTUzZFptbzg&usp=drive_web

I will gladly share my experiences if needed

Some helping tutorials and examples around the web , to get started

Greetings

[motox]

Application to test the ESP8266 using a USB-Serial converter:
https://github.com/AppStackTH/ESP8266-Config

[Gallymimu]

We have preproduction CC3200MOD modules in hand.  They are supposed to be FCC certified modules under $10/ea at volume.  That's pretty disruptive compared to the competition (and by competition I am not counting non certified china garbage, though that stuff definitely has it's place!!!)

[an007_rld]

...sure $10/ module is 5 times more than $2 (12.5 yuan) and probably TI and Espressif use the same TSMC foundries to build the product (doesn't look to me very competitive).
It's similar  for OMAP market that start fading vs. Mediatek SoCs, not because the price for silicon is different just because TI wants to get probably 200-500% revenue based on chips production.

What will happened with TI in the future, we will see, if they will continue the same politics.

And here is another site related to ESP8266: http://esp8266.ru/ (it is in russian but you can use google translate for translation)

Hope helps,
-an

[baoshi]

I bought some ESP-07 http://www.alibaba.com/showroom/esp8266-esp--07.html modules. It has all GPIOs available. Just a matter of caution that there are many pinout pictures on the net which is incorrect. Trust the silkscreen on the board itself. And to boot the module you need short GPIO15 to ground. You can check boot message from TX0 at 74880bps. Do not connect VCC to GPIO2. That will fry the chip. So a matter of caution whenever you need to tire a pin high, using a 10K resistor. I have burned 2 modules when connecting wrongly.

PS: If you got a module with "AI-THINKER" and FCC printed on the metal can and the top link pin is (from left) TXD, RXD, GPIO4, GPIO5, it should be TXD, RXD, GPIO4, GPIO4

[pablo2048]

We have preproduction CC3200MOD modules in hand.  They are supposed to be FCC certified modules under $10/ea at volume.  That's pretty disruptive compared to the competition (and by competition I am not counting non certified china garbage, though that stuff definitely has it's place!!!)

We will see... http://bbs.espressif.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=59&sid=378c757fe2c2d86184061a76592e4509
https://apps.fcc.gov/tcb/GetTcb731Report.do?applicationId=794971&fcc_id=2AC7Z-ESP8266EX
http://fccid.net/document.php?id=2436302
:-)

[an007_rld]

A low cost evaluation board for ESP-12 (there are some other vendors for the same module):
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Esp8266-ESP-12-wifi-module-esp8266-serial-wifi-coexistence-full-AP-test-board/32247134310.html

Best Regards,
-an

[Gallymimu]

...sure $10/ module is 5 times more than $2 (12.5 yuan) and probably TI and Espressif use the same TSMC foundries to build the product (doesn't look to me very competitive).
It's similar  for OMAP market that start fading vs. Mediatek SoCs, not because the price for silicon is different just because TI wants to get probably 200-500% revenue based on chips production.

What will happened with TI in the future, we will see, if they will continue the same politics.

And here is another site related to ESP8266: http://esp8266.ru/ (it is in russian but you can use google translate for translation)

Hope helps,
-an

yeah you clearly don't know what you are talking about.  The value in the TI module is that it is FCC certified.  For low volume products (where you would use a module).  FCC compliance for all major markets can cost between $15k and $20k.  That's what a quality module saves you.

Posted on: December 30, 2014, 01:00:32 01:00 - Automerged
PLUS, you have an arm core in the CC3200/CC3200MOD so you don't even need to waste time with another microprocessor.  I'm sure the ESP8266 is great as a toy.

[pablo2048]

Even the ESP8266EX is FCC certified - see https://apps.fcc.gov/tcb/GetTcb731Report.do?applicationId=794971&fcc_id=2AC7Z-ESP8266EX . It was just matter of time. And Your PLUS - how many projects have You seen with CC3200/... compared to "china garbage"? Another CPU? - it comes with GCC - same as in my other CPU's and not with some Code Composer Studio Pay Again TI stuff...

[PICker]

Some useful links about ESP8266:

http://www.planetarduino.org/?cat=3857
http://zeflo.com/2014/esp8266-weather-display/
http://www.mikrocontroller.net/articles/ESP8266
https://nurdspace.nl/ESP8266

Cheers.

[motox]

Windows users, here is a complete IDE that actually works and it has a lot of code examples:
http://www.esp8266.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=820&sid=783b2f3021078ab65722108fdfadd5d8

[gan_canny]

Well, I have several esp07 modules ( almost equivalent to esp12) that have a ceramic antenna and an external antenna connector plus the internal components are in a tin enclosure with a FCC approval stamp and all for under $5 a piece. Sure some will say China products are inferior and use price to validate it. Some will say that China products are just as good or better and the lower price may be a result of not paying the multi-million dollar salaries most US corporate executives expect. Anyway an esp-xx is excellent value and if lua is installed provides a pleasant experience in setting up a $5 wifi client or server.

[Cain]

Anyone else experiencing stability issues? After 1-5 K connections (varies) the TCP/IP stack stops accepting new TCP connections?

It's still possible to ping the module so ICMP layer is still working...

[pablo2048]

Anyone else experiencing stability issues? After 1-5 K connections (varies) the TCP/IP stack stops accepting new TCP connections?

It's still possible to ping the module so ICMP layer is still working...

What firmware do you use (and version)? I'm using nodemcu LUA without this problem...

[Cain]

I'm using the official firmware version 0.9.2.4 (AT+GMR=0018000902-AI03).

[bigtoy]

I'm using nodemcu LUA without this problem...

Thanks for the tip about running lua - that's very interesting. I've recently done a project using a CC3200. It works, but it's all written in C, which is time consuming to write. TI provides example code to help things along, but it's certainly open to improvement. I'd be pretty keen to try writing (and learning) some lua for the ESP.

[pablo2048]

Thanks for the tip about running lua - that's very interesting. I've recently done a project using a CC3200. It works, but it's all written in C, which is time consuming to write. TI provides example code to help things along, but it's certainly open to improvement. I'd be pretty keen to try writing (and learning) some lua for the ESP.

Another interesting project is Micropython for ESP8266, but actually its only just basic functionality...

[motox]

Interesting blog about electronics but most of the posts are about the ESP8266:
http://scargill.wordpress.com/

[Gallymimu]

Even the ESP8266EX is FCC certified - see https://apps.fcc.gov/tcb/GetTcb731Report.do?applicationId=794971&fcc_id=2AC7Z-ESP8266EX . It was just matter of time. And Your PLUS - how many projects have You seen with CC3200/... compared to "china garbage"? Another CPU? - it comes with GCC - same as in my other CPU's and not with some Code Composer Studio Pay Again TI stuff...

I've seen ZERO projects with the CC3200, BECAUSE IT JUST CAME OUT!  TI has free code composer for CC3200.

so where can you buy this FCC certified ESP8266EX module. I can't seem to find one anywhere.  I'd actually like to buy a few of them, but I can't find this FCC certified module for sale.

Oh it appears your FCC certified module isn't even a module (http://www.esp8266.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=113&start=50).  Comments on it's spectral performance aren't very good (but good enough is fine by me).

Posted on: January 14, 2015, 02:30:07 02:30 - Automerged
anyone know anything about the processor core on the ESP8266?  It says it's an LX106 but I've not heard of that nor did a quick search turn up much.

[pablo2048]

I've seen ZERO projects with the CC3200, BECAUSE IT JUST CAME OUT!  TI has free code composer for CC3200.

so where can you buy this FCC certified ESP8266EX module. I can't seem to find one anywhere.  I'd actually like to buy a few of them, but I can't find this FCC certified module for sale.

Oh it appears your FCC certified module isn't even a module (http://www.esp8266.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=113&start=50).  Comments on it's spectral performance aren't very good (but good enough is fine by me).

Posted on: January 14, 2015, 02:30:07 02:30 - Automerged
anyone know anything about the processor core on the ESP8266?  It says it's an LX106 but I've not heard of that nor did a quick search turn up much.

You can buy it at the same place as CERTIFIED CC3200 - nowhere _yet_ - as I said it's just matter of time. IMHO IoT spirit is in many low cost simple sensors (best fit for ESP8266 or something like that cheap module) and coordinator - for example $25 $20 (unit price) Vocore (Yes it HAS FCC and is available now) with standardized Linux system - both with same compiler (GCC) and Eclipse IDE if You want. Only toy i see here is very expensive TI thing...
One more thing i forgot to mention - i live in EU so i need CE certificate, not FCC - Vocore has both, what about TI?

[Old_but_Alive]

@galymimu


Tensilica ( now owned by Cadence) Xtensa LX3 32bit


the toolchains etc etc

all you could ever want to know

http://www.esp8266.com/