[Microbit-Python] Microbit and Wifi

[Nicholas H.Tollervey]

Marc Andre,

Damien knows a lot about the ESP-8266 (viz.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/214379695/micropython-on-the-esp8266-beautifully-easy-iot?ref=hero_thanks)
or if *he* doesn't, then his collaborator Paul probably does.

Glad to see you're having so much fun. I'm spending my Sunday fixing CSS
bugs in the TouchDevelop editor when displayed in IE. I know what I'd
rather be doing... In fact, I think I'd rather be sticking forks in my
eyes... ;-)

N.

On 07/02/16 14:04, M.-A. Lemburg wrote:
> Just a bit of an update on my progress so far. Not much, but
> I'm slowly getting there...
> 
> I've ordered an ESP8266, the ESP-12E variant to be exact (there
> are lots of variants available) and have soldered everything
> together.
> 
> I then found that even the board now fits a breadboard, it
> needs two breadboards to connect cables, since it completely
> covers the breadboard.
> 
> Next was trying to find some good documentation for the ESP8266.
> There are tons of documentation snippets on the net, but nothing
> really concise. The many different available variants of the ESP8266
> don't make this easier.
> 
> I figured out that in order to start the chip, you need to
> connect the chip enable pin to VCC as well.
> 
> I then tried to connect it to the UART pins 0 and 1. Unfortunately,
> using the MicroPython REPL, you lose the console output once
> you switch on UART usage, so that's not a good way to run
> experiments.
> 
> So I turned to a serial USB cable... not much success there either,
> since those typically run with RS232 voltages (+/- 3V-15V), but
> the ESP8266 can only handle 3.3V.
> 
> I'll have to order a more suitable adapter which outputs only 3.3V.
> I found one based on the CP2102 chip, which appears to do exactly
> this. With this I should then also be able to flash the
> ESP8266 with updated firmware (or even MicroPython).
> 
> I guess I could also use a RasPi for interfacing to the ESP8266,
> since the RasPi pins also use 3.3V UART levels:
> 
>     http://elinux.org/RPi_Low-level_peripherals
> 
> While reading up on the ESP8266 I also started to wonder whether
> using the AT command interface is really such a good approach.
> A native program running on the ESP8266 as Radomir suggested may
> be better to simplify the connection to the Microbit.
> 
> I guess the main use of the wifi connection would be to send
> data somewhere, rather than receiving data on the MB, so perhaps
> a simply client interface for the MB would be enough to get
> things going.
> 
> 
> On 20.01.2016 21:21, Radomir Dopieralski wrote:
>> The micropython port is in a kind of unfinished experimental state, but
>> there is a tutorial on how to compile and upload it here:
>>
>> https://learn.adafruit.com/building-and-running-micropython-on-the-esp8266/
>>
>> I also worked a bit on the documentation for it, so it should be mostly
>> up to date. Unfortunately, due to the way it is organized, it's not
>> possible to make it available on readthedocs or similar service, so you
>> will have to build it with Sphinx locally.
>>
>> Other than that, there is also an Adroid core for that board, so you can
>> use the Arduino IDE to program it, which gives you a much more complete
>> control over the board.
>>
>> The AT commands are plain-text, but you can of course write your own
>> program that communicates with the Micro:bit in any way you want. If
>> you use the I²C interface, for instance, you will still have the REPL
>> available on the serial console. You could have a HTTP server running
>> on the ESP8266, for instance...
>>
>>
>> On Wed, 20 Jan 2016 20:53:34 +0100
>> "M.-A. Lemburg" <mal at egenix.com> wrote:
>>
>>> On 20.01.2016 18:46, Radomir Dopieralski wrote:
>>>> Perhaps you should try ESP8266, it's all the rage these days.
>>>> If you pick the ESP-01 version, it has 2.54mm pitch pins which
>>>> you can connect with standard dupont cables.
>>>>
>>>> The module comes with a firmware that lets you send and receive
>>>> data over wifi using simple AT commands, but you can also program
>>>> it yourself. There is even a port of micropython for it.
>>>
>>> Thanks, Radomir. Do you have the URL for the MicroPython port ?
>>>
>>> I found that device too after I had posted the RN1723 email
>>> below when trying to find related things on Amazon. There is
>>> a *lot* of information available for it on the net and it only
>>> costs EUR 3 or so when shipped from China. The major advantage
>>> I see is that it plugs directly into the breadboard without
>>> any soldering.
>>>
>>> The interfacing is not as easy as for the RN1723, though,
>>> which uses clear text commands, whereas the ESP8266 uses
>>> cryptic AT commands.
>>>
>>> ESP8266 Specs:
>>> http://espressif.com/en/products/esp8266/
>>>
>>> ESP8266 Docs:
>>> http://bbs.espressif.com/viewtopic.php?f=67&t=225
>>>
>>> I guess I'll give the ESP8266 a try first and then fall back
>>> to the RN1723.
>>>
>>>
>>>> On Wed, 20 Jan 2016 17:57:44 +0100
>>>> "M.-A. Lemburg" <mal at egenix.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Hello all,
>>>>>
>>>>> I've been chatting a bit with Nicholas about the Bluetooth
>>>>> support in the MB and the problems with the stack using
>>>>> too much RAM, so I looked around a bit for alternatives
>>>>> and found this neat little device:
>>>>>
>>>>> RN1723:
>>>>> http://uk.farnell.com/microchip/rn1723-i-rm100/wlan-modul-802-11b-g-2-4ghz-spi/dp/2491385
>>>>> http://www.microchip.com/wwwproducts/Devices.aspx?product=RN1723
>>>>>
>>>>> Data sheet:
>>>>> http://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/DeviceDoc/70005224A.pdf
>>>>>
>>>>> Programming guide:
>>>>> http://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/DeviceDoc/50002230B.pdf
>>>>>
>>>>> It's fairly cheap, tiny, uses very little power when it's
>>>>> idle and comes with a really nice network stack to easily
>>>>> get a connection to a wifi network.
>>>>>
>>>>> Now, I'd love to play with this and see whether I can get
>>>>> it working, but need some help from someone who can point
>>>>> me to resources showing how to connect the pin casing to
>>>>> a breadboard. Even soldering looks like a problem, since the
>>>>> pins are tiny.
>>>>>
>>>>> Is there some kind of adapter I could order with the device
>>>>> to get me going ? Ideally one which doesn't require soldering.
>>>>>
>>>>> The closest I could find was this page:
>>>>>
>>>>>     http://www.sm-breadboard.eu/
>>>>>
>>>>> but none of those will fit the RN1723 case.
>>>>>
>>>>> PS: My electronics days are long over, so I'm using the Microbit
>>>>> as a bit of an excuse to slowly get into things again :-)
>>>>>
>>>>> Cheers,
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
> 


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