Shop OBEX P1 Docs P2 Docs Learn Events
WX WiFi? — Parallax Forums

WX WiFi?

cavelambcavelamb Posts: 720
in Propeller 1
not knowing enough to know better...

1) Are there any drivers for the WX modules in SPIN or PASM?

2) Is there something on the Activity board that the WX needs?
(or will it work with other boards?)

Comments

  • macrobeakmacrobeak Posts: 354
    cavelamb,
    I have not found any SPIN or PASM coding for the WX module.
    The only official coding seems to be the BS2 Basic and Prop C tutorials.
    There are a few forum threads with some SPIN code snippets.
    There is nothing special on the Propeller Activity Board - you can connect the WX module on any board.
    regards
  • David BetzDavid Betz Posts: 14,516
    cavelamb wrote: »
    not knowing enough to know better...

    1) Are there any drivers for the WX modules in SPIN or PASM?

    2) Is there something on the Activity board that the WX needs?
    (or will it work with other boards?)
    Anything with a serial port should be able to talk to the WX module. I debugged some of the code by connecting it through a PropPlug to a PC.

  • cavelambcavelamb Posts: 720
    macrobeak wrote: »
    cavelamb,
    I have not found any SPIN or PASM coding for the WX module.
    The only official coding seems to be the BS2 Basic and Prop C tutorials.
    There are a few forum threads with some SPIN code snippets.
    There is nothing special on the Propeller Activity Board - you can connect the WX module on any board.
    regards

    That's a shame about the coding examples.
    The Propeller and WX would be a perfect match.
    Somebody (a lot smarter than me) should have done this a long time ago!
  • macrobeakmacrobeak Posts: 354
    cavelamb,
    Yup, those were my thoughts as well.
    The official Prop C WX tutorial confirms that the Propeller and WX are a perfect match.
    However, this is not much use if you still use SPIN, but I believe that the WX and Propeller SPIN are a perfect match too.
    I have reverse-coded the official tutorial and have some working SPIN programs if you are interested.
    Regards,
  • cavelambcavelamb Posts: 720
    Very interested, macro.
  • macrobeakmacrobeak Posts: 354
    For those SPIN users interested in developing on the Parallax WX ESP8266 module I have uploaded some SPIN development programs and notes to OBEX;
    http://obex.parallax.com/object/881
    I find the WX module quite stable and easy to use/debug using FDS and serial commands in SPIN.
    I had previously worked on raw ESP8266 modules, but I found the lack of documentation and support frustrating and limiting.
    The Parallax WX ESP8266 module, API document, Resources and Learn tutorials are an excellent integrated package and a user-friendly learning or entry point to wi-fi/web interfacing of micros.
  • AwesomeCronkAwesomeCronk Posts: 1,055
    @cavelamb
    Make sure thet you get the SIP version if you are working with any board other that the Activity Board WX. WX has a special-sized socket to fit the DIP version, SIP plugs into the 2x10 header on the BOE(BS2) or into any other breadboard.

    @macrobeak
    Good Idea! Thank you!
  • cavelambcavelamb Posts: 720
    I need to see something more low level than web pages.
    Kinda steep first step, doncha think?

    I was looking at a ESP8266 project that sent AT commands.
    That would be very cool.
    But it was written for Arduino, and trying to read the code
    made me see colors...

  • David BetzDavid Betz Posts: 14,516
    cavelamb wrote: »
    I need to see something more low level than web pages.
    Kinda steep first step, doncha think?

    I was looking at a ESP8266 project that sent AT commands.
    That would be very cool.
    But it was written for Arduino, and trying to read the code
    made me see colors...
    You could probably refresh the Parallax WX module with the AT code but then it wouldn't work with any of the Parallax example code.
  • cavelambcavelamb Posts: 720
    HOW would I do that, David?

    I don't need it to work with the Parallax examples.
    I just need to communicate with a remote Propeller system.
  • pmrobertpmrobert Posts: 673
    Just jumping in here - I think you're looking for the base firmware the ESP based chips come with from Espressif (manufacturer). That is AT command based. I would search on "esp8266 at firmware" and start reading. It can be frustrating but it's definitely doable. You'll need an SDK (there's a couple of them both closed and mostly open source) for certain.

    Mike R...
  • cavelambcavelamb Posts: 720
    Thanks Mike.
    Searching...
  • David BetzDavid Betz Posts: 14,516
    cavelamb wrote: »
    HOW would I do that, David?

    I don't need it to work with the Parallax examples.
    I just need to communicate with a remote Propeller system.
    Is there a reason the Parallax firmware won't work for you?

  • macrobeakmacrobeak Posts: 354
    Cavelamb,
    Good luck with raw interfacing to the ESP8266.
    I managed to get several functions working but I was frustrated with the lack of documentation and support.
    There are several links on the forum with raw ESP8266 interface programs and code snippets;
    http://forums.parallax.com/discussion/157430/low-cost-wifi-module-esp8266/p4
  • cavelambcavelamb Posts: 720
    David Betz wrote: »
    cavelamb wrote: »
    HOW would I do that, David?

    I don't need it to work with the Parallax examples.
    I just need to communicate with a remote Propeller system.

    Is there a reason the Parallax firmware won't work for you?

    David,
    I don't know enough to answer that.

    But having scanned through the 18 pages of forum posts that macrobeak
    offered, I'm wondering if this is really something I want to get involved with.
    You guys put a whole lot of research and development effort into this topic
    and I'm not sure I understand any of it enough to use it.

    To me it looks like this Wifi business will be overly complex (and slow)
    as well as memory limited.

    What I'd like to have is a simple wireless data communications system.
    Maybe Bluetooth would be a better choice, but again, don't know enough
    yet to know...




  • David BetzDavid Betz Posts: 14,516
    cavelamb wrote: »
    David Betz wrote: »
    cavelamb wrote: »
    HOW would I do that, David?

    I don't need it to work with the Parallax examples.
    I just need to communicate with a remote Propeller system.

    Is there a reason the Parallax firmware won't work for you?

    David,
    I don't know enough to answer that.

    But having scanned through the 18 pages of forum posts that macrobeak
    offered, I'm wondering if this is really something I want to get involved with.
    You guys put a whole lot of research and development effort into this topic
    and I'm not sure I understand any of it enough to use it.

    To me it looks like this Wifi business will be overly complex (and slow)
    as well as memory limited.

    What I'd like to have is a simple wireless data communications system.
    Maybe Bluetooth would be a better choice, but again, don't know enough
    yet to know...



    What are you trying to do? Do you want the Propeller to be a web server and serve data to your other system?

  • cavelambcavelamb Posts: 720
    no!
    I don't need web stuff.

    Like I said, a simple wireless communications system.

    Right now I'm running IR comm links.
    Simple serial bit banging.

    But the range is limited to line of sight (with reflections :) )
    Won't work in the next room tho.
    And not much good outside.

    Is there anything like that off the shelf?


  • GenetixGenetix Posts: 1,754
    cavelamb,

    What about Xbee modules?

    Is there a particular range or data rate that you need.
    As far as the uC is concerned they are just serial devices but they automatically communicate with each other and form a network.
  • iseriesiseries Posts: 1,492
    I have done all sorts of communication between Propellers.

    I have used the ESP8266 which works fine if you want to connect it to your home network and talk to something in another room.

    I have used a XBee to communication point to point with another unit say with one being a RC radio and the other receiving the commands to drive motors.

    I have a weather station that wakes up and connects to my network and sends the information to a server for viewing.

    Bluetooth is nice but limited on range to only a few feet so that is not really and option.

    The ESP8266 is a very inexpensive unit and there are tools out there to build your own firmware but requires some know how and research. I had to build a jig to allow me to program it with Arduino.

    XBee has tools to setup the link before you connect it to your application so you can get it working before hand. This is a little more expense as you need to buy the interface hardware and the correct XBee unit for what you want it to do.

    Mike
  • cavelambcavelamb Posts: 720
    edited 2018-09-05 20:33
    Searching X-bee.
    Thanks all

    And finding!
    Interesting device.
    Kinda power piggish (by current standards :) ) but one must expect that of a radio transmitter.
    They look nice sleeping.
    TINY!

    Gentix, iseries, that thing has possibilities.
    Thank you very much.

    Not to go looking for the gotchas.
Sign In or Register to comment.