ESP8266 WiFi Module Progress

[NZ0I]

The support available for the ESP8266 WiFi module is making it easier than expected to implement some of the wireless UI ideas floated here. Here is a summary of what we should be able to do, with those things currently implemented in test software shown in boldface.

1. Function as a soft access point web server - allowing WiFi capable computers and smartphones to connect and browse to pages it serves

2. Use a specific IP address (e.g., 73.73.73.73) so that you can browse to its homepage using a known IP address value

3. Function as an mDNS server so that you can browse to its homepage using a local domain name (e.g., "fox.local") instead of an IP address

4. Has its own file system (up to 3MB) for storing settings, the web pages that it serves, and any other data

5. Create WebSockets for efficiently transferring data over TCP with low latency (e.g., for displaying signal strength in real time)

6. Scan for networks, to find and connect to known networks automatically (e.g., for gaining internet access for real-time clock syncing, or for connecting with other fox transmitters for "cloning")

7. Over-the-air (OTA) software updates are also a possibility - updating the Atmega processor OTA would require hardware changes giving the ESP8266 more control over the reset line and RS-232 port.

I've been able to create a simple (crude) web page that allows me to turn an LED on/off by clicking (or tapping on a smartphone) the button displayed on the web page; and another web page that allows text values to be entered. I've also found an example of a web page slider control (javascript) that seems that it might provide a simple way to add a frequency control interface (for a transmitter or receiver). It might operate as follows: when the slider is centered the frequency remains stationary, but push the slider left or right and the frequency will step down or up, with the step size accelerating the farther you push the slider off center. The slider would need to snap back to the center position when released. I'm not sure how to implement that in HTML/javascript yet, but it seems to be within the realm of possibility.

With the features described above, plus a graphical indication of signal strength, it seems that a reasonable receiver display might be implemented on a web page. That would open the possibility of interfacing the receivers to any standard browser running on a WiFi-capable Android, iOS, Windows, OS X, or Linux device. No special application required - just use your favorite browser.