Seems the best results are being had with the ESP8266 modules (not the shields) optionally mounted on a proto shield. Personally I have not had any luck but I appear to be cursed. Others have had much better luck.
If I had a wifi shield like https://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/ArduinoWiFiShield I would be more than willing to test it with the modifications I have done up for the ESP8266 module, I can also push changes to a branch if someone was wanting to test it and let me know. For the ESP8266, I will have a complete write up once I have my module working properly with DCC++ and JMRI, hopefully either later today or early into next week. The approach I am taking should work for the shields as well as the modules provided you can upload a program to run on the ESP8266 itself. I have also gone around in circles in reflashing the ESP8266 modules with official firmwares and have compiled the simple instructions on how to reflash the devices reliably. I will have a link for that as well with simple instructions since most are hard to follow, are pointing to very out of date firmwares, or are pretty rough translations from chinese to english.
Looking forward to your post, I'm about to buy an ESP8266 but undecided on exactly which variant to get. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I am working on the ESP-01S today to see if I can get it connected to my wifi and get serial com working on my Mega2560. I have turned an old PC ATX 400 watt power supply into the power supply for my Mega and Arduino motor shield following directions I found here: https://pcbsmoke.wordpress.com/2012/11/21/converting-an-atx-power-supply-into-a-dc-bench-supply/ It will supply the 12VDC I need for N scale track, an addition 12VDC rail for accessories, 5VDC for accessories and 3.3VDC for powering the ESP01S. Just to be safe I am using a voltage divider (1- 1kOhm & 1- 2kOhm 1/2 watt resistors) between the Mega's Tx output to the ESP-01s Rx input to drop the 5VDC to 3.3VDC. I will post my results.
What is the difference of the ESP-01 to the ESP-01S? I looked at it online but couldn't find anything specific as different. You might also consider looking at the work I am doing here. I am using an ESP-01 on a small PCB with screw terminals (5VDC, 3.3VDC, serial), TTL converter, and headers for the TTL converter and ESP-01. This will eventually be mounted up inside my helix on the roof with a wire bundle running down to the base station and power supplies. The TTL converter I am using is this one. Once I sorted out the wiring on it (documentation is seriously lacking but it is pretty simple), it works great for connecting the ESP to the PC via USB for flashing or to the Arduinos. Some extended functionality I am planning for the DCC++ESP work above will be Arduinos spread around the layout each with an ESP that will connect and report changes in sensors (block detectors mainly but maybe panels as well) or receive output updates (for signals or panel display, etc)
My understanding is that the 01S variant has 1MB of flash RAM rather than 512KB that the 01 has. The 01S should be identifiable by having a black PCB rather than the blue PCB of the 01. Jim
None so far for me. I have built the power supply but have not progressed from there. Found out I am going to be a grandfather for the first time and have been repurposed to turn the guest room into a nursery. My around the walls layout is resigned to be a HCD that I am finding very little time to work on now that the weather is warmer.
