Mark DiVecchio's O-Gauge Train Layouts
WiFi Support for RTC
This Page last updated on
.
I started developement of this web page in January 2022. It will be under construction for a while.
On this page, I describe the work that I've been doing to implement the
use of WiFi to connect to my layout. I started on the coding around
September of 2021.
When I started my work on RTC, I used a wired interface to connect the PC to the TIU. Later, I learned how to use a CC1101 radio
to connect directly. The radio was connected to the PC using a USB
cable. Now the ultimate(?) implementation - I can get rid of the USB
cable by using WiFi to connect to the Radio. I extended this so that
now I can also connect using WiFi to my RFID tag detectors distributed over the layout.
Though connecting to the TIU via WiFi is nice, the real advantage to
reduced wiring is having a dozen or more RFID tag detectors around my
layout and not having to have them wired together in series and then
wired to my computer. If you look on my RFID tag detectors page, you can see the "old" RS232 wired connection scheme.
This is based on the work that I did for the Remote
Train Control (RTC) program and OOK Radio Support.
Prior Art
Mike Hewett
Mike always seems to be acknowledged on my web pages and he deserves
it. Mike learned about the ESP8266 based NodeMCU board and started to
use it in his projects. After I saw his success and how easy it was to
use, I started to port my RTCModemE and RTCNFCIRQ programs to that device.
My Ideas
I figured that could replace the USB connections for both my CC1101E
radio (which lets the RTC program talk with the TIU) and for my RFID
tag detectors (which send tag information to the RTC program).
ESP8266
features
1MB program memory
64KB data memory
3MB data space ( see the LittleFS below. Simulates a small hard disk.)
web page
ebay
there are many on eBay. Here is one example.
All are under $5 each as of July 2022.
Adruino IDE
Use Arduino IDE 1.8.16
Ported the RTCNFCIRQ sketch to the ESP8266 - RTCNFCWiFi
The current version of the RTCNFCIRQ sketch runs on a
Seeeduino/Infiduino. This porting effort moved the sketch to run on an
ESP8266.
Cost:
ESP8266 $5.00
Tag Reader from Elechouse
https://www.elechouse.com/product/pn532-nfc-rfid-module-w-external-antenna-updated-version/
Ported the RTCModemE sketch to the ESP8266 without using WiFi - RTCModemESP
The current version of the RTCModemE sketch runs on a
Seeeduino/Infiduino. This porting effort moved the sketch to run on an
ESP8266. This was done in two steps. This section describes step 1.
Cost:
ESP8266 $5.00
RS1101E-V3.1 Radio
https://www.elechouse.com/product/915mhz-cc1101-wireless-module/
The illustration shown is labeled RF1100SE but this specific 915Mhz version is V3.1.
There are cheaper versions of this radio on eBay but since you only
need 1 for a layout, the higher price is not so bad for a quality radio.
Ported the RTCModemE sketch to the ESP8266 using WiFi - RTCModemWiFi
The current version of the RTCModemE sketch runs on a
Seeeduino/Infiduino. This porting effort moved the sketch to run on an
ESP8266. This was done in two steps. This section describes step 2.
Cost:
ESP8266 $5.00
RS1101E-V3.1 Radio
Wrote a new sketch to emulate an AIU using WiFi - RTCAIUWiFi
The current version of the RTCModemE sketch runs on a
Seeeduino/Infiduino. This porting effort moved the sketch to run on an
ESP8266. This was done in two steps. This section describes step 2.
Cost:
ESP8266 $5.00
8 Relay Module
Power supply
track AC to 7 volts
Many available on eBay. https://www.ebay.com/itm/284059932130.
RTCModem WiFi Configuration
After you download the RTCModemWiFi program into the ESP8266, it will
start an Access Point. If you look on your phone, you will see the new
AP listed as RTCModem. Tounch on that AP to connect to it. |
The phone will proceed to connect to the RTCModem AP. |
The phone should connect up and you should see the RTCModem AP "connected without internet". |
Then startup a web browser such as Firefox or Chrome. Enter this IP
address into the Address Bar: 192.168.4.1. Press GO. You should see
this screen. Here is were we enter the information that the RTCModemWiFi
program needs to communicate with your computer via the WiFi Router.
Enter:
The SSID of your router
The WiFi password of your router
DO NOT change the Port number as the RTC expects this value.
Then click on [Setup CC1101E Radio WiFi]. |
You should see this screen indicating that the device is rebooting and will connect up the WiFi Router. |
|
RTC RFID Tag Detection Configuration
After you download the RTCNFCWiFi program into the ESP8266, it will
start an Access Point. If you look on your phone, you will see the new
AP listed as RTCRFID. Tounch on that AP to connect to it. |
The phone should connect up and you should see the RTCRFID AP "connected without internet". |
Then startup a web browser such as Firefox or Chrome. Enter this IP
address into the Address Bar: 192.168.4.1. Press GO. You should
see this screen. Here is were we enter the information that the
RTCNFCWiFi program needs to communicate with your computer via the WiFi
Router.
Enter:
The SSID of your router
The WiFi password of your router
The detector number of this device
The number of tag readers connected to this device.
Then click on [Setup RFID WiFi]. |
You should see this screen indicating that the device is rebooting and will connect up the WiFi Router. |
CC1101 Radio by Elechouse
The radio I use is a TI CC1101 based radio from Elechouse.
Note that the image on their web page says RF1100SE but I received the
correct version labeled RF1191SE-V3.1. This is a 3.3V device
and no
signal pin can be connected to a 5V Arduino output.
Compiling a sketch which uses the CC1101 radio from Elechouse requires
my libraries CC1101E_OOK_ESP and C1101E_OOK_ESP_SPI. You can download
it from here.
In your local Arduino Library folder, create a
folder named "CC1101E_OOK_ESP"
and put the CC1101E_OOK_ESP library files in it, then create a folder
"CC1101E_OOK_ESP_SPI" and put the CC1101E_OOK_ESP_SPI library files in
it.
Program summary and
source code
I'll
try to keep these zip files up to date but if you are going to
seriously work with them, email me to be sure you have the latest
versions.
RTCModemWiFi This is the new ESP8266 NodeMCU based sketch using WiFi to connect to the PC
RTCNFCWiFi This
is the new ESP8266 NodeMCU based sketch using WiFi to connect to the PC
This site prepared and maintained by Mark
DiVecchio
email : markd@silogic.com
SD&A
HOME
Mark's Home Page
The DiVecchio
genealogy home page
The Frazzini
genealogy home page
This site will be under construction for a while.
