Component: WLAN (ESP8266) (Comms: Networking)

Author	Matrix Ltd.
Version	2.1
Category	Comms: Networking

WLAN component

Wireless LAN component designed to work with the ESP8266 module. Provides a very simple interface to allow webpages to be hosted from hardware or simulation. Also available in the form of the EB069 E-block.

Component Pack

COMMSB

Detailed description

No detailed description exists yet for this component

Examples

The examples below are all done using a EB091 board as the host

The EB069 ESP8266 Wifi E-block is connected to PORTD 0-7 with the patch setting set to B.

The EB005 LCD E-block is connected to PORTB 0-7 with the patch setting set to Default.

Other host boards are compatible with the examples, simply change the target chip and component connection properties.

Firmware Test

This example collects the firmware version from the ESP8266 module and displays it on an LCD. Tested working with firmware version 00150900.

FirmwareTest

Wireless Scanner

This example scans for wireless networks in range and prints the network IDs to the LCD along with the signal strength and security type.

WifiScan

Creating An Access Point

This example creates an access point you can connect your phone or laptop to named Flowcode_ESP8266. The password to connect to the access point is flowcode6.

Note this example simply creates an access point, no data is transferred.

CreateAP

Joining An Access Point

This example joins an existing access point. The network ID and Password must be altered to match your local WIFI network settings.

Note this example simply joins an access point, no data is transferred.

JoinAP

TCP Client

This example joins an existing access point. The network ID and Password must be altered to match your local WIFI network settings.

Once joined to the network the example connects to the MatrixTSL website and requests a file which is printed out on the LCD.

TCPClient

TCP Server

This example creates an access point you can connect your phone or laptop to named Flowcode_ESP8266. The password to connect to the access point is flowcode6.

Once the access point is created the example shows the server IP address on the LCD. Connecting to the wireless network on your phone or laptop and visiting the IP address shown on the LCD using a web browser allows you to switch LED outputs on and off.

TCPServer

Network Comms

Here are some examples using the Network Communication component linked to the ESP8266 component.

NetworkComms ESP8266 Client

NetworkComms ESP8266 Webserver

Downloadable macro reference

	SendString
Sends the given Text with no preappendment. Useful for sending preformatted command strings. Appends a CR to the end of the string if SendCR is greater than 0.
- STRING	Text
- BYTE	SendCR
- VOID	Return

	DisconnectFromSSID
Disconnects from the current SSID. Returns 1 if the command was accepted and returned an "OK"
- BYTE	Return

	ClientConnect
Creates a TCP or UDP connection to a remote server. Returns the state of the connection. 0=Connection failed 1=Connection active
- BYTE	Type
0 = TCP, 1 = UDP
- STRING	IPAddress
e.g. "192.168.1.20"
- UINT	Port
Remote port number to connect to, HTTP comms = Port 80
- BYTE	Return

	ControlTCPServer
Allows a TCP web page server to be switched on and off on the selected port. Returns 1 if the command was completed correctly.
- BYTE	Enable
0 = Stop Server, 1 = Start Server
- UINT	Port
Server port to listen for incoming TCP/IP data requests
- BYTE	Return

	GetFirmwareVersion
Collects the firmware version from the ESP8266 module and returns it as a string.
- STRING	Return

	CheckForPageRequests
To be called periodically. Returns non-zero if a request has been processed
- BYTE	Return

	ClientSendRequest
Sends out a string with the required AT+CIPSEND=Length$(Request) initialiser.
- STRING	Request
e.g. "GET / HTTP/1.0\r\n\r\n"
- VOID	Return

	ReadSSIDFromScan
Collects one of the SSID name strings from the last SSID Scan. The ScanForSSID macro must be called first.
- BYTE	Index
SSID Index
- STRING	Return

	CreateAccessPoint
Sets up the wireless LAN module into AP mode to host a wireless network. Other WIFI enabled devices can then connect to the module. Returns 1 for success.
- STRING	SSID
Name of the wireless network to create
- STRING	Password
Password used to gain access to the network
- BYTE	Channel
802.11 Channel Range 1-14
- BYTE	Encryption
0=Open, 1=WEP, 2=WPA_PSK, 3=WPA2_PSK, 4=WPA_WPA2_PSK
- BYTE	Return

	SetOutValue
Set the value of an outbound substitution string
- BYTE	index
Range 0-4
- STRING	value
- VOID	Return

	EndServerConnection
Disconnects from the current active TCP/IP pipe.
- BYTE	Return

	Send_Embedded_HTML_Page4
- VOID	Return

	ReadSignalStrengthFromScan
Collects the signal strength from the last SSID Scan. The ScanForSSID macro must be called first. Value returned is in negative dB, smaller value = better signal
- BYTE	Index
SSID Index
- INT	Return

	Send_Embedded_HTML_Page3
- VOID	Return

	Send_Embedded_HTML_Page2
- VOID	Return

	Send_Embedded_HTML_Page1
- VOID	Return

	ReadEncryptionModeFromScan
Collects one of the encryption modes from the last SSID Scan. The ScanForSSID macro must be called first. 0=Open, 1=WEP, 2=WPA_PSK, 3=WPA2_PSK, 4=WPA_WPA2_PSK
- BYTE	Index
SSID Index
- BYTE	Return

	GetByteWithTimeout
Attempts to receive a byte from the circular buffer. If nothing is available then waits up to 200 ms for data to become available.
- BYTE	Return

	GetInValue
Returns the string value of a Request parameter
- BYTE	index
Index of the request paramter, starting at zero Range 0-2
- STRING	Return

	ConnectToSSID
Attempts to connect to the given SSID and Key values. Returns 1 if the SSID has been connected.
- STRING	SSID
- STRING	Key
- BYTE	Timeout
Number of seconds to wait for the connection, default 20
- BYTE	Return

	ClientSendArray
Sends out an array of data bytes with the required AT+CIPSEND=Length$(Request) initialiser.
- BYTE	Data
- UINT	NumBytes
- VOID	Return

	GetRxArray
Attempts to receive a number of bytes from the remote connection If nothing is available then waits up to 200 ms for data to become available. Returns the number of bytes received,.
- BYTE	Data
Byte array to store the incoming data
- UINT	MaxBytes
Maximum number of bytes to try and receive
- UINT	Return

	ScanForSSID
Checks for wireless networks in the local area which are broadcasting their SSID. Must not be connected to a network to allow this to function. Returns the number of wireless networks found, max 8.
- BYTE	Return

	Initialise
Initialise the device with the property data. Returns 1 if "ready" message successfully received Returns 0 if no reply from module
- BYTE	Return

	CheckTCPServerIP
Collects the local IP address of the active TCP server.
- STRING	Return

Property reference

	Properties
	WIFI Properties
	Receive Buffer Size
Buffer used to store incoming data ready for processing. Default 128 Bytes.
	Scan Buffer Size
Buffer used to hold SSID names when performing a SSID network scan. Default 100 Bytes.
	Reset Mode
The initialise automatically resets the WIFI module before establishing communications. Software reset uses an AT command to preform the reset Hardware reset uses an extra I/O pin to toggle the signal to the reset pin on the module.
	Command Termination
Older versions of the firmware require \r to terminate a AT command string. Newer versions of the firmware have changed to use \r\n termination.
	Connections
	Channel
UART Channel selector Software channels are bit banged using generic I/O pins but are not as reliable as hardware channels. Hardware channels use the selected peripheral on-board the target microcontroller.
	Baud Options
Baud rate option selector
	Baud Rate
	TX
Pin to be used for Transmit data
	RX
Pin to be used for Receive data
	Reset
WLAN module reset pin connection
	Use Flow Control
Flow Control (Handshake) enable or disable. On: Two I/O pins are used to control the flow of data in and out of the device. Off: Flow control is disabled.
	HTML Source
	Max Web Pages
Maximum number of individual webpages we can serve up with the component.
	Web Page Timeout
Number of cycles to try and send / receive a webpage before timing out.
	Line Delay
Fixed delay in microseconds sent in between sending a HTML line when running as a web page server.
	Name Page 1
HTML name of webpage 1
	HTML Page 1
HTML content for webpage 1
	Name Page 2
HTML name of webpage 2
	HTML Page 2
HTML content for webpage 2
	Name Page 3
HTML name of webpage 3
	HTML Page 3
HTML content for webpage 3
	Name Page 4
HTML name of webpage 4
	HTML Page 4
HTML content for webpage 4
	Substitutions
	Outgoing
	Count
Maximum number of outbound string substitutions
	Length 0
Number of bytes to reserve for data string.
	Incoming
	Count
Maximum number of inbound string substitutions
	Length 0
Number of bytes to reserve for data string.
	Simulation
	Label
Text label used to help identify the component on the panel.
	Simulation Method
Decides how to handle the simulation of the component. TCP Base - Allows simulation of the network communications using the TCP Base component and DLL. COM/Injector - Allows the simulation to connect to real hardware or injectors.