💬 HALO : ESP32 multi transport GW/Bridge for Mysensors

[Nca78]

@scalz yes these are the ones.
And they have versions with external antenna connectors also, amplified and even non amplified.

[gohan]

They look genuine, where did you buy them?

[scalz]

@gohan
yes in theory they are genuine as they claim to buy the chip from Nordic. you can find those modules at ali or ebay. just search for the module ref you need.

[Nca78]

@gohan so they claim but at less than 2$ for one module I have doubts...
Check on the website they have a "sample" button or "order sample", it links to the module on their ebay shop, they use it for selling samples.

[gohan]

I think I'll still go for the Itead ones then

[gohan]

@scalz how is the project going?

[ranseyer]

Hi Scalz,

is it possible that you share the schematic ? Im Interestet mostly which Pins you uses to the "? mysX ?" Connector...
Greetings

[mfalkvidd]

@ranseyer if you mean the mysx connector itself, the pins are available at https://www.mysensors.org/hardware/mysx

[ranseyer]

@mfalkvidd : Thats correct, but im working on a pin assignment (for STM32 and) ESP32... Mybe its a goot idea to open o new thread for that...

[scalz]

I'll update asap my projects (new designs&more features, softwares etc.). I've been quiet but not inactive :)
I just need to rethink how I'll share all of this because there is quite lot of stuff.. (interesting imho). I hope you'll like them.

@ranseyer said in 💬 HALO : ESP32 multi transport GW/Bridge for Mysensors:

@mfalkvidd : Thats correct, but im working on a pin assignment (for STM32 and) ESP32... Mybe its a goot idea to open o new thread for that...

I agree with mfalkvidd, you can take a look at myxs definition. Your pin assignment doesn't have to be the same as mine.. these mcus (STM32 and ARMs, esp32 etc) are flexible, you should check the datasheet ;)

[berkseo]

Have you tried some of the examples to run the gateway? I recently tested ESP32

Sketches in examples do not work in a sheaf of ESP-RF24

Board downloaded from git hub Expessif

I tested on NODE MCU32S

[mfalkvidd]

To anyone trying to help @berkseo: the problem has already been solved in a separate forum thread. You can access the solution at https://forum.mysensors.org/topic/9510/esp32-gateway-pinout

[heinzv]

I'm not sure if this helps, but I can say, that the MySensorsGateway code works with ESP32 in principle.
I have tested it with at least two different boards. One ESP32 from Heltec with an RFM95 (SX1276) on-board and one barebone board @ranseyer and myself have designed (picture attached).
For the barebone which we have designed, I used the board definition Nodes32s in Arduino. The only thing which I have defined in the Gateway-Project was the CS/NSS (chip select pin) as it is not where the code expects it as default.
So I had to add (bold line):
// Enables and select radio type (if attached)
//#define MY_RADIO_RFM69
#define MY_RADIO_RFM95
#define MY_RFM95_CS_PIN 17

After that, I got success messages in the serial output:
19 MCO:BGN:INIT GW,CP=RLNGF---,VER=2.3.1-alpha
23 TSF:LRT:OK
24 TSM:INIT
25 TSF:WUR:MS=0
37 TSM:INIT:TSP OK
39 TSM:INIT:GW MODE
40 TSM:READY:ID=0,PAR=0,DIS=0
43 MCO:REG:NOT NEEDED
622 GWT:TPC:CONNECTING...
...
3636 GWT:TPC:IP=10.0.0.151
3640 MCO:BGN:STP
3642 MCO:BGN:INIT OK,TSP=1
3644 GWT:TPC:IP=10.0.0.151
3649 GWT:RMQ:MQTT RECONNECT
3695 GWT:RMQ:MQTT CONNECTED
3697 GWT:TPS:TOPIC=mygateway1-out/0/255/0/0/18,MSG SENT

I know, you don't use the RFM95 but I guess it should work also with other radio's

board I use from ranseyer:

[scalz]

I know I don't give news about this project.
So, maybe I should show you few pics, just in case.. ,)

First, I prefer to say, we can't share code for the moment..not very release-able.

We are using completely custom code for this project. GW code is quite big, mysensors is an experimental version (sort of "v3"). Plus for all the features, sometimes it can need some tweaks in esp32 libs etc. for the moment, sw is still tied to this project&hw.

That said we have lot of neat stuff working, hw choices changed a bit too.

Here we go:

• asynchronous
• http webserver + websocket server
• mqtt client
• transport bridging
• embedded webapp for UI
• etc.
  Well I cannot make a list for the moment, there are lot of features.

Concept is autonomous simple network without need of a advanced controller, or when linkto/controller is down, that you can control and debug from your phone or computer. With step by step configuration, inclusion etc for easy getting started.

Pics of the app ?? Teasing ON!

The app is realtime and very reactive. Responsive and mobile friendly. This is a single page app. written with Vue, no jquery. lightweight Bulma CSS

I started to make some widgets.. there are also multiple filters for dashboard.

It will also be possible to get infos about network, rssi, stats etc

Lot of settings, I let you imagine them.. there are a few dedicated steps by steps too, handy for starters (like my family, friends..).

It's also possible to see all logs, downloading them, updating app files etc.

Teasing OFF, I prefer to keep some other nice features to show you later :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

don't ask for a release date plz, we're busy on lot of projects, but we'll try to do our best! stay tuned :)

[berkseo]

@scalz
Wow 8)

[heinzv]

I'm also impressed, I'll certainly observe this project(s). Especially because the base of my nodes is also ESP32 (see picture above)
:clap:

[alowhum]

@scalz Wow, that's amazing!

[scalz]

thx guys, always glad to hear.

With this project, I don't intend to replace a rpi controller of course. I'm using one too.
This was something I wished for a while, also wanted nice tools (hw & sw) for debugging/using lot of transports.

But more important, is family and friends, to easily get them started in HA. I think for the moment HA still looks a bit complicated for lot of people..often making people smile or looking at you with wide open eyes.

Heard things like : "you're a crazy geek!" , "wow..well that's cool, sure, but I don't think I need this at home, or later maybe." "nice! but what I woud need is robot vacuum cleaner" :smile: "seems complex, what about privacy, hacking", "why do you want to datalog temperature, humidity.." :thinking_face:

I know lot of smart non computer people who don't have time to become sysadmin, use CLI tools, json, rpi linux, blablabla.
Or even if everything is in place, they wouldn't have time to learn how to use controllers+UI..pity.
Also would your wife be able to add a timer, plan an action, add a new node in network, know where to click? is it too complicated to use?! So don't ask them to setup or tune their HA with Nodered!
In fact they are much more interested in something lean and easy to use. Like commercial products do!
But often cloud, or chinese UI??, not opensource fw (you can't change behaviour of a switch button without a controller..) etc

So to make this simple, my setup will work like this:

• get a Halo GW of course ;) and simply burn fw with a ftdi adapter. I'll prepare it for my friends. then it's simply a matter of wireless updates. No 'OS' updates, dependancies blabla simply a small file to update by air
• same for a node.
• with phone or computer, go to Halo UI app, and simply follow step by steps for first setup and pairing! I'm trying to make UI very easy to use.

That's all, you now can interact with your network! no need to setup a rpi, nodered etc..

Finally, "cherry on cake": I made a MySensors App+skill/action for Snips

• buy or make a Snips voice assistant
• download the MySensors Halo App for Snips from their app market (not published yet)
• go to Halo gw UI and setup Snips

Voilà you can voice control your MySensors network. Again no external rpi as controller. Only gw and snips device. Nothing complicated to use.. lean and low power :four_leaf_clover:
Once you're used to it, then you can link the gw to a more powerful controller of course. it's a MySensors gw after all ;)
I'll try to make a video of the setup.

[heinzv]

@scalz: Once the PCB's are available, I'll order some here (as you mentioned you might earn a bit). I have once ESp32 RFM95/LoRa GW already which works, but I'll switch to your HALO GW once you provide the PCB's, the code and the 3D Print files.

[Wesley]

very impressive work. Can´t wait to give it a try. So many things in one project, looks very useful. I think that alone through the intgrations like snips this could become a stand-alone, closed mysensors/mqtt hub, where almost everything is integrated what you need.

Can´t wait to hear more of this project.