ESP8266 - Getting Started

ESP8266 is a powerful microcontroller with built-in WiFi. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, this is the right place to enhance your knowledge about ESP8266 and its applications. Nowadays, ESP8266 is highly renowned for its versatility and is utilized in numerous applications such as home automation, smart plugs and lights, mesh networks, industrial wireless control, baby monitors, IP cameras, sensor networks, wearable electronics, WiFi location-aware devices, security ID tags, and WiFi position system beacons. It is a popular chip in the Internet of Things world. Before diving into learning about ESP8266, it’s essential to understand the manufacturer, Espressif.”

Contents

1 Where to Buy ESP8266 Modules?
2 Specification and feature of ESP8266.
3 ESP2866 Pin Definition
4 ESP8266 Features
5 ESP8266 Applications
6 ESP8266 Sleep Mode
7 Reference
8 Next Topic
- 8.1 Explore more

Where to Buy ESP8266 Modules?

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The ESP8266 is a highly popular and powerful controller known for its built-in WiFi capability. Its main feature is its integrated WiFi functionality, which makes it ideal for Internet of Things (IoT) projects and product development. The availability of various programming languages and libraries makes it easy to work with this controller. Additionally, it is cost-effective, further enhancing its appeal.

Specification and feature of ESP8266.

Introduction:
- The ESP8266 is a low-cost Wi-Fi module developed by Espressif Systems.
- It integrates a microcontroller unit (MCU) along with Wi-Fi capabilities, making it a powerful and compact solution for IoT projects.
Features:
- MCU: The ESP8266 typically includes a 32-bit Tensilica L106 microcontroller.
- Wi-Fi: It supports 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi standards, allowing for wireless communication.
- GPIO (General Purpose Input/Output): Provides GPIO pins for interfacing with sensors, actuators, and other peripherals.
- SPI, I2C, UART: Supports various communication interfaces for connecting to other devices.
- Flash Memory: Often equipped with onboard flash memory for program storage.
Programming:
- The ESP8266 can be programmed using the Arduino IDE, PlatformIO, or other development environments.
- Programming is typically done in C or C++.
NodeMCU:
- NodeMCU is a popular development board that incorporates the ESP8266 module.
- It simplifies the development process by providing a Lua-based firmware and a USB-to-serial programming interface.
Applications:
- IoT Projects: Due to its Wi-Fi capabilities, the ESP8266 is widely used in projects related to home automation, smart devices, and data monitoring.
- Prototyping: Its low cost and ease of use make it a favorite for prototyping and experimenting with Wi-Fi-connected devices.
- Sensor Networks: Used to build wireless sensor networks for collecting and transmitting data.
Versions:
- The ESP8266 has seen various versions and variations, with improvements in terms of power consumption, processing power, and features. Some notable versions include ESP-01, ESP-12E, and ESP-12F.
ESP8266 vs. ESP32:
- The ESP32 is an evolution of the ESP8266 and includes additional features such as Bluetooth support, more GPIO pins, and dual-core processing.
Community Support:
- The ESP8266 has a large and active community, providing extensive resources, tutorials, and libraries for developers.
Power Consumption:
- Depending on the specific use case and power-saving techniques employed, the ESP8266 can be relatively power-efficient, making it suitable for battery-operated devices.

ESP2866 Pin Definition

ESP8266 Features

Wi-Fi Features

Standards – FCC/CE/TELEC/SRRC
Protocols – 802.11 b/g/n/e/i
Frequency Range – 2.4GHz – 2.5GHz (2400MHz to 2483.5MHz)
Tx Power
- 802.11 b: +20 dBm
- 802.11 g: +17 dBm
- 802.11 n: +14 dBm
Rx Sensitivity
- 802.11 b: -91 dbm (11 Mbps)
- 802.11 g: -75 dbm (54 Mbps)
- 802.11 n: -72 dbm (MCS7)
Antenna – PCB Trace, External, IPEX Connector, Ceramic Chip

Hardware

CPU
- Tensilica L106 32-bit micro controller
- Ultra-low-power 16-bit RSIC
- clock speed is 80 MHz. (maximum – 160MHz)
Peripheral Interface
- GPIO (General Purpose Input/Output) – 17 GPIOs
- UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter) – 2 UART
  - TX, RX
  - UART0, UART1
- SDIO (Secure Digital Input/Output) – 1 SDIO
  - CLK, DATA_0, DATA1, DATA_2, DATA_3, CMD
  - Supported 4 bit 25MHz SDIO v1.1 and 4 bit 50 MHz SDIO v2.0
- SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface-CLK, MISO, MOSI, CS) – 3 SPIs
  - One General Slave/Master SPI
  - One Slave SDIO/SPI
  - One General Slave/Master HSPI
- I2C (Inter Integrated Circuit-SCL, SDA) – One I2C
- I2S – (Inter Integrated sound)WS2812 series – One I2S
- IR Remote Control (IR_Tx, IR_Rx) – One IR
- ADC (Analog to digital Converter) 10 Bits – One ADC
- PWM (Pulse with Modulation) – 4 PWM
- LED Light & Button

Operating Voltage (1.85vmin) : 3.0V ~ 3.6V
Operating Current Average value : 80 mA (Min require 230mA)
Operating Temperature Range : -40°C ~ 125°C
Storage Temperature Range : -40°C ~ 125°C
Package Size : QFN32-pin (5 mm x 5 mm)

Software

Wi-Fi Mode – station/softAP/SoftAP+station
Security – WPA/WPA2
Encryption – WEP/TKIP/AES
Firmware Upgrade
- UART Download
- OTA (via network-1MB)
Software Development
- Supports Cloud Server Development /Firmware and SDK for fast on-chip programming
Network Protocols – IPv4, TCP/UDP/HTTP/FTP
User Configuration
- AT Instruction Set,
- Cloud Server,
- Android/iOS