7 ms·

NodeMCU v2 – Lua-based ESP8266 development kit

22 points by kfihihc 11y ago

officialchicken 11y ago
Like many, I'm excited about the MIPS Espressif chips. I have had several on my desk since the end of last year along with with various "programmers" from Tindie for flashing bootloaders, firmware, etc. At less than $4 for an ESP8266 on ebay, the lack of security support is a critical, if not fatal, flaw. Until it supports crypto, reliable SSL/TLS connections, and ability to securely store Wifi passwords / credentials in flash - it's a liability to use one of these chipsets for WiFi - not a benefit.
- GeorgeHahn 11y ago
  The ESP8266 has an Xtensa processor (IP from Cadence, originally Tensilica). As far as I'm aware, all Espressif wifi ICs use this core.
elecengin 11y ago
I have not yet heard of any of the ESP8266 modules getting FCC module certification. The page implies it is coming soon, but my understanding is that those that have looked at it before had doubts that it would meet the certification criteria. I wonder if/how they resolved these issues...
- tdicola 11y ago
  Some of them have been certified, check out the raw module and nice breakout version from Adafruit (both FCC certified modules): https://www.adafruit.com/products/2491 https://www.adafruit.com/products/2491 and https://www.adafruit.com/products/2471 https://www.adafruit.com/products/2471 edit: See also: http://hackaday.com/2014/12/17/esp-gets-fcc-and-ce/ http://hackaday.com/2014/12/17/esp-gets-fcc-and-ce/
  - GeorgeHahn 11y ago
    This is incorrect. No currently available module has passed FCC modular certification. The ESP8266EX chips themselves have passed certification, but that's only one part of the process. The 'certification' reached by the ESP-12 module is suspect. Additionally, I've yet to see an ESP8266 module marked with a legitimate FCC ID (which is required for a certified module).
krampian 11y ago
There is now also the option to use an Arduino-compatible IDE with the ESP8266: https://github.com/esp8266/Arduino https://github.com/esp8266/Arduino
TD-Linux 11y ago
I have been avoiding the ESP8266 because of the toolchain - when it was released, it was essentially a complete (buggy) proprietary firmware with the ability to write simple Arduino-like plugins. The situation is better now, but it still requires several proprietary bits: https://github.com/pfalcon/esp-open-sdk https://github.com/pfalcon/esp-open-sdk The cost of the esp8266 is very nice. A comparable solution from TI (the CC3200) is $15. But it's sad to see the hardware needlessly crippled by bad software.
- tcas 11y ago
  Where can you get the CC3200 for $15 in a module format (or the 3100)? The bare chip you can probably get around that in quantity, but then you need the support hardware and the FCC intentional emitter testing ($15K+). The ESP8266 seems really interesting, however, until I can order 500-1000 from a reputable vendor in trays / tape and reel I'm too scared to think about using it for a small run product.
  - GeorgeHahn 11y ago
    I don't believe there are any ESP8266 modules with FCC modular certification yet. I prototyped a CC3200 module but stopped working on it when it became apparent that the ESP8266 was here to stay. It's a simpler chip with fewer available GPIO pins and less processing power, but it can be packed into a much smaller area than the CC3200 (CC3200s require 3 separate power inductors!). It's important to note that the ESP8266 may well be more open than the CC3200! Much of the CC3200's functionality is packed into a binary blob from TI, and the chip runs this code on a second core that you don't have any control over.
    - Kliment 11y ago
      They do exist - see https://www.tindie.com/products/EmbeddedDay/esp8266-wifi-module/ https://www.tindie.com/products/EmbeddedDay/esp8266-wifi-mod...
      - GeorgeHahn 11y ago

22 points by kfihihc 11y ago

Like many, I'm excited about the MIPS Espressif chips. I have had several on my desk since the end of last year along with with various "programmers" from Tindie for flashing bootloaders, firmware, etc. At less than $4 for an ESP8266 on ebay, the lack of security support is a critical, if not fatal, flaw. Until it supports crypto, reliable SSL/TLS connections, and ability to securely store Wifi passwords / credentials in flash - it's a liability to use one of these chipsets for WiFi - not a benefit.

GeorgeHahn 11y ago
The ESP8266 has an Xtensa processor (IP from Cadence, originally Tensilica). As far as I'm aware, all Espressif wifi ICs use this core.

elecengin 11y ago

I have not yet heard of any of the ESP8266 modules getting FCC module certification. The page implies it is coming soon, but my understanding is that those that have looked at it before had doubts that it would meet the certification criteria. I wonder if/how they resolved these issues...

tdicola 11y ago
Some of them have been certified, check out the raw module and nice breakout version from Adafruit (both FCC certified modules): https://www.adafruit.com/products/2491 https://www.adafruit.com/products/2491 and https://www.adafruit.com/products/2471 https://www.adafruit.com/products/2471 edit: See also: http://hackaday.com/2014/12/17/esp-gets-fcc-and-ce/ http://hackaday.com/2014/12/17/esp-gets-fcc-and-ce/
- GeorgeHahn 11y ago
  This is incorrect. No currently available module has passed FCC modular certification. The ESP8266EX chips themselves have passed certification, but that's only one part of the process. The 'certification' reached by the ESP-12 module is suspect. Additionally, I've yet to see an ESP8266 module marked with a legitimate FCC ID (which is required for a certified module).

krampian 11y ago

There is now also the option to use an Arduino-compatible IDE with the ESP8266: https://github.com/esp8266/Arduino https://github.com/esp8266/Arduino

TD-Linux 11y ago

I have been avoiding the ESP8266 because of the toolchain - when it was released, it was essentially a complete (buggy) proprietary firmware with the ability to write simple Arduino-like plugins. The situation is better now, but it still requires several proprietary bits: https://github.com/pfalcon/esp-open-sdk https://github.com/pfalcon/esp-open-sdk The cost of the esp8266 is very nice. A comparable solution from TI (the CC3200) is $15. But it's sad to see the hardware needlessly crippled by bad software.

tcas 11y ago
Where can you get the CC3200 for $15 in a module format (or the 3100)? The bare chip you can probably get around that in quantity, but then you need the support hardware and the FCC intentional emitter testing ($15K+). The ESP8266 seems really interesting, however, until I can order 500-1000 from a reputable vendor in trays / tape and reel I'm too scared to think about using it for a small run product.
- GeorgeHahn 11y ago
  I don't believe there are any ESP8266 modules with FCC modular certification yet. I prototyped a CC3200 module but stopped working on it when it became apparent that the ESP8266 was here to stay. It's a simpler chip with fewer available GPIO pins and less processing power, but it can be packed into a much smaller area than the CC3200 (CC3200s require 3 separate power inductors!). It's important to note that the ESP8266 may well be more open than the CC3200! Much of the CC3200's functionality is packed into a binary blob from TI, and the chip runs this code on a second core that you don't have any control over.
  - Kliment 11y ago
    They do exist - see https://www.tindie.com/products/EmbeddedDay/esp8266-wifi-module/ https://www.tindie.com/products/EmbeddedDay/esp8266-wifi-mod...
    - GeorgeHahn 11y ago