My brain is fried... a wireless network

[Steve2381]

Hello all
I have been playing around with a couple of ESP8266 modules. All lovely and fun. Got a local network established etc.
I am trying to basically transmit some basic data from equipment spread over a warehouse. Collect that data and send it to a webpage.

My basic webpage system appears to work, but from what I understand, you cannot have very many (apparently 8 or 10) of these Wifi ESP8266 modules configured as stations, connected (and sending data) to the ESP8266 that is your Access point.

This is a limitation (not to mention the poor Wifi range).

I am now thinking of transmitting the data to the access point ESP8266 using SI4432/RFM22B modules. I have never used them before.

I have been sitting for 2 days working on this project. I am fried. Can anyone advise on these modules? Are they reliable and have a decent range?

Thanks

 

[PhilHornby]

My basic webpage system appears to work, but from what I understand, you cannot have very many (apparently 8 or 10) of these Wifi ESP8266 modules configured as stations, connected (and sending data) to the ESP8266 that is your Access point.

I wasn't aware of that limitation - but I could believe it.

You could make them all (including the 'master'), clients of a commercial Access Point. (Or maybe the master could connect to each one of them in turn?)

I am now thinking of transmitting the data to the access point ESP8266 using SI4432/RFM22B modules. I have never used them before.

Me neither ... but how about the later SI4463 modules ... that we know and love as the HC-12

(https://www.appconwireless.com/shownews.php?id=95 "We suggest users choose Si4463 instead of Si4432" )

 

[Goeytex]

One the members here, "srnet" put a Picaxe and an RF22 on a Cubesat. It reliably transmitted data from earth orbit. I have used Si4432 modules with Picaxe. These use SPI to communicate between the microcontroller and the RF module and can be a bit tricky to configure.

The range generally depends upon the environment, antenna selection, RF power setting, and transmsision bit rate. But 200+ meters should be achievable.

There should be some code posted here that you could use to get started . If I can find it I will provide a link

https://picaxeforum.co.uk/threads/wireless-link-using-hope-rf-modules.20024/

https://picaxeforum.co.uk/threads/rssi-indicator.23521/

https://picaxeforum.co.uk/threads/getting-started-with-picaxe-and-dorji-drf4431f13-wireless-transceiver-modules.21229/