Range for ESP8266

Projects Networking, Protocols, and Devices
1

Could not find an appropriate category so here it is:

I am using a handful of ESP8266 NodeMCU 12. I can get them to talk to each other when they are on the same table but when I move them maybe 2 meters away they no longer see each other.

HiLetgo ESP8266 from Amazon.

They are simply sending temp and humidity to a central unit. Like I said, if they are on the same table no problem. Greater than 2 meters no signal.

I have some RF24 units talking 25 meters no problem.

They are mounted on breadboards but the base unit is just floating on the desk. Even when I hold him up, no joy. I don't see a way of adding antennas or boosting signal.

randomnerd says he has them talking at long distances.

What am I missing?

2

Let me add some details! Dumb me...

I am using the example async webserver on the senders and the web page is working correctly. I simply added ESPNOW to send data to the base for an OLED display.

3

the webserver traffic and ESPNOW transmssions could be corrupting each other
when using ESPNOW make sure you wait for sucessful transmission, e.g.

// callback when data is sent
void OnDataSent(const uint8_t *mac_addr, esp_now_send_status_t status) {
  //  Serial.print("Last Packet Send Status:\t");
  //  Serial.println(status == ESP_NOW_SEND_SUCCESS ? "Delivery Success" : "Delivery Fail");
  if (status != ESP_NOW_SEND_SUCCESS) errors++;
  transmitOK = 1;
}

resend the data if you get an error?

4

Not really solved rather explained. I went back to the most basic ESPNOW sender and viola! Range restored. It is now confirmed that ESPNOW and Async web do not play well together. or do they? is there some kind of secret sign they want to cooperate? We may never know.

For a couple of weeks I have been trying to ask ddg how to:

  • Read a DHT
  • Present temp and hum data on an OLED
  • Have a web display of the data
  • and send the raw data to a monitor OLED (will be three or more senders).

So it seems that joining a wifi network and using ESPNOW are mutually exclusive.

Thanks for your views and thank you Horace for your reply, that logic was part of the sketch but as you see there are deeper problems. Like a lot of the Arduino world, you can do a lot of cool things but don't be silly and try to do them together! lol SD and RF24 is another example.

5

I finally found what I was looking over, I mean, looking for! The problem was between the chair and the keyboard. (as usual)

Random Nerds has a good tutorial of what I wanted to do.

For reference for others that stumble upon this!

6

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