i have a windows application that i want to read some data from a wireless handcontroller
the user clicks a button on the handcontroller and the windows app recognises the click.
i am thinking of using a wireless serial port to do the transfer of data -
something like this should do the job --
but should i be looking at a ESP8622 solution instead
can the ESP8622 be configured as a wireless serial port ?
Have you any reason not to use Bluetooth? Most PCs have Bluetooth as standard?
You could do what you want using a WiFi web application and an ESP8266. However if you are not familiar with web programming a system using serial comms will probably be easier to implement.
...R
thank you for the reply
so the ESP8266 is a web interface not a bluetooth / serial port interface ?
yes i think the serial comms would be easier to work with
what interface does an arduino use for bluetooth ? i will research some example code etc
Yes, the ESP8266 is a WiFi module.
The HC05 Bluetooth modules are commonly used with Arduinos. However they are not BLE and AFAIK BLE modules are more expensive.
...R
Gadgeroonie:
so the ESP8266 is a web interface not a bluetooth / serial port interface ?
By default most ESP8266 modules such as the ESP-01 has AT firmware.
You communicate through it via serial port.
Similarly for Bluetooth modules such as HC-05.
ieee488:
By default most ESP8266 modules such as the ESP-01 has AT firmware.
You communicate through it via serial port.Similarly for Bluetooth modules such as HC-05.
what do you use as the serial interface to pc ? another esp8266 ? or simple bluetooth dongle ?
i have purchased this board and hope it is suitable for this project
Gadgeroonie:
what do you use as the serial interface to pc ? another esp8266 ? or simple bluetooth dongle ?
You don't need a serial interface on your PC. Just use its WiFi capability.
I wonder if this comment in Reply #4 is confusing the issue
You communicate through it via serial port.
It is quite true that you communicate between the Arduino and the ESP8266 using Serial. But you use that serial connection to operate the ESP8266's WiFi capabilities. And you need a suitable web program on the PC to receive the WiFi data from the ESP8266.
That is why I suggested that Bluetooth or the 433MHz module that you proposed in your Original Post would be easier to use.
Of course if you just want to view the information on your PC you could use your Browser program to see a web page sent by the ESP8266. However your Arduino program would need to generate that web page and send it to the ESP8266 over the serial connection.
...R
You want to indicate by some wireless method that you have initiated a click on a 'wireless handcontroller', whatever that is - is this something you are making yourself?
The first device you listed was a LoRa pair - you could use those.
Then you talked about ESP8266 - you could use those.
Bluetooth has been mooted - you could use Bluetooth.
But before any solution was offered, you bought a NodeMCU and hoped it would do the job. Excellent.
You could have done the job without any extra hardware, if you own a phone with bluetooth or wifi, but no matter.
The NodeMCU will work fine as a wireless node, but my preference is for WeMos devices: http://wemos.cc and certainly if you are in an industrial setting, something with the ability to use an external antenna, rather than that basic pcb antenna. That NodeMCU unit is low on features and rather pricy - you can get a ESP32 for the same price or less. The D1 Mini Pro has 16MB RAM (vs 512kb), supports 5V, and is half the price of the NodeMCU. Something to think about in the future. My opinion of NodeMCU (the hardware company, not the developers of the NodeMCU firmware) is coloured, though. They make boards that don't fit standard prototyping breadboard - how smart is that? They haven't made me feel much better about their engineering since then.
In a warehouse, you may find WiFi coverage is spotty, in which case the LoRa pair will do the job admirably - we have them transmitting GPS data over 5km, through trees, buildings, etc., while on the move.
Im sure you will love programming the ESP series - I hardly ever touch an Arduino any more. IoT has taken over my life.
But, compare specs - there are a number of makers out there now and ESPs ain't ESPs - they offer a number of features and selling points.
I like 5V for compatibility, external antenna points so I can mount in difficult places, lots of RAM - YMMV but when you can buy high-spec for the price of so-so, it makes sense to get the best bang for the buck.
Try the WeMos, I'm sure you will be happy with the different models they have available, and the peripherals they have developed to make projects easy.
(disclaimer: I have no association with WeMos, other than I've spent a few hundred dollars with him over the last year...).
Hi Zootalaws - thank you for sharing your experiences
i will be building a custom wireless handcontroller using an arduino board of some type
i am a little confused the board i have is has "Lolin" "wemos.cc" and "Nodemcu v3" written on it
is this a copy of the wemos product ?
can you suggest an example project i can take a look at that transmits to a windows app
i think you are right - i can see normal arduino products becoming extinct over time !
Gadgeroonie:
i will be building a custom wireless handcontroller using an arduino board of some type
The NodeMCU you have bought IS an "arduino board of some type" It is programmed using the Arduino IDE, but is faster and comes with a good WiFi built-in. The ESP8266 module it carries seems more or less de rigueur for Arduino WiFi these days, and is essentially the same as the Wemos.
Gadgeroonie:
the user clicks a button on the handcontroller and the windows app recognises the click.
The discussion seems to have strayed a long way from the original specification 
...R
