After 8 month of working with ESP8266 I think I made an impression on this tiny wireless chip.
- It is robust ( no crashes, disconnects etc)
- can be put in low power mode ( ~100 days on three AA with reading a value a every 10 minutes and publish it on a remote server)
- the chip producer, EspressIf, is very involved in adding more features and correcting small bugs ( documentation is still on ice age, but I hope that they will makeit more clear)
- can be interconnected with various sensors
- run in non demanding conditions ( I have one module that is running in 70% humidity and 50 to 60 Celsius )
Until now I have ESP8266 modules that are connected with temperature and humidity sensors and relays. Next devices: barometric pressure, scale, IR LED.
The modules are sending MQTT to my broker ( hosted on a PogoPlug and some time on Raspberry Pi) that is connected to my cloudMQTT.com (they run a great MQTTservice) account were I have another MQTT broker. ( they are bridged).
In this way, from my mobile application, I can control and see my modules anywhere in the word.
If I am not at home, my application connects to my cloud broker that is connecting to my home broker where are connected my devices. In this way I can monitor and send them commands.
If I am at home my application is connecting to my local broker ( to avoid high RTD - which are not so high, something like 500 ms).
In conclusion, ESP8266EX is doing a great job, you can invest money and time in it.
Happy coding !!!
