ESP8266 OTA Update code for Sonoff, Ecoplugs, Wemos +similar

[papa]

        Using ESP82xx RSSI (Signal Strength or Possibly Offline)

By default, the ESP82xx sketches periodically send RSSI, WiFi signal strength to MQTT. How might one use this information via OpenHAB? Using entries like below, OpenHAB could display WiFi signal strength for each ESP82xx device OR "Offline?" if the RSSI value has gone stale for an allotted time. Displayed RSSI values could tell us how well our WiFi router & nodes are communicating & whether we need to consider different placement. ESP82xx nodes temporarily & strategically placed around a building could help us know how well WiFi signals are covering the area & placement might be improved.

The following requires the Expire Binding to be installed for OpenHAB.  See this thread.

        .items file for ESP82xx Node 61
String Node61Rssi "LR_61_RSSI (db)[%s]" <network> (Nodes) {mqtt="<[mosquitto:home/esp_gw/nb/node61/dev02:state:default]", expire="3m,Offline?" }

        .sitemap (to display new page of all items in the Nodes group)
Group item=Nodes label="__Node Health__" icon="nodes"

        OR .sitemap (to display just the one item)
Text item=Node61Rssi

If the node is disconnected more than 3 minutes, OpenHAB's Expire binding reports the item's status as Offline? Offline? status indicates that Node61 may be offline. The status is "stale" or unchanged for more than 3 minutes.  For sure, the nodes disconnection could generate that status.  However, Node61 may be connected, but has a RSSI that stays the same for at least 3 minutes.  Increasing the Expire binding's time limit might decrease Offline? reports that happen while Node61 is connected.

With the following addition, OpenHAB could send us a message that a key node is possibly offline.

        .rules file
rule "Is Living Room Node Offline" // checked every 10 minutes
    when
        Time cron "0 0/10 * * * ?"
    then
        if(Node61Rssi.state == "Offline?")
        {
        sendMail("[e-mail]","from openhab","Living Room Node may be offline.")
        }
end

[jimkernsjr]

Hello All...  Easier Way to Flash a WiFi automation device without opening it:

For those still wanting to rip the ECOPLUGS and simalar apart the caveman way , there is a new much easier way to do it without ripping it apart. This is great because some you cannot take apart. Basically almost anything that works with Smartlife, Ecoplugs, Tuya will work. Check out here:

github.com/ct-Open-Source/tuya-convert/wiki/Compatible-devices

    and video here:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5GYh470m5k&t=592s

All you need is an empty R PI to do it. I highly suggest you not use your dev machine or RPI Openhab. It only works intermittenly if you do, and it leaves the adapter in an unmanaged state when done.

You can put Tasmota on it, or compile my code from this thread & my github and put it on there too. I switched to Tasmota, as it already has power monitoring and support for sooo many devices already built in. So I will no longer be developing my code. If I remember correctly, my LED matrix clock on my GITHUB has the last revision.

[papa]

Thanks, Jim, that technique for flashing WiFI home automation devices looks very useful, especially once the Raspberry Pi is set up.

I wonder if this technique would work to flash what I discussed in this thread: an ECOplug with a MediaTek MT7681N WiFI chip rather than the ESP8266.

I won't have access to that ECOplug for a few weeks, but when I'm there, I may try this.

Forum users, if you try this technique, let us know your results.

[jimkernsjr]

Papa: For sure, no it will not work. It only works on devices that run the ESP8266 AND use TUYA for the backend - which is also Smartlife, and also the Merekury bulbs AND plugs you find at Walmart. Check out Digiblur channel on YouTube - he explains all. 

EDIT:  For Everyone:  For devices that will work, there is a database on the Tuya Convert Github.  If you get one to work that is not listed, be nice and post back please!  Be courteous and kindly help back people that helped you.  There are Tasmota templates that exist too you can load up and not have to configure ***anything***!

For that Mediatek - I am actually working on it. I bought myself a Seed Studio Linkit Connect 7681 Dev board - I've actually become quite the fan. The dev environment is a bit caveman and manual - but it's still not bad of a system if you forget about Arduino. I'm sure I will complete it one day soon - don't trash your device. Also, in the USA, these devices are available at Ollies for $5 USD - They have a 7681 and not an ESP8266. But it will be a couple months - It's not in priority.

[papa]

Jim: "For sure, [flashing a WiFi automation device without opening it] will not work [with MediaTek MT7681N WiFI chip]. It only works on devices that run the ESP8266 AND use TUYA for the back-end"

papa: Thanks, Jim for answering about that possibility.

Jim: "For that Mediatek - I am actually working on it. I bought myself a Seed Studio Linkit Connect 7681 Dev board - I've actually become quite the fan. The dev environment is a bit caveman and manual - but it's still not bad of a system if you forget about Arduino. I'm sure I will complete it one day soon - don't trash your device. Also, in the USA, these devices are available at Ollies for $5 USD - They have a 7681 and not an ESP8266. But it will be a couple months - It's not in priority."

papa: Sure, take your time. I can live without the 7681 ECOplug. It would be nice for me & maybe others if it could eventually be re-flashed. Keep us posted.