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[JeffVolp]

I can modify an existing XTB-232 to have a 4-wire digital interface that would directly connect to the Wemos using the CM11A "real-time" protocol.  The "A5" clock initialization request at power-up could be eliminated because that was only incorporated to be compatible with the CM11A.  The modified XTB-232 would not provide 3.3V power for the Wemos.

I can hand that off to someone else who is developing the Wemos X10 controller.  Assuming that works, I'll create some prototypes so the Wemos can plug directly into the PCB.

Jeff

[dhouston]

I think a WeMos on a breadboard connecting to a standard XTB-232 or CM11A should be adequate for development. The D1 Mini Pro has 16MB flash plus a connector for an external antenna (still has the PCB antenna, as well) offers the most versatility and doesn't add much cost. The RTC and Micro SD card shields are available from Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077VJWHJ8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07G2X3V75/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=AU1MZF5GWKNC5&psc=1
There are multiple development platforms...
LUA and ESP8266Basic are interpreters.
Arduino IDE and Basic4Arduino are compilers (I think). I believe there's also a GCC C compiler.

[JeffVolp]

I think a WeMos on a breadboard connecting to a standard XTB-232 or CM11A should be adequate for development. The D1 Mini Pro has 16MB flash plus a connector for an external antenna (still has the PCB antenna, as well) offers the most versatility and doesn't add much cost. The RTC and Micro SD card shields are available from Amazon.

I had looked at the Wemos mini pro, but the current version is too long at 1.9".  There would be no room left for the electrolytics.

You would need an actual RS232 interface for the Wemos when using the standard XTB-232 or CM11A rather than connecting directly to its digital lines.  But then I don't need to do anything until we know the Wemos can function as a WiFi X10 controller, which is fine with me.

Jeff

[dhouston]

I had looked at the Wemos mini pro, but the current version is too long at 1.9".  There would be no room left for the electrolytics.

There are clones from other sources that have the same form factor as the amateur Mini.

https://www.amazon.com/Mayata-Pro-16-esp8266-wireless-antenna/dp/B07G9HZ5LM/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1538403419&sr=8-12&keywords=wemos+d1+mini+pro

Here's a better source...
https://www.ebay.com/itm/WEMOS-D1-Mini-Pro-V1-1-0-16M-Bytes-External-Antenna-Connector-ESP8266-WIFI-IoT/323421972130?hash=item4b4d73a6a2:g:VDwAAOSwp7RbiGfT:sc:USPSFirstClass!41017!US!-1
There are many more on eBay but most ship from China.
Also, I forgot it has a ceramic onboard antenna instead of the PCB trace antenna. That reduces the form factor from the one you saw.

[JeffVolp]

I had looked at the Wemos mini pro, but the current version is too long at 1.9".  There would be no room left for the electrolytics.

There are clones from other sources that have the same form factor as the amateur Mini.

Yes, I had seen them on eBay and Amazon.  But they appeared to be similar or identical to the previous discontinued versions of the genuine Wemos mini pro.  I didn't think it wise to commit to a discontinued product.  Even Authinx ran into a problem with a part being discontinued during the WM100 development.

Jeff

[JeffVolp]

One major disadvantage of using the flash for timers/macros is you've killed a +$100 piece of hardware if you should wear out the flash.

The W25Q32FVSS Flash memory used on the Wemos mini quotes:

    More than 100,000 erase/program cycles
    More than 20-year data retention

It has 16384 256-byte pages (4MB).  Finest granularity on erasing is a 4K block, or 16 pages.  So that would be an issue modifying macros or timers.  One solution is to copy the entire 4K block into RAM, make the change, and then write the 4K block back into flash.

The Wemos mini has its own 3.3V regulator from 5V, so a single 5V regulator can supply both the PIC and the mini.

Jeff

[dhouston]

That flash life is about 10x what I saw for a generic flash life web query. So that looks good.

The user program is also stored in flash.
https://bbs.espressif.com/viewtopic.php?t=129#p471

Am I correct in thinking that all that you need add are the resistors discussed earlier?

[dhouston]

I have one of the original Pro models which predates Lolin.
https://diyprojects.io/wemos-news-d1-mini-pro-wemos-xi-shield-sht30/

It looks like all that the revised version adds is the battery interface which could be done with a shield.

[petera]

I just remembered a post from brohogan last year and was wondering if anyone attempted to recreate it. This was the link he included http://brohogan.blogspot.com/search/label/Alexa

[JeffVolp]

Am I correct in thinking that all that you need add are the resistors discussed earlier?

Not quite.  The 5V supply was designed to provide less than 50mA, so that has to be changed.  Simulation shows it is easy to get regulated 3.3V off the center tap of the transformer, but not regulated 5V.  And unregulated has too much range for the regulator on the mimi.  So I may be stuck having to include a 3.3V regulator anyway.

It looks like everything needed will squeeze in, but I'm not going to do the actual layout until we know the concept works.

I'm making the assumption that someone else is going to develop the program residing on the mini.  I can still provide a modified XTB-232 that will connect directly to the mini pins just like the final PCB, and can ship that to whomever is developing the mini code.

Jeff

[dhouston]

I just remembered a post from brohogan last year and was wondering if anyone attempted to recreate it. This was the link he included http://brohogan.blogspot.com/search/label/Alexa

No, but there may be a simpler way to handle the X10 RF without needing the CM17A. I'll try to provide a writeup in a few days.

[Tuicemen]

My original Idea for this thread was not to create a new module but that is a good thing if we can do that and in the process make it a far more powerful one.
What I was looking for is what the Wi-Fi chip can do with the current main board or more to the point on its own.
Jeff has discovered the main board is very limited in its X10 abilities which also limites the abilities of the Wi-fi module (x10 signal wise) However most users just want the current WM100 to work as advertised.

Time sync issues shouldn't be a problem nor should local control or the abilitiy for the app to connect to more then one WM100 to me these are basic software programable issues.
 Creating a new module is what the factory wants Authinx to say to do.
 

[dhouston]

Creating a new module is what the factory wants Authinx to say to do.

But, is it likely that they will want to use Jeff's XTB-232 as the basis for said new module?

[dhouston]

What I was looking for is what the Wi-Fi chip can do with the current main board or more to the point on its own.
Jeff has discovered the main board is very limited in its X10 abilities which also limites the abilities of the Wi-fi module (x10 signal wise) However most users just want the current WM100 to work as advertised.

What Jeff has exposed is that the developers appear to be braindead. They have ignored basic functionality of the ESP8266 module and seem to have used about 2% of the fuctionality of the ST MCU & EEPROM on the daughter board with the ESP8266.

For example, the ESP8266EX datasheet says...

ESP8266EX currently supports one infrared remote control interface.
...
The functionality of Infrared remote control interface can be implemented via software programming. NEC coding, modulation, and demodulation are supported by this interface. The frequency of modulated carrier signal is 38 kHz, while the duty ratio of the square wave is 1/3.

X10 RF uses the same NEC protocol. About 20 years ago, I used similar functionality to convert a Pronto to send 310MHz (or 433.92MHz) X10 RF.
https://www.laser.com/dhouston/pronto.html

Similarly, the IR receive functionality can be used to receive X10 RF merely by inverting the output of an RF receiver. (IR receivers are active-low while RF receivers are active-high.)

[Tuicemen]

I'm doubtful that the current factory will use anything we come up with and if they do they'll screw it up.
Jeff as you stated has proven the Factory and Developer are clueless as to x10 and the wi-fi chip.

I realize the things that can be done with the WM100 X10 wise are limited but why not push the wi-fi chip to its limit. Showing that the user base here can do just a good of job as the factory's developer may help Authinx see they are wasting good money better spent on other devices and may even spur them to find another better manufacture.