ESP32 Using ESP NOW and Bluetooth

@zander Thanks for the reminder.  Back in August @tfmccarthy helped me regarding the library change and gave me the code changes necessary.  Everything works with the new library.

Mike

@huckohio Ok, just be aware it's still under construction. That means what works today my not work tomorrow even if you didn't change the code.

@huckohio

Posted by: @huckohio

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I am going to look for another BLE sniffer and I would like to learn how to capture all the data necessary to send the coop door open/close commands through the ESP32-S3s and then have the Coop ESP32-S3 send the command via BLE to the door.  May be overkill....but why not?!

I think this is the right way to do this, not overkill. You're simply passing a command along using a different channel, similar to a WiFi to USB transmission. There's probably some reformatting and the BT control to manage but that's really overhead.

Give me a link to the door on Amazon and I'll poke around.

@zander 

Have there been more changes? On another issue I'm running into issues after upgrading the esp board library.

@tfmccarthy They are ongoing, I won't use the 3.x versions until I hear some word they have wound down the team working on the changes. At the moment, there are 596 OPEN issues.

@tfmccarthy

Posted by: @tfmccarthy

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Give me a link to the door on Amazon and I'll poke around.

Here is the link

@tfmccarthy

Posted by: @tfmccarthy

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Give me a link to the door on Amazon and I'll poke around.

I received a response from the manufacturer.  The commands are sent via infrared and not BLE.  I asked again if they would provide me with those commands. 

Can you intercept infrared data like you can with BLE?

Mike

@huckohio 

OK, IR is the target.

Posted by: @huckohio

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Can you intercept infrared data like you can with BLE?

Yes, if you have an IR receiver. The problem is the plethora of IR formats used. Like a TV remote, there are dozens of them, and it seems that every mfg. devises their own format, so they don't overlap with each other, and you don't open the garage (or coop) door when you change channels. IIRC, there's a site somewhere with all the different known IR formats. 

IIRC, capturing the IR data isn't complex. So given a mfg. controller, you can capture all the commands and then simply play them on demand.

And I'm gob-smacked that there's a custom, commercial, solar powered, chicken coop door opener. (Didn't they have an air conditioner product, as well? Bathrooms, dining hall, lounge, etc.? No wonder the Bunnies complained! If this keeps up, you may want to move into the coop and throw the chickens into the house.)

You need an IR transmitter and receiver. I fear a directional issue will surface but maybe not.

@tfmccarthy

Posted by: @tfmccarthy

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You need an IR transmitter and receiver. I fear a directional issue will surface but maybe not.

So to capture the IR data, I can use an IR Receiver and use the remote control as the transmitter?  Guess I need to buy some more parts 🤨.  I think the directional issue can be solved.  The control box is directly above the coop door. 

@tfmccarthy

Posted by: @tfmccarthy

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You need an IR transmitter and receiver. I fear a directional issue will surface but maybe not.

It looks like the IR freq spectrum ranges from 660 to 3400.  Will a "typical" IR receiver we would use with microcontrollers cover these ranges?   

@huckohio 

Posted by: @huckohio

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It looks like the IR freq spectrum ranges from 660 to 3400.  Will a "typical" IR receiver we would use with microcontrollers cover these ranges? 

Check out the DBWS article: IR Remotes Revisited – 2023 ( https://dronebotworkshop.com/ir-remotes/)

I haven't done anything with it other than use what came with a kit (Bittle robot and the Elegoo Penguin Bot) but my hunch is you can use the "common" receiver/transmitter frequency.

@huckohio 

Posted by: @huckohio

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So to capture the IR data, I can use an IR Receiver and use the remote control as the transmitter? 

I forgot to respond to this.

You want to capture the IR commands that the remote controller issues to the door to open and close the door. You record them with the ESP32 + IR receiver. This is a separate pre-step.

Now you use the IR transmitter to play the pre-recorded commands back to the door (as if you were the remote control) depending on the commands you get through the ESP-NOW connection.

So,

at the house Elmer Fudd sends the ESP-NOW "open door" command to coop ESP

Coop ESP transmits the pre-recorded "open door" IR command to the door.

Door opens and Foghorn Leghorn enters the coop.

Back at the house, Elmer Fudd sees this on the camera sends the "close door" command via ESP-NOW to the coop.

Coop ESP transmits the pre-recorded "close door" IR command to the door.

Elmer pats himself on the back and opens a brewski to celebrate a hard day's work.

@tfmccarthy

Posted by: @tfmccarthy

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Foghorn Leghorn

LOL!  We grew-up watching the same shows 😆 .  I ordered a couple different IR receiver/transmitters today. 

Thanks!

@tfmccarthy 

Heard back from the manufacturer on my request for the IR commands.  They said they didn't know the commands, their job is assembling components from many suppliers.

IR receivers arrive this weekend.

Mike

@zander

Posted by: @zander

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That means what works today my not work tomorrow even if you didn't change the code

Ron,

I did check to make sure my code compiles with the current version of the the current ESP32 Board library.  No issues found.  Thanks for the reminder!

Mike