Open Source WiFi Modem - FreeFi232

danielj · 28 July 2018, 22:26

Hello

There's been a proliferation of WiFi modems of late for retro-hardware, letting it hook up to internet BBS's. However I was rather disappointed to see that there were no open designs, given that for the most part (other than bells and whistles) they're not particularly complicated beasts - just an ESP8266 module and a level shifter.

Anyhow, in light of that, and as there's open source firmware knocking about just ripe for tweaking, I thought I'd push a design out that is completely open and anyone can build. You can get 20 PCBs for around £7.50 if you order them from JLC-PCB.

Some of the existing designs have limited implementation of RS232/Modem features, and don't get on with all bbs software, so this provides for all of the standard RS232 signals - RX/TX/RTS/CTS/DSR/DTR/DCD/RING

Entire project is here: https://github.com/stardot/esp8266_modem/

I've started putting build instructions and BOM into the wiki.

I'm sort of at the last stage of testing, there was a bug in the previous iteration which I've managed to bodge a fix on to, and I'm now waiting for the tweaked final PCBs to turn up, but I wanted to gauge interest in the amiga community and see who's actually using these things and if anyone is happy to test? Both running a BBS and using them to "dial in".

I'm not personally intending to make these for sale, but as the design is open, any one can! And if you want to make them yourself or for a group of friends, you can probably do so for £15 or so - quite probably less (depending on the number you make at once).

Thoughts/input/suggestions welcome!

obitus1990 · 29 July 2018, 18:55

Thanks for sharing! I've seen some selling these devices for over 80 GBP... glad I can find one to build myself.

eXeler0 · 29 July 2018, 20:06

Thanks @Danielj

trixster · 29 July 2018, 21:24

All the way from stardot! Welcome!

danielj · 29 July 2018, 22:32

'ello chap

Sandancer · 29 July 2018, 22:50

I have a ESP8266 ESP-12E CH340 WIFI 4MB CP2102 Dev for my PS4, would this one work on the Amiga 1200

Hiddenevil · 29 July 2018, 22:57

I'd love to have something like this

danielj · 30 July 2018, 07:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandancer

I have a ESP8266 ESP-12E CH340 WIFI 4MB CP2102 Dev for my PS4, would this one work on the Amiga 1200

Yes, it should just plug straight in to the rs232.

Methanoid · 30 July 2018, 09:43

If someone wants one I have a spare one doing nothing - one of these https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Retro-com...-/192601867351

£30 ?

E-Penguin · 30 July 2018, 21:27

My to do list includes making one of these but as a SLIP device using this ESP firmware https://github.com/martin-ger/esp_sl...ster/README.md

Hiddenevil · 30 July 2018, 23:58

Is it just for bbs or can you do HTML, web browsing. Could I get on aminet with my Amiga using one of these?

idrougge · 31 July 2018, 01:03

I built this one for general TCP/IP use via the above mentioned firmware.

http://eab.abime.net/showpost.php?p=...4&postcount=22

E-Penguin · 31 July 2018, 08:14

Where did you get slip.device from? The AmiTCP package?

idrougge · 31 July 2018, 11:47

It comes with almost every TCP/IP stack.

kolla · 31 July 2018, 22:53

So what's running slipd in "other end"? The esp8266 itself?

E-Penguin · 31 July 2018, 22:54

Yes it's a bridge to the WiFi network the esp8266 is connected to

kolla · 31 July 2018, 22:58

A bridge, huh? Sounds interesting, IP-settings-wise

Sandancer · 31 July 2018, 23:24

Brill sound cool

)

idrougge · 01 August 2018, 00:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by kolla

A bridge, huh? Sounds interesting, IP-settings-wise

It's totally transparent. As far as the Amiga is concerned, you're connected to a (null) modem, and you telnet into the ESP to make it connect to a WLAN.

kolla · 01 August 2018, 02:21

That sounds more like traditional "dialup" setup, not bridging, I do the same, only with PPP and Pi zero.

28 July 2018, 22:26	#1
danielj Registered User Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Manchester Posts: 7	Open Source WiFi Modem - FreeFi232 Hello There's been a proliferation of WiFi modems of late for retro-hardware, letting it hook up to internet BBS's. However I was rather disappointed to see that there were no open designs, given that for the most part (other than bells and whistles) they're not particularly complicated beasts - just an ESP8266 module and a level shifter. Anyhow, in light of that, and as there's open source firmware knocking about just ripe for tweaking, I thought I'd push a design out that is completely open and anyone can build. You can get 20 PCBs for around £7.50 if you order them from JLC-PCB. Some of the existing designs have limited implementation of RS232/Modem features, and don't get on with all bbs software, so this provides for all of the standard RS232 signals - RX/TX/RTS/CTS/DSR/DTR/DCD/RING Entire project is here: https://github.com/stardot/esp8266_modem/ I've started putting build instructions and BOM into the wiki. I'm sort of at the last stage of testing, there was a bug in the previous iteration which I've managed to bodge a fix on to, and I'm now waiting for the tweaked final PCBs to turn up, but I wanted to gauge interest in the amiga community and see who's actually using these things and if anyone is happy to test? Both running a BBS and using them to "dial in". I'm not personally intending to make these for sale, but as the design is open, any one can! And if you want to make them yourself or for a group of friends, you can probably do so for £15 or so - quite probably less (depending on the number you make at once). Thoughts/input/suggestions welcome!

31 July 2018, 01:03	#12
idrougge Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Stockholm Posts: 4,332	I built this one for general TCP/IP use via the above mentioned firmware. http://eab.abime.net/showpost.php?p=...4&postcount=22 Attached Thumbnails

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29 July 2018, 18:55	#2
obitus1990 Registered User Join Date: May 2016 Location: Mandeville USA Posts: 203	Thanks for sharing! I've seen some selling these devices for over 80 GBP... glad I can find one to build myself.

29 July 2018, 20:06	#3
eXeler0 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Sweden Age: 50 Posts: 2,946	Thanks @Danielj

29 July 2018, 21:24	#4
trixster Guru Meditating Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: England Posts: 2,337	All the way from stardot! Welcome!

29 July 2018, 22:32	#5
danielj Registered User Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Manchester Posts: 7	'ello chap

29 July 2018, 22:50	#6
Sandancer Registered User Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Wakefield Posts: 270	I have a ESP8266 ESP-12E CH340 WIFI 4MB CP2102 Dev for my PS4, would this one work on the Amiga 1200

29 July 2018, 22:57	#7
Hiddenevil Registered User Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Sheffield, England Posts: 237	I'd love to have something like this

30 July 2018, 09:43	#9
Methanoid Retired Quartex Sysop Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Roman Verulamium Age: 58 Posts: 1,873	If someone wants one I have a spare one doing nothing - one of these https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Retro-com...-/192601867351 £30 ?

30 July 2018, 21:27	#10
E-Penguin Banana Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Darmstadt Posts: 1,213	My to do list includes making one of these but as a SLIP device using this ESP firmware https://github.com/martin-ger/esp_sl...ster/README.md

30 July 2018, 23:58	#11
Hiddenevil Registered User Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Sheffield, England Posts: 237	Is it just for bbs or can you do HTML, web browsing. Could I get on aminet with my Amiga using one of these?

31 July 2018, 08:14	#13
E-Penguin Banana Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Darmstadt Posts: 1,213	Where did you get slip.device from? The AmiTCP package?

31 July 2018, 11:47	#14
idrougge Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Stockholm Posts: 4,332	It comes with almost every TCP/IP stack.

31 July 2018, 22:53	#15
kolla Banned Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Trondheim, Norway Posts: 1,893	So what's running slipd in "other end"? The esp8266 itself?

31 July 2018, 22:54	#16
E-Penguin Banana Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Darmstadt Posts: 1,213	Yes it's a bridge to the WiFi network the esp8266 is connected to

31 July 2018, 22:58	#17
kolla Banned Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Trondheim, Norway Posts: 1,893	A bridge, huh? Sounds interesting, IP-settings-wise

31 July 2018, 23:24	#18
Sandancer Registered User Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Wakefield Posts: 270	Brill sound cool )

01 August 2018, 02:21	#20
kolla Banned Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Trondheim, Norway Posts: 1,893	That sounds more like traditional "dialup" setup, not bridging, I do the same, only with PPP and Pi zero.

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