ESP8266 with Arduino Uno and HTTP POST

Question

Im currently new on this and sucessfully made a sound-activated alarm with Arduino Uno and a microphone sensor. (If sound is detected, then it will alarm). Now, I am adding a ESP 8266 module into it so it can perform a HTTP GET or POST to IFTT Maker link.

My problem with it is how can I program the esp with arduino uno? Do I do something like this

https://github.com/bportaluri/WiFiEsp/blob/master/examples/WebClient/WebClient.ino

(and add the threshold for the microphone sensor, buzzers and LEDs)??

Thanks for helping

• Maximilian Gerhardt: That would work if your ESP8266 had the AT+ firmware flashed onto it by default. What exact module do you have? If you have a NodeMCU board you might as well work on the ESP8266 directly for everything
• Henrikh A.: Im using the small one with 8 pins (esp-01). Thanks

Answer 1

Yes, the library

• https://github.com/bportaluri/WiFiEsp

Is suited for your task because it implements talking to a ESP8266 over a software serial. On this serial connection, AT+ commands will be sent. This also means that you must have the AT firmware flashed onto your ESP-01.

If that is not the case you can download the binary image here and flash it with a serial adapter, as instructed with the tools on that page. You can check whether your ESP8266 has the firmware flashed by attach a UART adpater to the TX output. It should print a "ready" on bootup.

For your wire-up, you will just have to add VCC (+3.3V), GND, TX and RX connections to the ESP-01 board, preferable with a big capacitor between VCC and GND, as the ESP8266 draws a lot of power when sending data over WiFi.

• Henrikh A.: Is it ok if i use something like this to connect so can use 5V instead? link
• Maximilian Gerhardt: @HenrikhA. The ESP8266 is a 3.3V device, if you supply it with 5V it dies. It should also not receive a 5V signal. You will need a level shifter from the Arduino TX line to the ESP's RX line with a voltage divider. See martyncurrey.com/arduino-to-esp8266-serial-commincation
• Maximilian Gerhardt: @HenrikhA. Ah, I didn't see the link at the end. Yes, the adapter has a voltage regulator and bi-directional level shifters already on there. This module should be fine and you could give +5V (or V_USB) as VCC on there.
• Henrikh A.: I think I know what to do now. Thanks @Maximilian