iSpindle Concentrators, Repeaters, Bridges, Hubs

[rkhanso]

I made a simple WiFi repeater/extender out of a D1 Mini. Nothing fancy. Homemade WiFi exender using the ESP8266
I ferment in corny kegs (iSpindel inside), connected via WiFi to the repeater next to the keg. The repeater connects to both the iSpindel and my home WiFi and Fermentrack running on a VM.

 

[DuncB]

I have put the iSpindel into its 1st Brew. It doesn't connect very well to the iSpindel Hub.

If I leave the fridge door open it connects up. If the door is closed it is very sporadic.

The Wemos mini are not the pro with the external antenna. I do have an iSpindel that does have a mini pro. Would the Hub be better off being a mini pro too?

I do have this lying around. Would it improve things?

The D1 mini you have there will take the repeater software from martin ger and do the job great. I'm assuming though that you have either a D1 mini standard or a Lolin esp8266 board that you have used to make the ispindel hub.

I have followed these instructions to attach an external antenna to the non external D1 mini and it works well and is very easy.

https://www.instructables.com/External-Antenna-for-ESP8266/
I picked up an old router that had external antennas at a recyclers and just opened it up and cut them out and soldered them in ( one per repeater)..

 

[mattrox]

The D1 mini you have there will take the repeater software from martin ger and do the job great. I'm assuming though that you have either a D1 mini standard or a Lolin esp8266 board that you have used to make the ispindel hub.

I have followed these instructions to attach an external antenna to the non external D1 mini and it works well and is very easy.

https://www.instructables.com/External-Antenna-for-ESP8266/
I picked up an old router that had external antennas at a recyclers and just opened it up and cut them out and soldered them in ( one per repeater)..

Yes, I used a plain D1 Mini for the hub. The fridge is outside on the back patio. The iSpindel hub in is in the same room as the router. Total distance is about 10ft to either. Seems like is a repeater with the antenna is to be used I might as well just use the iSpindel with the Mini Pro already in it and flash a fresh Wemos Mini Pro for the hub.

Confounding things is I put the iSpindel in before checking the time in deep sleep. I think I changed it to 2 miutes during a testing phase and didn't change it back. It looks like the battery didn't last 3 days. It was fully charged before going in.


Let me think..... and experiment

 

[DuncB]

Yes, I used a plain D1 Mini for the hub. The fridge is outside on the back patio. The iSpindel hub in is in the same room as the router. Total distance is about 10ft to either. Seems like is a repeater with the antenna is to be used I might as well just use the iSpindel with the Mini Pro already in it and flash a fresh Wemos Mini Pro for the hub.

Confounding things is I put the iSpindel in before checking the time in deep sleep. I think I changed it to 2 miutes during a testing phase and didn't change it back. It looks like the battery didn't last 3 days. It was fully charged before going in.


Let me think..... and experiment

Are you using ispindel firmware or this?
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/threads/replacement-firmware-for-ispindel-gravitymon.698058/
Gravitymon allows you to find out and adjust intervals during a brew amongst other things.
Tricky on ispindel but I can do it by triggering reed switch I've fitted but bit more fiddly.
Amazing support as well for gravitymon.
Short interval and poor signal does hammer the battery.

 

[kdw2pd]

Is there any chance of adding the ability to push data from iSpindHub to Fermentrack in the future?

 

[DuncB]

I think gravity mon can forward to several devices. Need to look at the info to be sure.

 

[kdw2pd]

I think gravity mon can forward to several devices. Need to look at the info to be sure.

Yep, you can send data from the iSpindel direct to Fermentrack. I'm having the issue of getting the signal direct out of SS fermenters, and was hoping to be able to use iSpindHub as a signal booster to send the data to Fermentrack, similarly to how it can send data to BrewFather.

 

[DuncB]

Yep, you can send data from the iSpindel direct to Fermentrack. I'm having the issue of getting the signal direct out of SS fermenters, and was hoping to be able to use iSpindHub as a signal booster to send the data to Fermentrack, similarly to how it can send data to BrewFather.

I forward my Ispindels and brewpiless to a wifi repeater made with a D1 mini. Before using this I had trouble with iffy signal out of a SS fridge but in a plastic fermenter and about 10metres from hub via a drywall and wood floor.
I added a supplementary antenna to the D1 mini repeater.

 

[kdw2pd]

I forward my Ispindels and brewpiless to a wifi repeater made with a D1 mini.

Yep, ordered a D1 Mini Pro to do this. I was hoping that I'd be able to use the iSpindHub as a relay so I'd be able to leave my Pi on my main network, instead of switching it to the repeater AP.

 

[DuncB]

Yep, ordered a D1 Mini Pro to do this. I was hoping that I'd be able to use the iSpindHub as a relay so I'd be able to leave my Pi on my main network, instead of switching it to the repeater AP.

D1 mini will do it with an antenna just soldered on. Dead easy and cheap if you pick up an aerial off a scrap router.

 

[JohnnyGunn]

https://github.com/ZeSlammy/iSpindHub
You need:
(1) soldering iron and know how to solder

STOP here if you can not solder.

(1) ESP8266 based board, like the D1-Mini [it is a small "computer"] and I prefer the original maker Lonin... but there are MANY knockoffs that will probably work
(1) screen - see the github link above
(8) wires- 20 or 22 AWG - length TBD
(1) FREE programmer - BrewFlasher
(1) good quality MICRO USB cable - most cheap ones do not work to program
(1) MICRO USB power source

step 1 - get all the items above
step 2 - program the board with the USB cable and BREWFLASHER
step 3 - wire the screen to the board (soldering is required)
step 4 - power up the board
step 5 - join the new temp wifi access point with a phone or tablet see THIS POST
step 6 - goto 192.168.1.109 and configure the iSindleHub
step 7 - reconfigure the Ispindel to talk to the iSindleHub see THIS POST

I do not use Brewfather (BF), so I am no help there.

Also note the 1.4" screen with the built in plug does NOT seem to work correctly.

I did make a holder for the 2" screen:
View attachment 758341 View attachment 758342

Just wondering if anyone has a link to the .stl files for the screen holder/stand?

Cheers!

 

[gromitdj]

Do you mean this?

https://github.com/ZeSlammy/iSpindHub/blob/master/STL/iSpindHub v12.stl

 

[JohnnyGunn]

Do you mean this?

https://github.com/ZeSlammy/iSpindHub/blob/master/STL/iSpindHub v12.stl

I was looking for this one...

 

[gromitdj]

I must have missed that one. It's a good looking model. Hopefully @JSB241 can share it. If not, let me know and maybe I can recreate something similar. I don't have the screen to use as a reference, tho. So you'd have to give me some measurements.

 

[JohnnyGunn]

I must have missed that one. It's a good looking model. Hopefully @JSB241 can share it. If not, let me know and maybe I can recreate something similar. I don't have the screen to use as a reference, tho. So you'd have to give me some measurements.

Agreed....I really like the simplicity of it! It would be very easy to place on top of my fermenters. I'd have to modify it since I'll be using the 1.4" screen.

 

[DaveS]

Is anyone using this repeater with ispindels running gravitymon firmware ?
I want to knock up one of these and would like to keep using gravitymon on my ispindels.
Cheers

 

[DuncB]

Is anyone using this repeater with ispindels running gravitymon firmware ?
I want to knock up one of these and would like to keep using gravitymon on my ispindels.
Cheers

I don't see why this wouldn't work, gravitymon is very flexible with ways to send data to multiple different targets.

 

[kcinpdx]

I tried searching and could not find anything, so I hope this is the right place for this. I have an ispindel working well with Brewer's Friend except the ABV, which is showing at like 936% ABV. Any ideas on how to correct?

 

[day_trippr]

Woohoo!

But, seriously, how the hell does math go that bad?

Cheers!

 

[DuncB]

I tried searching and could not find anything, so I hope this is the right place for this. I have an ispindel working well with Brewer's Friend except the ABV, which is showing at like 936% ABV. Any ideas on how to correct?

The ispindel thread is this one

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/threads/ispindle-diy-electronic-hydrometer.598187/
notice the different spelling hence more tricky to find.

But are you using ispindel software or gravitymon? Have you recently updated or has it always shown this " raised " abv figure.

My first thought is the formula, I'm not a user of brewfather but use my ispindels either with brewspy or brewfather.

Put the ispindel in config mode using the little reset button, grounding pins etc. Log into the ispindel network and look at the configuration screen, make sure that it has been configured on a flat surface ( battery down ). This sets the 90 degree angle.
Vertical will then be 0 degrees.

See if this changes anything.
I'm not sure if brewers friend works out the angle and formula or it uses the formula provided by the ispindel. I'd suspect this is where the issue is or there is a set of units in plato that are wanted in SG is another consideration.

You may have checked these things already.

 

[kcinpdx]

The ispindel thread is this one

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/threads/ispindle-diy-electronic-hydrometer.598187/
notice the different spelling hence more tricky to find.

But are you using ispindel software or gravitymon? Have you recently updated or has it always shown this " raised " abv figure.

My first thought is the formula, I'm not a user of brewfather but use my ispindels either with brewspy or brewfather.

Put the ispindel in config mode using the little reset button, grounding pins etc. Log into the ispindel network and look at the configuration screen, make sure that it has been configured on a flat surface ( battery down ). This sets the 90 degree angle.
Vertical will then be 0 degrees.

See if this changes anything.
I'm not sure if brewers friend works out the angle and formula or it uses the formula provided by the ispindel. I'd suspect this is where the issue is or there is a set of units in plato that are wanted in SG is another consideration.

You may have checked these things already.

thanks for the reply. This is my first fermentation using the ispindel. It was supposedly pre-configured, and the gravity readings are accurate. I am using the existing software and brewer's friend. I should probably recalibrate it regardless.

 

[wd16261]

Did someone already tested this iSpinhub with the D1 mini Pro? I tried it today but I'm getting the messages:
'Début du Loop
On a ouvert le Dir'

After I configured the Wifi and the reboot.

I would like to use a D1 mini Pro so I can use an external antenne.

 

[mper]

I tried searching and could not find anything, so I hope this is the right place for this. I have an ispindel working well with Brewer's Friend except the ABV, which is showing at like 936% ABV. Any ideas on how to correct?

Must be some setting i brewers friend since the abv is calculated there. Check if it wants plato or sg which might be the problem.

 

[mper]

Is anyone using this repeater with ispindels running gravitymon firmware ?
I want to knock up one of these and would like to keep using gravitymon on my ispindels.
Cheers

It should work,but if there are issues i will fix it. Let me know which repeater you are using

 

[DuncB]

I would think it should work with the pro, I use the method in post 302 for external antenna.
Most of my problems occurred between the ispindhub and my network rather than in the ispindhub

 

[ZeSlammy]

Guys, I'm back. And working on it. So let me know.

Cheers

 

[DuncB]

Guys, I'm back. And working on it. So let me know.

Cheers

Great news. I'll have to get soldering again.

 

[waynerob11]

Boy am I frustrated
I have followed the Peter Symonds video about getting Fermwatch up and running but I cannot get it to work
1. Flashed the ESP8266 with Brewpiless 4.2.1 using Brewflasher - no problem.
2. logged onto brewpiless and amended as per the video - esp8266 reset
3. Brewflasher would not install Fermwatch bin file so I used NodeMcu to flash Fermwatch - success
4. Logged onto Fermwatch and entered the details including a newly minted API and Base 64 encoded script
5. After reset logged onto Fermwatch - doesn't ask for password and TFT shows its failed.
6. redid it as suggested - same result
7. did a factory rest for the ESP8266 and reinstalled everything as per the video - same result
8. tried limiting the Wi-Fi to 2.4G - no different
9. Used Brewpiless 4.2.1 bin and Fermwatch v1.1
10. my wifi admin is 192.168.1.1 and my ESP8266 has been assigned a static 192.168.1.21
11. don't know where to go from here

 

[waynerob11]

should add that I had Brewfather running with ispindel connected batches and the Postman said all OK

 

[korev]

Boy am I frustrated
I have followed the Peter Symonds video about getting Fermwatch up and running but I cannot get it to work
1. Flashed the ESP8266 with Brewpiless 4.2.1 using Brewflasher - no problem.
2. logged onto brewpiless and amended as per the video - esp8266 reset
3. Brewflasher would not install Fermwatch bin file so I used NodeMcu to flash Fermwatch - success
4. Logged onto Fermwatch and entered the details including a newly minted API and Base 64 encoded script
5. After reset logged onto Fermwatch - doesn't ask for password and TFT shows its failed.
6. redid it as suggested - same result
7. did a factory rest for the ESP8266 and reinstalled everything as per the video - same result
8. tried limiting the Wi-Fi to 2.4G - no different
9. Used Brewpiless 4.2.1 bin and Fermwatch v1.1
10. my wifi admin is 192.168.1.1 and my ESP8266 has been assigned a static 192.168.1.21
11. don't know where to go from here

Hi Sorry to hear about your troubles. I tested Fermwatch 1.1 on a D1 Mini 8266 and with BrewPiLess 4.1 running on an ESP32. Perhaps you could flash BPL with 4.1 and see if that makes a difference to the connectivity.
Cheers
Peter