Esp8266 nodeMCU amica install trouble

Configuration
1

Hi Everyone, I am trying to add an esp8266MOD node MCU Amica v1 to my home assistant
procedure i am using:
I go to ESP home
I select + New Device
then esp home web
press connect
select the device
then click connect
select prepare for first use
then click install

wheel counts to 100%
it says configuration installed
click close
it says connecting
then I get the hazard symbol and “An error occurred. Port is not ready”

I have tried this with a normal boot up of the esp,
with a boot up holding the flash button for 2 seconds,
with a boot up holding the flash button for 5 seconds and
with a boot up holding the flash button for the duration of the install up to the error

I used the following driver:
Silicon Labs Virtual COM Port (VCP) Universal Driver for Windows 10 version 1803 and later, windows 11

Package version: 11.3.0
Release date: 2023-05-26

I installed an esp32 last week, that I eventually got working, but I cant get this 8266 to work.

Can anyone tell me what I am doing wrong.

Thank you for your time.
Quinton

2

Hi
If you show the esphome yaml it’ll help. It sounds like port not ready is part of the esphome installer and not the logs you see on the esphome app under your new device. Your device should be in boot mode after installation then powe cycling.

Screenshot_20240908_160207_Home Assistant
Screenshot_20240908_160207_Home Assistant1045×683 88.1 KB

3

Hi Spiro, thanks for the reply.
I am using “the prepare for first use” button, so I do not believe I am loading any yaml onto the ESP8266. If the “the prepare for first use” button sends some sort of bare yaml code to the esp, i cannot work out where or how to view it.

regards
Quinton

4

I am not familiar with that board, but I am old-school. I find the default install procedure somewhere between useless and confusing and I manually flash the compiled bin file to the device the first time. (Useless because my Home Assistant server is in the basement and I can’t “connect to this computer”).

Here is my process:

  • ESPHome
  • New Device
  • Continue
  • Give the device a name → next
  • Select ESP8266
  • Skip

Now, in the ESPHome window you will find the starter yaml for the new device. Edit the configuration as needed and the first time, flash the device manually using ESPHome Flasher. When the device reboots it will show in the ESPHome page as online. From there, edit the configuration as needed and install the new configuration wirelessly.

5

I tend to go a similar path to Stephen but I don’t use esphome flasher.
When ive got some basic yaml down I select install on the right

Screenshot_20240909_085034_Home Assistant
Screenshot_20240909_085034_Home Assistant1055×1572 136 KB

I select the plug into this computer as Im doing it from my laptop.
Screenshot_20240909_085056_Home Assistant
Screenshot_20240909_085056_Home Assistant1080×1802 200 KB

I wait for blue circle to stop spinning the select download and save the bin file then select open esphome web. Im doing this from phone so cant show any more steps but select to install from file. Not prepare for first time.

Your board uses a esp12f chip. I mostly set board as esp01_1m

6

thank you for the suggestions guys, really appreciated
Stevemann: i seem to be able to follow your instructions up to the ESPHome flasher, is this a software for linux?

Spiro: I think I followed your instructions correctly, however the device never comes online, I cant see it on the router.
yaml code:

esphome:
  name: gk3
  friendly_name: gk3

esp8266:
  board: esp01_1m

# Enable logging
logger:

# Enable Home Assistant API
api:
  encryption:
    key: "9c2wY21fNEpOwyUTi5uwplad6kJSVZEvJRLQCH3Zdec="

ota:
  - platform: esphome
    password: "be0ed0b17675c20f7f643a1a8ee1a55b"

wifi:
  ssid: !secret wifi_ssid
  password: !secret wifi_password

  # Enable fallback hotspot (captive portal) in case wifi connection fails
  ap:
    ssid: "Gk3 Fallback Hotspot"
    password: "UdiCn9pMhf38"

captive_portal:

after trying to install wirelessly i get the following:

INFO ESPHome 2024.8.1
INFO Reading configuration /config/esphome/gk3.yaml…
INFO Generating C++ source…
INFO Compiling app…
Processing gk3 (board: esp01_1m; framework: arduino; platform: platformio/[email protected])

HARDWARE: ESP8266 80MHz, 80KB RAM, 1MB Flash
Dependency Graph
|-- ESPAsyncTCP-esphome @ 2.0.0
|-- ESPAsyncWebServer-esphome @ 3.2.2
|-- DNSServer @ 1.1.1
|-- ESP8266WiFi @ 1.0
|-- ESP8266mDNS @ 1.2
|-- noise-c @ 0.1.6
RAM: [==== ] 41.7% (used 34128 bytes from 81920 bytes)
Flash: [===== ] 47.6% (used 487461 bytes from 1023984 bytes)
========================= [SUCCESS] Took 2.39 seconds =========================
INFO Successfully compiled program.
INFO Resolving IP address of gk3.local
ERROR Error resolving IP address of gk3.local. Is it connected to WiFi?
ERROR (If this error persists, please set a static IP address: WiFi Component — ESPHome)
ERROR Error resolving IP address: Error resolving address with mDNS: Did not respond. Maybe the device is offline., [Errno -5] No address associated with hostname

7

Interesting its not connecting ro wifi.

  # Optional manual IP
  manual_ip:
    static_ip: 192.168.0.123
    gateway: 192.168.0.1
    subnet: 255.255.255.0

Try setting wifi with manual ip to your own network.
Any chance your setting 2.8 and 5 ghz to same ssid on your router? Some routers cause a problem. Not mine so far. Also check correct spelling of ssid and password in secrets.
Esphome flasher is a program. I run it in win11. Dont use it as much now but has a nice feel to it and you see how install is going.

8

champion thank you, it is working
I had not put any wifi credentials in at all! as my other esp32 didnt have this in it’s yaml code… weird.
Anyway happy days, thanks for your patience.