Fail to install via ESPHome ESP32 module (with BME280)

ESPHome
1

I am new to using ESPhome.

My setup: Home assistant as a virtual machine on my Synology (no docker)
ESPHome as add-on.
Made a yaml file for my weatherstation (see below)
Accessing Home assistent via laptop (Windows).
Connected my ESP32 via USB cabel.
Installed drivers needed for com ports
When i try to install (compile and flash) i choose Plug in to computer (via dashboard). Then my ESPHome gives an error : Pick Server Port.

What am i missing?

Yaml:

 name: weerstation
  platform: ESP32
  board: esp32dev

# Enable logging
logger:

# Enable Home Assistant API
api:

ota:
  password: "xxxxxxxxxxxxx"

wifi:
  ssid: "xxxxxxxx"
  password: "xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"

  manual_ip:
    # Set this to the IP of the ESP
    static_ip: 192.168.1.21
    # Set this to the IP address of the router. Often ends with .1
    gateway: 192.168.1.1
    # The subnet of the network. 255.255.255.0 works for most home networks.
    subnet: 255.255.255.0


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

captive_portal:

i2c:
 # sda: 21
 # scl: 22
  scan: true
  id: bus_a

sensor:
  - platform: bme280
    temperature:
      name: "BME280 Temperature"
      oversampling: 16x
    pressure:
      name: "BME280 Pressure"
    humidity:
      name: "BME280 Humidity"
    update_interval: 10s
    
    i2c_id: bus_a
    address: 0x76
2

As explained in this thread, download the bin and flash it with esphomeflasher?

3

Thanks! I succeeded in flashing. But no network connection. I think my network config is not correct. Do I have to configure IP settings in this Yaml file??

4

But why does esphome present this error after installing? (Pick server port). Does the server port have to be configured on esphome? Or do I have to connect the esp32 on the USB port on Synology?

5

No, you don’t have to, I always use dchp, and then reserve the ip address on the dhcp-server (so it will always get the same address).
Only ssid/password need to be correct.
If not, you should see the fall back ssid🤔
Can you ping the address?

Since i use a HyperV myself, i can’t use usb, hence i don’t know anything about it…sorry

6

Sorry
Cannot ping. Also i cannot see the fallback AP Wifi name. Doing something wrong but don’t no what…

7

What does the log say?

8

Which computer are you plugging the usb cable into? The laptop or the synology?

9

Hello Nick.
Plugging it into laptop.
From there i browse to my home assistent with the esphome addon.

10

Then you need “plug into this computer” not “plug into the computer running esphome dashboard”.

11

Ok. In the synology?
Will try that tomorrow. Thanks!

12

If you are plugging the device by usb into the laptop then click install, then click “plug into this computer”.

13

Found a very difficult workaround!
Installed Python on Windows laptop
Installed ESPHOME on it.
Started Wizard to build yaml file.
Then run the yaml file (explination is here : ESPHome – Introduction – Internet of Things projects (galagaking.org))
This flashed the ESP32 correctly.
After that i saw it on my Home Assistent and could configure it via Wifi!!!

Plugging it directly into my computer en chosing install from Home Assistant Plugin an choosing Plug into this computer did not work. Got error “Pick server port”. But i wasn’t able to pick one…

14

That is not an error, it is an instruction.

Anyway how is your workaround “difficult”.

15

It would have been easier to:

  • compile and download the bin from HA’s esphome dashboard
    image
    image580×611 29.7 KB
  • connect the esp by usb on a W10 machine
  • install python (if not already done so) on it
  • run ‘pip install esphomeflasher’ (if not already done so)
  • execute esphomeflasher and browse the downloaded bin file :wink:
    image
16

That is a nice workaround to!! But how did you manage to get a graphical interface ? My interface is character based…

17

Ahhh, found it! just executing. I used the ESPhome program and that was character based…
I think in my case that the most easy way is to just make a small yaml file with only wifi config. Then flashing it and do the rest over te air with the Esphome addon in my home assistant. Once it gets connected via Wifi i can manage and configure it!

You where right about the instruction instead of the error. But the message showed me to pick a server port. But is was not showing.

18

That would still be double…why not make the full yaml on HomeAssistant EspHome dashboard,compile, download and flash it…
(which is what I do for the esphome for my ac, since it too big for OTA)

19

Thanks! Will try that in the future.
Cheers

20

No need to install Python on the WIndows machine. There’s a release from ESPHome-Flasher just for Windows. No need for anything else, it’s just an *.exe you can run without installing anything. :wink:

So, the easiest way is

:slight_smile:

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