Turn off WIFI

ESPHome
1

hi, is there a way to switch the wifi on and off on esp8266. I want to initially have the unit start and connect to network (so I can do updates OTA if required), then have a physical switch to turn the wifi off as its going to run on batteries, and connect via sim800l.

1 Like
2

I have a binary sensor set up as a switch and tried :-

on_press:
  then:
    - lambda: WiFi.mode(WIFI_OFF);
on_release:
  then:
    - lambda: WiFi.mode(WIFI_STA);

the unit disconnects, but after a few seconds (with the switch still connected) it automaticcly reconnects to the wifi ???

3

If you remove the on_release, does it stay off the network?
Also, I donā€™t know if on_press has debounce. If it doesnā€™t, perhaps itā€™s seeing some on_release action during the press which you could reduce with a simple series resistor and cap to ground.

4

I removed the ā€˜on_releaseā€™, but it still reconnects after a few seconds, hereā€™s all my code ā€¦

esphome:
  name: sim800l
  platform: ESP8266
  board: d1_mini

wifi:

  networks:

  - ssid: "xxxxx"
    password: "xxxxxx"
  - ssid: "xxxxxx"
    password: "xxxxxxx"
  manual_ip:
    static_ip: 192.168.0.34
    gateway: 192.168.0.1
    subnet: 255.255.254.0 
 
  
#  reboot_timeout: 0s 
#  power_save_mode: high

  # Enable fallback hotspot (captive portal) in case wifi connection fails
  ap:
    ssid: "Sim800L Fallback Hotspot"
    password: "xxxxxx"

captive_portal:

# Enable logging
logger:
  level: DEBUG

# Enable Home Assistant API
ota:


binary_sensor:
  - platform: gpio
    pin:
      number: D4
      inverted: false  
    name: "PIR Sensor"

    device_class: motion
    id: my_motion
    on_press:
      then:
        - sim800l.send_sms:
            recipient: '+77xxxxxxxx'
            message: PIR activated -- send help!
  - platform: template
    name: temp_motion
    lambda: 'return id(my_motion).state;'
    filters:
      - delayed_off: 1min

  - platform: gpio
    pin: D8
    name: "wifi switch"
#    device_class: 
    id: my_wifi_switch
    on_press:
      then:
        - lambda: WiFi.mode(WIFI_OFF);
#    on_release:
#      then:
#       - lambda: WiFi.mode(WIFI_STA);

api:
  services:
  - service: send_sms
    variables:
      recipient: string
      message: string
    then:
    - sim800l.send_sms:
        recipient: !lambda 'return recipient;'
        message: !lambda 'return message;'

text_sensor:
- platform: template
  id: sms_sender
  name: "Sms Sender"
- platform: template
  id: sms_message
  name: "Sms Message"

uart:
  baud_rate: 9600
  tx_pin: D0
  rx_pin: D1

sim800l:
  on_sms_received:
    - lambda: |-
        id(sms_sender).publish_state(sender);
        id(sms_message).publish_state(message);

```
5

api: needs a network connection, maybe it forces wifi up?

on_press:
      then:
        - lambda: WiFi.mode(WIFI_OFF);

where are you getting this lambda from? Where is it documented?

6

I saw on the net that the ESP8266 has four modes,

  • Station mode (WIFI_STA), where the NodeMCU device joins an existing network
  • Access point (WIFI_AP) mode, where it creates its own network that others can join
  • Station + AP mode (WIFI_AP_STA), where it both creates its own network while at the same time being joined to another existing network
  • WiFi off (WIFI_OFF)

It does state that it uses ESP8266WiFi.h Library, not sure if esphome uses this library, is there a way to check and if not force the use of this library ?

7

It is open source, look at the code.

And as I said, what makes you think api can work without a network?

8

What if you want to wakeup from sleep, check the sensor data without being connected (to save battery power), and either connect afterwards if a threshold has been surpassed? That would actually make the attached sensor a ā€˜smartā€™ battery powered sensor.

1 Like
9

@nickrout I want to use ESP Home nodes to control the shades everywhere in our house. We donĀ“t like the idea of having ~ 20 nodes active on WiFi around-the-clock.
ThatĀ“s why I use the CAN Bus option to communicate with the nodes controlling the shades. I only need WiFi for OTA and tried to switch WiFi on/off via CAN. But even if I configure reboot_timeout : 0s it seems that the node is rebooting after WiFi is turned off via CAN and enables WiFi again. Is this a bug?

10

You are aware of the other components which could cause a reboots like for example ā€˜apiā€™ or ā€˜mqttā€™ ?

11
12

@picohassiotts thanks for your hints.

Is there anything I could do to promote the PR you were referring?

13

Test it and report your findings in the PR :upside_down_face:

14

@picohassiotts I am not a ĀµC developer so I have no idea how I can compile a branch with a config and load it to a device. I also couldnĀ“t find a docu describing this. If cou could give me some directions, IĀ“d be happy to do that.

15

Made this guide for another project (on w10 though)
Maybe of help?
Below my command lines used to compile:

cd c:\workshop\esphome

pip install esphome
pip install esphomeflasher
pip install --upgrade git+ https://github.com/esphome/esphome

esphome mideahvac.yaml wizard
esphome mideahvac.yaml compile

esphomeflasher

using the compiled C:\_workshop\esphome\mideahvac\.pioenvs\mideahvac\firmware.bin

image
Assuming you already installed python :wink:

PS:You can replace
https://github.com/esphome/esphome
with any ESPHome branch of your liking :wink:
as well as using your own yaml configuration :nerd_face:

2 Likes
16

thanks to the hints from @aceindy I now tested the PR and reported my findings: Allow WIFI to be disabled and enabled by ashmckenzie Ā· Pull Request #1249 Ā· esphome/esphome Ā· GitHub

1 Like
17

Out of topic but really need to know: what kind of sim card are you using with sim800l module ?

18

micro sim card

19

I know it is micro sim card, but what carrier/plan ? (if in US)

20

That higly depends in your usage. I went for some 1nce card to start/play with. Mostly because of their 10 years runtime and wide coverage: https://1nce.com