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I'm interested in buying one of these especially because of this project. |
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Replies: 3 comments 17 replies
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First off, I want to note that having low-voltage wiring like ethernet in a high-voltage box like your electrical panel is forbidden by the electrical code, and also that a physical modification like this would remove the UL listing on the Vue. An alternative solution might be to bring ethernet to your basement, and attach a WiFi repeater to it. Anyway, that said, you would definitely end up having to solder to the ESP32 directly. The necessary pins are not broken out. Looks like these shields typically use SPI, so 6 pins to solder probably? |
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Yes, that's a really good point. Also the Vue is well enclosed/self contained. I'm so on the fence, but perhaps initially will stick with Vue. I'm very much wired first but in reality wireless connections tend to be plenty stable enough for this type of thing, and it's not the type of data where a small gap is critical anyway. Plus it's probably quite possible to add the ethernet circuit into the Vue if I really tried. Hmm. |
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I am the same way, I always 100% prefer wired connections. I have plans to get an RP-SMA to RP-SMA RF cable with some SMA attenuators and create a link between the antenna port of the VUE2 and a small router. Google for "GL.inet" - Configuring this correctly will allow the LAN port to plug into your LAN and any wireless devices connecting will be on the same subnet and thus be available to your entire network, while drastically (or even ideally eliminating) wifi reception for any other devices since an antenna is not being used. The only concept of antenna here would be the leakage within the SMA cable, as far as I know. I have not done this yet, so I do not have details yet on how well it works, but I will report back once I have time to do this. I am estimating to start around 35db attenuation. I intend connection to be like this: EmporiaVue2 RP-SMA port --> 35db attenuator -> gl.inet router antenna RP-SMA port If someone else here likes the idea and has the time now, you might beat me to it and it would be nice to hear your findings in a reply post. |
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That's an interesting solution - it still feels like wireless but you've closed the loop so I guess in theory it should be much more stable. May also be worth looking at MicroTik for the mini router. They do some very good value bits, though unfortunately the ones that would be ideal (mAP & hAP) don't appear to have SMA connections. The mAP lite is tiny, PoE and runs full RouterOS but it's got an internal antenna (though perhaps it has an internal U.Fl connector - I have one, I will check). |
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I opened up my mAP lite, and nope, the antennas are on-PCB tracks with no connections (could possibly do a trace cut and solder job on them). However, while not quite as fool proof as having the direct SMA cable linking, I do wonder if a mAP besite the Vue2 with a hidden SSID network would give almost the reliability desired. Sure, it won't be immune from external noise (on the same channel) but it would be independent from the wider wireless network. Something to think about. |
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Yes lots of devices like that internal design of PCB copper tracks for an antenna. I've already tested my idea (from a network configuration perspective) with a GL.Inet mini router, and it works well. I actually have it set up now with a regular wifi and regular antennas. I will eventually have time to test my idea with an SMA cable and attenuator. The model I have used is: https://www.ebay.com/itm/314867315252 Short of that I had another idea of a small faraday cage and putting both inside of it, but this seems much cheaper and simpler and so I will be eventually looking into this method. My setup also has the Emporia VUE2 outside of the electrical panel -- I've got just the CT clamps inside the panel and all exiting out of a knock out at the bottom of the panel (with a grommet of course). Then I mounted the VUE2 below the panel and ran the wires to it. |
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Btw, @crlogic i just found these (feels a bit like blast from the past) ;) http://www.hi-flying.com/index.php?route=product/search&search=eport the linux module looks cool; but even the m3 could be super useful :) wonder what they cost though; trying to hunt down ebay/ali express for a couple of these now :) |
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looks like gen3 comes with ethernet out of the box. |
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First off, I want to note that having low-voltage wiring like ethernet in a high-voltage box like your electrical panel is forbidden by the electrical code, and also that a physical modification like this would remove the UL listing on the Vue.
An alternative solution might be to bring ethernet to your basement, and attach a WiFi repeater to it.
Anyway, that said, you would definitely end up having to solder to the ESP32 directly. The necessary pins are not broken out. Looks like these shields typically use SPI, so 6 pins to solder probably?