Welcome to the blog for WiSer WS-UU-EN, where we explore the capabilities of the WS-UU-EN variant. Unlike traditional WiSer configurations, WS-UU-EN facilitates communication between two host systems, providing a versatile solution for various applications.

Overview

• Variant: WiSer WS-UU-EN (comes with 2 WiSer-USB paired devices)
  For more information about WiSer SKU variants, please visit WiSer Product Manual.
• Objective: Establish a wireless serial connection between two host systems.

Step 1: Setting Up WiSer WS-UU-EN

1. Connect WiSer-USB to Host System A
   • Plug the WiSer-USB device into the USB port of Host System A.
   • No additional drivers or software installation needed; it’s a plug-and-play setup.
2. Connect WiSer-USB to Host System B
   • Similarly, plug another WiSer-USB device into the USB port of Host System B.

Step 2: Initiating Communication between Two Host Systems

1. Terminal Configuration on Host System A:
   • Configure the terminal software on Host System A to use the virtual COM port created by WiSer-USB.
     
     
2. Terminal Configuration on Host System B:
   • Similarly, configure the terminal software on Host System B to use the virtual COM port created by the second WiSer-USB device.
     
     
3. Begin Serial Communication between 2 Host Systems:
   • You can now initiate serial communication between Host System A and Host System B wirelessly using WiSer WS-UU-EN.

Conclusion

WiSer WS-UU-EN extends the flexibility of wireless serial communication to dual-host scenarios, offering a hassle-free solution for collaborative work, data transfer, and testing. Explore the possibilities of WiSer WS-UU-EN in your multi-host setups!

Stay tuned for more insights and updates on WiSer projects!

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Personally, it proved beneficial when your embedded board (in this case, the ESP32S2 DevKit-M1 board) is placed in a lab with a hazardous environment, and you want to debug the dev board from your work desk wirelessly without any issues.

Additionally, wireless debugging implies complete electrical isolation from the board, ensuring the protection of your host system while debugging the board.

Understanding the Components

Before we begin on the programming journey, let’s familiarize ourselves with the key components:

1. ESP32-S2 DevKit-M1: A powerful and versatile development board based on the ESP32-S2 chip.
2. WiSer Devices (SKU variant WS-UT-BM or WS-UT-EN): Consisting of WiSer-USB and WiSer-TTL, these wireless serial devices will serve as your programming bridge to the ESP32-S2 DevKit-M1. For more information about WiSer SKU variants, please visit WiSer Product Manual.

Prerequisites

1. Get the ESP32-S2 DevKit-M1 development board.
2. Ensure you have a sample example firmware for ESP32-S2 DevKit-M1. We are going use Blink example firmware in Arduino.
3. Arduino IDE on Windows 10 PC or Mac with the added support of ESP32S2 Dev Module from Board Manager. Here, we are going to use Mac PC.
4. Acquire a pair of WiSer devices. The WiSer-USB connects to your PC, while the WiSer-TTL interfaces with the ESP32-S2 DevKit-M1.

Step-by-Step Programming Guide

Step 1: Connect WiSer Devices

• Plug the WiSer-USB into an available USB port on your PC.
• Connect the WiSer-TTL to the ESP32-S2 DevKit-M1 as shown in the image. If you opt for an assembled WiSer-TTL variant, use jumper cables for a hassle-free connection.

Step 2: Power Up the Devices

• Power up the ESP32-S2 DevKit-M1 using a suitable power source. 
• Ensure the WiSer devices are powered on. We are providing power to WiSer-TTL device through Type-C USB connector.
• In this case, we are providing power to the ESP32-S2 Devkit-M1 from WiSer-TTL by connecting VCC line of WiSer-TTL to 5V input line of the dev kit.

Step 3: Identify Paired WiSer Devices

• If you don’t have multiple WiSer devices or you already know the paired WiSer-TTL device, then you can skip this step. To ensure our WiSer-USB and WiSer-TTL devices are paired with each other, short press the ‘Find Pair’ button on the WiSer-USB. The CONN LEDs on both paired devices will illuminate steadily for 5 seconds.
• This step helps you confirm the pairing between WiSer-USB and WiSer-TTL, especially useful when managing multiple WiSer pairs.

Step 4: Put ESP32-S2 DevKit-M1 into Bootloader Mode

Arduino IDE uses the RTS and DTR to reset and hold GPIO0 in order to put the esp32S2 Dev Board into bootloader mode. 

• Verify the connection of required lines to program the board as shown in the table below.

• Ensure the RTS/CTS hardware flow control is disabled on WiSer devices. To do so, long press the ‘Find Pair’ button on the WiSer-USB for more than 2 seconds. The CONN LEDs will flash slowly, indicating that RTS/CTS hardware flow control is disabled. For more information about ‘Find Pair’ button go through the overview of WiSer devices.

Note: In the case of other MCUs that are not using RTS and DTR lines to switch into the Bootloader mode, you don’t need to connect these lines. Please refer specific MCU’s manual for serial interface connections.

Step 5: Flashing Firmware

• With the ESP32-S2 DevKit-M1 powered on, use your preferred firmware flashing tool (such as esptool command line, PlatformIO, or Arduino) to upload the firmware wirelessly. We are using Arduino IDE here.
• The WiSer devices act as a bridge, facilitating the seamless transfer of firmware from your PC to the ESP32-S2 DevKit-M1.

Step 6: Complete the Process

• Once the firmware is successfully uploaded, Arduino IDE will reset the board in Application mode using RTS line.
• Verify that the user LED is blinking on the ESP32-S2 DevKit-M1 board.

Congratulations! You’ve just programmed the ESP32-S2 DevKit-M1 using the WiSer devices. This wireless approach opens up new possibilities for debugging, testing, and deploying your ESP32 projects. We can even program or update the firmware of any embedded product board which allows programming/updating the firmware over the serial interface. 

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Identifying Paired WiSer Devices

WiSer provides a way to identify paired devices, especially in scenarios where multiple WiSer device pairs are in use. A short press of the ‘Find Pair’ button initiates the identification mode. During this mode:

• Indicator: The CONN LED on both paired WiSer devices illuminates steadily for 5 seconds.
• Purpose: This serves as a quick and efficient means to distinguish between paired WiSer devices, ensuring you’re connected to the right one, especially when dealing with multiple device pairs.

Enabling RTS/CTS Hardware Flow Control

For reliable data transmission, RTS/CTS hardware flow control is often employed. the ‘Find Pair’ button takes on an additional role to provide control to enable/disable RTS/CTS Hardware flow control. A long press (more than 2 seconds) triggers the toggling of the RTS/CTS hardware flow control. Here’s how it unfolds:

• Indicator: Both paired devices respond by flashing the CONN LED rapidly for 5 seconds.
• Purpose: This signifies that the RTS/CTS hardware flow control is now enabled. This feature is invaluable in scenarios where reliable data transmission is paramount, such as in industrial applications or complex embedded systems. 

Disabling RTS/CTS Hardware Flow Control

The ‘Find Pair’ button also offers an option to deactivate the RTS/CTS hardware flow control. This can be achieved through a long press (of more than 2 seconds) again:

• Indicator: Both paired devices flash the CONN LED at a slower pace for 5 seconds.
• Purpose: This indicates that the RTS/CTS hardware flow control is now disabled, offering users the freedom to adapt their WiSer devices where RTS/CTS hardware flow control is not needed. 

Note: RTS/CTS hardware flow control is disabled by default on power-up. RTS signal can be controlled using USB requests from host system when RTS/CTS Hardware flow control is disabled. DTR signal can be controlled using USB requests from the host system in both modes.

Reason for providing RTS/CTS hardware flow control was due to the limitation on the USB CDC class specification. There isn’t any event notification when the flow control setting is changed from the USB host. To overcome this issue, WiSer-USB is equipped with functionality to enable/disable hardware flow control manually. The flow control setting is directly applied to WiSer-TTL, which is equipped with true hardware flow control pins, ensuring reliable data transmission.

For more details, please visit WiSer product page or refer to the WiSer Product Manual.

In Summary, WiSer allows users with the capability to toggle between modes and locate paired devices using the ‘Find Pair’ button. Additionally, it provides clear visual feedback using the CONN LED, to help users identify the paired WiSer device and understand WiSer’s different operational modes.

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In the realm of IoT and embedded systems, acquiring data from remote or elevated locations presents a unique set of challenges. Picture this scenario: a user needs to collect temperature, humidity, and AQI data from a sensor mounted on top of a pillar. Traditionally, options involved risky climbs or developing intricate embedded solutions for wireless data transfer. Enter WiSer – a revolutionary solution simplifying the process, enabling users to seamlessly capture sensor data wirelessly.

Let’s take an example sensor board from the sensors listed below.

1. SM300D2 7-in-1 sensor board
2. PMS7003

The Challenge

Imagine a sensor board safely placed on a pillar, capturing important environmental data with precision. Accessing this data either demands a daring climb or the development of a specialized embedded system for wireless data transfer, each option laden with its challenges – physical risk and complex engineering.

The WiSer Solution

WiSer offers a groundbreaking solution, accessing the serial port of the sensor board wirelessly on your host system. By connecting WiSer-TTL to the sensor board and WiSer-USB to the host system, users effortlessly capture sensor data over a wireless serial connection. WiSer doesn’t require any software or drivers to be installed on the host.

How WiSer Works

Connection Setup

1. Connect WiSer-TTL to the sensor board using jumper cables or by soldering it directly.
2. Plug WiSer-USB into the host system, whether it’s a PC, Raspberry Pi, or any other device.

Seamless Communication

• WiSer establishes a wireless serial connection between the sensor board and the host system.
• Users can access the serial port of the sensor board wirelessly on the host system and communicate with the sensor board directly using their favorite serial terminal software tool like Putty, TeraTerm, Realterm etc.
• Users can also develop custom software in their preferred language (Python, C, C#, etc.) on the host system to directly capture and utilize sensor data, just like capturing data from a serial port.

Code Flexibility

• Developers have the freedom to write code in their favorite language, ensuring adaptability to various applications.

Benefits of Using WiSer

• Wireless Data Capture: Streamline sensor data capture wirelessly, reducing embedded system complexity.
• Accessing Sensor Data Wirelessly on Your Host: Directly capture data in any ready-to-use Serial Terminal software Tool or develop your custom software in Python, C, C#, or any preferred language on the host system.
• No Drivers Required: WiSer doesn’t require any software or drivers to be installed on the host.
• Versatile Applications: Use captured sensor data in a wide array of applications, from environmental monitoring to automation.

Real-world Implementation

Here’s a visual representation showcasing how WiSer simplifies sensor data capture in elevated environments:

Conclusion

WiSer revolutionizes the way sensor data is captured from elevated locations, offering a smarter and safer solution. With wireless access to the sensor board’s serial port, WiSer eliminates the need for complex embedded systems, empowering users to access crucial data wirelessly, and unlocking possibilities across a diverse range of applications.

Note: Images are for illustrative purposes only and may not represent the exact setup.

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