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grinoir
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Joined: 12/09/2020
Location: Denmark
Posts: 11

Posted: 06:01am 08 Sep 2021

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Hi,
I can see, that several of you have been using the CMM2 for connecting to BBSs using ex. an ESP-01.
Can you point me to a post or site that explains this process?
Thanks

mclout999
Guru

Joined: 05/07/2020
Location: United States
Posts: 430

Posted: 02:40pm 08 Sep 2021

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Here is the thread I started on the issue.

https://www.thebackshed.com/forum/ViewTopic.php?FID=16&TID=14064

You have to use (for now) a custom AT firmware in the ESP-01 to use the Maxiterm that has been developed here. I am trying to find a link to it.

https://www.thebackshed.com/forum/ViewTopic.php?TID=14005&PID=173964#173964

Good luck. I have yet reflashed my ESP-01 to the custom one.

frnno967
Senior Member

Joined: 02/10/2020
Location: United States
Posts: 104

Posted: 03:37pm 08 Sep 2021

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The firmware that I've used most with Maxiterm is Bo Zimmerman's Zimodem firmware. If you Google search for Zimodem you'll get to his GitHub easily and can download it from there. It works well and reacts just like a traditional Hayes modem would, and you can flash it into the ESP-01 using the Arduino IDE. The main drawbacks of that firmware are that it's really only designed for Telnet connections, and seems to have some bugs in the code that cause problems for file transfers. But for casual BBS uses it's good and very easy to use (ex just type ATDT hostname and go).

The Espressif AT firmware is much more powerful and flexible, but it's not easy to use because it requires many commands to setup and shut down each connection, but it does support a variety of TCP/UDP connections and can handle raw piping of data streams. This firmware works great with file transfers but will be frustrating to use for casual users used to Hayes modem syntax. Also, the Espressif AT firmware is specific to each model of ESP, so it can be frustrating just to find the correct version that matches your ram, cpu, and features of the ESP module. Sometimes it requires compilation as well. In Maxiterm 2.0 I'm thinking of coding in support for both types of firmware to make it easier for the user, but this will require the user to use the autodialer to connect to the remote system. Datawiz's esplib-8266 throwback terminal on here (search the forum) implements Espressif AT support, but lacks ANSI color and file transfers and other features.

Jay Crutti: Ham Radio Operator, K5JCJ. Computer Enthusiast. Musician. Engineer.

grinoir
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Joined: 12/09/2020
Location: Denmark
Posts: 11

Posted: 03:53pm 08 Sep 2021

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Thanks for this!
What about the hardware side? How to connect the esp-01?

lizby
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Joined: 17/05/2016
Location: United States
Posts: 3006

Posted: 05:00pm 08 Sep 2021

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This module makes it easy to connect an ESP-01 to the CMM2 2x20 expansion pins with flying wires. Just connect 5V (module has onboard regulator), 0V, Tx and Rx.

Some models later than the original CMM2 have built-in sockets for the ESP-01.

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toml_12953
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Joined: 13/02/2015
Location: United States
Posts: 324

Posted: 08:56pm 08 Sep 2021

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grinoir said Thanks for this!
What about the hardware side? How to connect the esp-01?

I just soldered a 6-pin female header onto the CMM2 board and now I can plug in an ESP-01. If you order the CMMs 2nd Gen from PS Labs in Poland, the header socket is already on the board.

grinoir
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Joined: 12/09/2020
Location: Denmark
Posts: 11

Posted: 06:02pm 09 Sep 2021

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Could any of the two solutions be installed on the inside? Do you have any picture of the setup?
Thanks

lizby
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Joined: 17/05/2016
Location: United States
Posts: 3006

Posted: 06:38pm 09 Sep 2021

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grinoir said Could any of the two solutions be installed on the inside?

Not so easily, I think, for the original CMM2, though if you want to solder wires directly to the 2x20 header insider the case, all 4 are side by side and on top, so they're accessible.

grinoir said Do you have any picture of the setup?

CMM2 with ESP-01 module:

~
Edited 2021-09-10 04:41 by lizby

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grinoir
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Joined: 12/09/2020
Location: Denmark
Posts: 11

Posted: 11:21pm 12 Sep 2021

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Thanks lizby, that seems like easy enough. What is the other module you have connected?

toml_12953 do you have a photo of your solution?

I would really like to use my CMM2 ver. 1 (or ver 1 1/2: looks like ver. 2 inside but without the new connections. I got a ESP-01 here, so a "clean" solution without extra boards would be my preference if possible.

toml_12953
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Joined: 13/02/2015
Location: United States
Posts: 324

Posted: 12:23am 13 Sep 2021

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grinoir said Thanks lizby, that seems like easy enough. What is the other module you have connected?

toml_12953 do you have a photo of your solution?

I would really like to use my CMM2 ver. 1 (or ver 1 1/2: looks like ver. 2 inside but without the new connections. I got a ESP-01 here, so a "clean" solution without extra boards would be my preference if possible.

Here it is:

lizby
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Joined: 17/05/2016
Location: United States
Posts: 3006

Posted: 01:04am 13 Sep 2021

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grinoir said What is the other module you have connected?

PS2 socket module for mouse

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grinoir
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Joined: 12/09/2020
Location: Denmark
Posts: 11

Posted: 03:35pm 13 Sep 2021

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Toml is it the st link place you used? I dont see any other connections on my board

grinoir
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Joined: 12/09/2020
Location: Denmark
Posts: 11

Posted: 03:35pm 13 Sep 2021

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Toml is it the st link place you used? I dont see any other connections on my board

Mixtel90

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Joined: 05/10/2019
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 5695

Posted: 03:49pm 13 Sep 2021

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That is mounted on a CMM2 2nd Gen from PS Labs in Poland. The connector (or even pads for one) isn't fitted to most versions of the CMM2 so the ESP can't be mounted inside the case - unless you are prepared to do a lot of messing about...

Mick

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Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs

grinoir
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Joined: 12/09/2020
Location: Denmark
Posts: 11

Posted: 11:27pm 13 Sep 2021

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You are of cause right Mixtel90. I was confused. No internal installation for me then.

Lisby, I stroke luck: I had the adapter module for the ESP-01, so now it is connected as your photo shows. However I do belive, that I need to flash new software on to the ESP-01? Can you show me in the right direction there?

toml_12953
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Joined: 13/02/2015
Location: United States
Posts: 324

Posted: 11:42pm 13 Sep 2021

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Mixtel90 said That is mounted on a CMM2 2nd Gen from PS Labs in Poland. The connector (or even pads for one) isn't fitted to most versions of the CMM2 so the ESP can't be mounted inside the case - unless you are prepared to do a lot of messing about...

The pic I posted was from a unit bought from a New Zealand dealer. It doesn't include the socket but does include the pads for it so I soldered in my own.

lizby
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Joined: 17/05/2016
Location: United States
Posts: 3006

Posted: 01:47am 14 Sep 2021

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grinoir said I had the adapter module for the ESP-01, so now it is connected as your photo shows. However I do belive, that I need to flash new software on to the ESP-01? Can you show me in the right direction there?

It depends on what you wish to do. MatherP's HTML server, MM2: webserver with AT mode ESP8266, will probably work with any not-truly-ancient ESP-01 with stock firmware.

Here's a thread on Updating ESP-01 AT firmware

This provides a link to flashing esp-link

Jirsoft has custom esp firmware for Napoleon Commander for CMM2 linked somewhere in this thread.

I think frnno967 has custom firmware for a BBS client.

Annex RDS provides ESP8266 and ESP32 firmware which a 'mite can use for many wifi functions: https://cicciocb.com/

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grinoir
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Joined: 12/09/2020
Location: Denmark
Posts: 11

Posted: 09:14pm 14 Sep 2021

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Hi again,

More luck but not quite. I apparently had and NODEMCU in my drawer:-)
Using the guide by Jay Crutti https://www.jaycrutti.com/hardware-projects/homebrew-wifi-modem-for-cmm2 i uploaded the firmware, connected the NODEMCU and ran the program.
So far so good.

However using the default 115200 default BPS I got this error.

The "error code" don't look like the usual "wrong BPS-code" but I of cause tested all the options to no luck.

Any ideas?

jirsoft

Guru

Joined: 18/09/2020
Location: Czech Republic
Posts: 532

Posted: 06:19am 15 Sep 2021

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Hi,
for me it looks like error from ESP firmware. Maybe HW watchdog or low voltage + reset? How did you program the ESP? It's running OK without connecting to the CMM2?

Jiri
Napoleon Commander and SimplEd for CMM2 (GitHub), CMM2.fun

frnno967
Senior Member

Joined: 02/10/2020
Location: United States
Posts: 104

Posted: 05:43am 16 Sep 2021

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grinoir said However using the default 115200 default BPS I got this error.

I recall seeing an issue ticket opened on the Zimodem GitHub that there may be a bug in the recent esp libraries so you might need to install a specific version of those. Or it could be a misconfigured board profile when you uploaded using Arduino IDE like incorrect ram or similar setting.

-jay

Jay Crutti: Ham Radio Operator, K5JCJ. Computer Enthusiast. Musician. Engineer.

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