![]() Moving the real-time encoding and decoding out of the ESP8285 has benefits since those are very time-picky functionalities that could interfere with the WiFi communications. This is the same microcontroller IteadStudio has used for the Slampher and the Sonoff RF. An 8-bit microcontroller by SiLabs that manages the radio communication. In the center of the board you can see the EFM8BB1. You also have access to GPIO2 (labelled SDA) on the same header. On one of the corners you can spot the PCB WiFi antenna and the ESP8285 (an ESP8266 with a 1Mbyte flash memory embedded) along with the required header to flash it (3V3, RX, TX and GND). ![]() Inside the box there is a single PCB with all the components. Opening the box is quite easy with the help of a couple of plastic opening tools. A sticker with a QR linking to the eWeLink user guide. The three LEDs in the front of the device are used in the original firmware to notify radio usage (red), wifi connection (blue) and power (green) In the original firmware it sets the device into “discoverable” mode, so you can use the eWeLink app to discover it. The Sonoff RF Bridge 433 is a small black box with a microUSB port for power, a recessed reset button and three LEDs for notifications (power, custom and radio). The button is connected to GPIO0 on the ESP8266 so it doubles as flash mode button. I will not go (I have never gone) much into the app, the user experience, the use cases,… because this is about hacking it with he aim of really own the device and have the freedom to choose what 3rd party services you will use with it, if any at all. it also work with Alexa and eWeLink custom skill. It works, you can discover the device, force pair mode for any of the 4 available buttons and use them. At some point the problem has been addressed and I could finally test it. ![]() Maybe an uncompatibility with some other service or app in my phone. Last month I tried it with the RF Bridge and the 4CH Pro and it worked like charm. With every new Sonoff device I gave it a chance and the outcome was always the same. If you had read me before you might know that I have critisized the eWeLink app. Anyway you can buy one from the Itead Studio webshop or in the usual online markets looking for Sonoff RF Bridge . ![]() I should have written this post a month ago. Itead Studio was kind enough to send me an engineer sample before holidays but I have had very few time to work on it. But one of the latests devices from the chinese firm tries to bridge the gap between those two technologies: the Sonoff RF Bridge 433. But also, using custom firmware like ESPurna, technologies and solutions like MQTT, Node-RED or Home Assistant. The ubiquitous ESP8266 (or its sibling ESP8285) is the core of all those devices, using WiFi instead of the traditional RF messages, replacing a remote with mobile apps or voice commands. You can google “sonoff” (the main brand for Itead Studio home automation devices) to get more than a million hits, including official pages, reviews and lots of hacks. Itead Studio has been releasing interesting gadgets for the Home Automation community based on a low price tag and extreme hackability. ![]()
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