ESPixelStick V2 Group Buy - E1.31 WiFi Pixel Controller kit

sporadic

sporadic

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ESPixelStick V2 Group Buy - CLOSED

THE LAW
Group Buy Rules - read before posting in this thread: http://doityourselfchristmas.com/forums/showthread.php?19400-Group-Buy-Rules

By participating in this Group Buy all participants agree to release www.doityourselfchristmas.com, its Owners, Administrators, Moderators or any other staff of any and all liability and waive all rights I may have under all laws and governing bodies. By posting in this thread you agree you are entering a binding contract between the Organizer (me) and the Participant. In order to participate from this forum, you MUST be a supporting member per the GB rules.

The Good Stuff!

This post has been updated for the first round of 2017 Group Buys. This buy will last 3 weeks, ending on February 10th and I expect to start shipping boards out the week of March 13th. All orders for the group buy must be placed and paid for by midnight on 2/12. The cost will be the same as the last group buy, and I'll be using Google Forms with PayPal invoicing again for order placements. Details are all below!

The ESPixelStick is an E1.31 WiFi pixel controller built around the ESP8266 in an Arduino environment. An overview of the ESPixelStick V1 is available here, and I'll expand on the V2 changes in just a bit. The ESPixelStick supports up to four universes of WS2811 pixels on a single output, or up to 63 GECE Pixels. The firmware is open source, available here. Once connected to your WiFi network, further configuration can be done via the embedded web server. The controller is small enough to fit inside 1" thin wall PVC, allowing you to embed the controller next to your element eliminating issues of long pixel runs. The ESPixelStick V2 is provided in kit form, with all SMD components pre-soldered. Please feel free to address any questions or concerns in this thread, thank you!

V2 Updates
1) Power supply section is completely different. It has an on board buck converter for 5V-24V DC input that will run 100% duty cycle at 5V and the 3.3V LDO is a different part as well. No longer have to worry about voltage configuration.
2) Mounting hole sized for a #8 screw to easily mount in CG cases.
3) Fixed the issue with using 3.3v programmers.
4) Fixed a potential issue that could cause the ESP module to hang if a watchdog reset occurred or the module rebooted.
5) All passives are SMD now. Only components left to solder are headers and buttons.

ESPixelStick V2 Kit Board:

ESPixelStick V2 Kit Board by smerrick, on Flickr

ESPixelStick V2 Assembled:

ESPixelStick V2 Assembled by smerrick, on Flickr

ESPixelStick Group Buy Costs
ESPixelStick Kit* - Includes all SMD pre-soldered and BOM (minus ESP-01) - $10 each
ESP-01 Module* (optional, but required to complete) - $3 each
Shipping** - All US shipping will done via USPS Priority Mail small flat rate boxes - $7.15
* PayPal fees are included in these costs
** each box can hold around 15 kits.

THT BOM - This is the BOM provided for you to assemble.
1 - Mini ATM Fuse Holder
1 - 3A Mini ATM Fuse
1 - 1x3 Header
1 - 2x4 Header
1 - HT3.96-6P plug and right angle socket
2 - Tactile Switch

How to Participate
I'm doing this a little different than most group buys. To ease logistics and keep orders / shipping straight, I've created a Google Form for participants to fill out. I will periodically review submissions, issue invoices via PayPal and update this thread with participants. Please allow a day for me to invoice you. If there are any questions or concerns, please feel free to post about them in this thread. If you have not received a PayPal invoice from me by 12PM EST on 2/11, CONTACT ME ASAP.
Order Form - ESPixelStick V2 Group Buy Form

Important Dates
Expected Shipment - Week of March 13
Participant cut-off - 2/10
Payment cut-off - 2/12

More information and discussion threads
http://forkineye.com/ESPixelStick
ESPixelStick thread on diychristmas.org
ESPixelStick thread on doityourselfchristmas.com

Admin Page on a Nexus 4:
ESPixelStick_Root-180x300.png


One ESPixelStick driving a 720 pixel matrix (just over the advertised 4 universe capability):
 

Attachments

  • ESPixelStick V2 Assembly and Usage.pdf
    1.5 MB · Views: 138
Last edited:
I am curious, what is the WiFi range here? I mean from a normal router, not something insane line a Ubiquity.

I was leaning toward doing a Pi Zero or B2/3 with WiFi dongles. But this looks way smaller and lighter which will play into my concept way better. Downside is it can't run FPP and be self contained.
 
Thank You !!
I would like
qty 5 - ESPixelStick Kit* - Includes all SMD pre-soldered and BOM (minus ESP-01) - $10 each
qty 5 - ESP-01 Module* (optional, but required to complete) - $3 each
 
jValue said:
Thank You !!
I would like
qty 5 - ESPixelStick Kit* - Includes all SMD pre-soldered and BOM (minus ESP-01) - $10 each
qty 5 - ESP-01 Module* (optional, but required to complete) - $3 each
Click to expand...

How to Participate
I'm doing this a little different than most group buys. To ease logistics and keep orders / shipping straight, I've created a Google Form for participants to fill out. I will periodically review submissions, issue invoices via PayPal and update this thread with participants. Please allow a day for me to invoice you. If there are any questions or concerns, please feel free to post about them in this thread. If you have not received a PayPal invoice from me by 12PM EST on 8/15, CONTACT ME ASAP.
Order Form - ESPixelStick V2 Group Buy Form
 
MrSmoofy said:
How to Participate
I'm doing this a little different than most group buys. To ease logistics and keep orders / shipping straight, I've created a Google Form for participants to fill out. I will periodically review submissions, issue invoices via PayPal and update this thread with participants. Please allow a day for me to invoice you. If there are any questions or concerns, please feel free to post about them in this thread. If you have not received a PayPal invoice from me by 12PM EST on 8/15, CONTACT ME ASAP.
Order Form - ESPixelStick V2 Group Buy Form
Click to expand...


Ahh, someone had to be the first person not to read through the instructions! Thanks for letting me know. I've completed the form.
Jim
 
Thanks Shelby,

I have been looking forward to getting my hands on a few of these for a while.
 
Last edited:
Million dollar question.
The rub is more with the ESP module than the access point. You have to be careful that you don't bury the pixelstick and block the ESP antenna.
As with all things wifi it varies a lot. Antenna position, power of the radio, etc.
Folks can get a couple hundred feet with no problems, especially if the access point is outside.
What are your distance requirements?
Wolfie said:
I am curious, what is the WiFi range here? I mean from a normal router, not something insane line a Ubiquity.

I was leaning toward doing a Pi Zero or B2/3 with WiFi dongles. But this looks way smaller and lighter which will play into my concept way better. Downside is it can't run FPP and be self contained.
Click to expand...
 
ukewarrior said:
Million dollar question.
The rub is more with the ESP module than the access point. You have to be careful that you don't bury the pixelstick and block the ESP antenna.
As with all things wifi it varies a lot. Antenna position, power of the radio, etc.
Folks can get a couple hundred feet with no problems, especially if the access point is outside.
What are your distance requirements?
Click to expand...

Since I don't have anything to test it out my question around this is if I put this inside a small box (probably plastic) how will it effect range since the antenna is printed on the circuit board. How difficult would it be to use a ESP-07 that has a ceramic antenna and a connector for an external antenna that could be mounted outside the box.
 
ukewarrior said:
Million dollar question.
The rub is more with the ESP module than the access point. You have to be careful that you don't bury the pixelstick and block the ESP antenna.
As with all things wifi it varies a lot. Antenna position, power of the radio, etc.
Folks can get a couple hundred feet with no problems, especially if the access point is outside.
What are your distance requirements?
Click to expand...

PM you so not to polute the GB thread.
 
Wolfie said:
I am curious, what is the WiFi range here? I mean from a normal router, not something insane line a Ubiquity.

I was leaning toward doing a Pi Zero or B2/3 with WiFi dongles. But this looks way smaller and lighter which will play into my concept way better. Downside is it can't run FPP and be self contained.
Click to expand...

MrSmoofy said:
Since I don't have anything to test it out my question around this is if I put this inside a small box (probably plastic) how will it effect range since the antenna is printed on the circuit board. How difficult would it be to use a ESP-07 that has a ceramic antenna and a connector for an external antenna that could be mounted outside the box.
Click to expand...

Range will have more to do with the RF environment (802.11 saturation, etc..) around where you live than anything. The admin interfaces reports the RSSI of the AP it's connected to however, so you can usually play around with placement and find something that works. I personally run an Ubiquiti Nanostation locoM2 for my AP as I wanted it outdoors and clear LOS for the signal.

I ran 15 last all in 1" thin wall PVC and they worked fine with the locoM2 outside. Ceramic antennas usually perform worse than printed ones and are mainly for saving board space. To use an ESP-07 though, you'd want to layout an adapter board that gives you the ESP-01 header.

I'm just now getting around to sending the first batch of invoices, you all should be getting them soon. Thanks!
 
Oops, I just noticed shipping costs have increased for small flat rate boxes as well. I was using the same price from last year, sorry about that! Original post has been updated. (5.95 to 6.80).
 
Update
All orders as of this status update should be invoiced (except for International orders that came in last night). If you haven't received an invoice or response from me by the time of this status, please let me know ASAP!.
 
Thanks for doing this again Shelby. I sent in an order and got your invoice for 10 sticks and 10 modules. Will send payment first of next week after I can get to bank and drop some coin in the account!
 
beeiilll said:
Thanks for doing this again Shelby. I sent in an order and got your invoice for 10 sticks and 10 modules. Will send payment first of next week after I can get to bank and drop some coin in the account!
Click to expand...
Thanks, you're welcome!

Update
All orders as of 10:30AM EST 8/7 should be invoiced, aside from a couple of international orders which I'm awaiting responses for shipping on. If you haven't received an invoice or response from me by the time of this status, please let me know ASAP!.
 
Update
All orders as of 7:30AM EST 8/8 should be invoiced, aside from a couple of international orders which I'm awaiting responses for shipping on. If you haven't received an invoice or response from me by the time of this status, please let me know ASAP!.

Thank you all that have already paid, we're getting close to the point where I can order the boards early!
 
Shelby:

I received your invoice and paid, but my PayPal shipping address didn't update for some reason. Should I PM you the correct address?
 
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