NOTE: In this project, you will find a new WiFi Stepper Motor Controller App for Magnetic Loop Antenna, that is replacing the old Blynk App (as Blynk upgraded to v2 and removed v1 from the AppStore and the PlayStore). This project is replacing the old project that is now DEPRECATED: https://github.com/tamirrosenberg/WiFi-Stepper-Motor-Controller/edit/main/README.md

Tuning the Magnetic loop antenna, by controling the capacitor remotely, using Wifi. I built a Magnetic Loop Antenna, and my idea was to control the tuning capacitor remotely. And it's working great! :)

For more details, please visit the re:Ham Radio website: https://rehamradio.com/
Visit my YouTube channel to see this project in action:
WiFi Stepper Motor Controller App for Magnetic Loop Antenna (Blynk replacement)
Build a Magnetic Loop Antenna with Remote Wireless Tuning - Practical Guidance
The original project with the Blynk App - DEPRECATED!!!

• ESP8266 Micro Controller
• DRV8255 Stepper Motor Driver
• Bipolar stepper motor (Nema)

The DRV8825 is a smart motor driver that can be used with normal steps and even with micro-steps, and that can be controlled by the driver's pins M0, M1, M2. In my case I wanted to use the 1/32 micro-steps, and these are the speeds that you will see in the code. More details about this driver can be found here: https://www.pololu.com/product/2133.
NOTE: Please follow the directions in the following video on how to set the correct Voltage/Current on the motor driver BEFORE using it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89BHS9hfSUk - Setting the Current Limit on Pololu Stepper Motor Driver Carriers

From vesrion 0.3.1-beta, I introduced an easy and fast way to install the application without the need of the Arduino IDE:

1. From the "Firmware" folder in this repository, download the latest firmware version
2. In Arduino IDE, load the following example code from the menu: File --> Examples --> ESP8266HTTPUpdaterServer --> WebUpdater
3. In lines 12 & 13, replace "your-ssid" and "your-password" with your home access point Name and Password
4. Upload to the ESP
5. The ESP will reboot and you can access it via "http://esp8266-webupdate.local/update" (you can see this line in the serial monitor of the Arduino IDE)
6. Use the "Firmware update" button to choose the Firmware file that you just downloaded and click "Update"

1. From the "Firmware" folder in this repository, download the latest firmware version
2. From the "Settings" tab in the application, choose Firmware "Update"
3. Use the "Firmware update" button to choose the Firmware file that you just downloaded and click "Update"

The Arduino IDE can be download from: https://www.arduino.cc/en/software.
When you are using the Arduino IDE, you will probalby need to install the esp8266 libraries, so please follow this procedure:

1. Go to the "File" --> "Preferences"
2. In the "Additional Boards Manager URLs:" insert "http://arduino.esp8266.com/stable/package_esp8266com_index.json"
3. Confirm with "Ok"

Now, let's install and choose the board. From the Arduino IDE menu:

1. Go to "Tools" --> "Boards" --> "Boards Manager"
2. Search for board "8266", and install it
3. Go to "Tools" --> "Boards" --> "esp8266" and choose "NodeMCU 1.0 (ESP-12E Module)"

Now, we need to install few libraries that are in use and needed in the code, it's easy.
Please go to each of these links, and download the files to your computer by using the Green button called "Code" --> "Download ZIP":

1. https://github.com/tzapu/WiFiManager
2. https://github.com/jenscski/DoubleResetDetect
3. https://github.com/me-no-dev/ESPAsyncTCP
4. https://github.com/me-no-dev/ESPAsyncWebServer

Once you have all these files locally, go back to the Arduino IDE:

1. Go to "Sketch" --> "Include Library" --> "Add .ZIP Library..."
2. Add each of the files above, one by one
3. I told you it's easy ;)

Now you are ready to install the code into the esp8266 micro-controller:

1. Copy & Paste the code into the main code screen of the Arduino IDE
2. Click "Upload" (An icon of an arrow)

You just finished to installed the app and it's ready for use! YAY!!!

Are you allowed to use this code anywhere? Or change the code?
Yes, as long that it's for YOUR OWN PERSONAL USE (NOT FOR SELLING IT)!

Design: Tamir Rosenberg, N6JJ
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@reHamRadio
Website: re:Ham Radio website: https://rehamradio.com/
Please help and support this channel with Patreon: https://patreon.com/rehamradio