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HiLetgo 1PC ESP8266 NodeMCU CP2102 ESP-12E Development Board Open Source Serial Module Works Great for Arduino IDE/Micropython (Small)

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,139 ratings
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Brand REES52
Connectivity Technology Wi-Fi, USB
Wireless Communication Standard 802.11b
Processor Count 1
Product Dimensions 1.57"L x 1.57"W x 1.57"H

About this item

  • Built-in Micro-USB, with flash and reset switches, easy to program
  • Arduino compatible, works great with the latest Arduino IDE/Mongoose IoT/Micropython
  • Data download access to the website: http://www;nodemcu;com
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HiLetgo 1PC ESP8266 NodeMCU CP2102 ESP-12E Development Board Open Source Serial Module Works Great for Arduino IDE/Micropython (Small)
HiLetgo 1PC ESP8266 NodeMCU CP2102 ESP-12E Development Board Open Source Serial Module Works Great for Arduino IDE/Micropython (Small)
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HiLetgo 1PC ESP8266 NodeMCU CP2102 ESP-12E Development Board Open Source Serial Module Works Great for Arduino IDE/Micropython (Small)


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Product Description

Description:
ESP8266 is a highly integrated chip designed for the needs of a new connected world. It offers a complete and self-contained networking solution, allowing it to either host the application or to offload from another application processor.

Instruction & Steps of How to use:
1. Download the Arduino IDE, the latest version.
2. Install the IDE
3. Set up your Arduino IDE as: Go to File->Preferences and copy the URL below to get the ESP board manager extensions: arduino.esp8266.com/stable/package_esp8266com_index.json
4. Go to Tools > Board > Board Manager> Type "esp8266" and download the Community esp8266 and install.
5. Set up your chip as: Tools -> Board -> NodeMCU 1.0 (ESP-12E Module) Tools -> Flash Size -> 4M (3M SPIFFS) Tools -> CPU Frequency -> 80 Mhz Tools -> Upload Speed -> 921600 Tools-->Port--> (whatever it is)
6. Download and run the 32 bit flasher exe at Github(Search for nodemcu/nodemcu-flasher/tree/master/ at Github) github.com/nodemcu/nodemcu-flasher/tree/master/Win32/Release Or download and run the 64 bit flasher exe at: github.com/nodemcu/nodemcu-flasher/tree/master/Win64/Release
7. In Arduino IDE, look for the old fashioned Blink program. Load, compile and upload. 8. Go to FILE> EXAMPLES> ESP8266> BLINK, it will start blinking.

Data download access to the website: http://www.nodemcu.com/index_en.html
Firmware link: https://github.com/nodemcu/nodemcu-firmware

Note: Please contact us if you need the driver or meet any issue when using. We provide 100% satisfication service for customers.

Package included:
1* HiLetgo ESP8266 NodeMCU LUA CP2102 Development Board

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
1,139 global ratings

Customers say

Customers like the performance, quality and construction of the single board computer. For example, they mention that it works flawlessly, runs Arduino well and that it's a great little dev board. They appreciate the wifi. That said, some complain about the port and connectivity. Opinions are mixed on ease of use and speed.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

200 customers mention143 positive57 negative

Customers like the performance of the single board computer. They mention that it works flawlessly, runs Arduino well, and is easy to use. Some say that the demo program loads right up and works. Initial tests indicate everything is ok, and flashing works successfully.

"...All of them worked! I'm attaching new screenshots (the one with a fleet of NodeMcu's)...." Read more

"...The quality of the module is clean and it works well. One negative is that there is only a single analog pin (ADC0)...." Read more

"...The first board I got was not registering to the computer...." Read more

"...already soldered pins at breadboard-friendly.- easy to program, works well... but that's more about the module itself, not made by this..." Read more

171 customers mention139 positive32 negative

Customers generally like the quality of the single board computer. They mention that it's an excellent product, has a decent little MCU, and is a great little dev board. Customers also appreciate the well-maintained Arduino IDE and the libraries it provides for all your projects. Overall, customers find the product to be reliable and easy to use.

"...I say get the Amica-based NodeMcu board. It's the easiest and most reliable. The good thing is HiLetGo carries the Amica-based NodeMcu...." Read more

"Great Product." Read more

"...The Wi-Fi is easy to use and reliable...." Read more

"...arduino ide is well maintained and has plenty libraries for all your projects, easy to use and less headbanging against the wall..." Read more

78 customers mention70 positive8 negative

Customers like the construction of the single board computer. They say it is amazing for the price, has amazing functionality, and is a good place to start.

"...4MB memory. That's 32Mbit* Price is reasonable compare to Ebay..." Read more

"...never a one-size fits all, but this board has one primary advantage, the price...." Read more

"...However this is an amazing package for the money." Read more

"It's incredible that something so small and so cheap can do so much...." Read more

18 customers mention18 positive0 negative

Customers are satisfied with the wifi capabilities of the single board computer. They mention that it has full WiFi capability, and the ability to be programmed. They also appreciate the 802.11 support and the good wifi range for the size. Some customers also use it to control robots, sensors, and create WiFi routers.

"...It is a powerful microcontroller, with full WiFi capability, and the ability to be programmed via the Arduino IDE.That said, there are sometimes..." Read more

"...It has a great deal of flash memory and RAM for its size, it has built-in wifi, and the community has worked hard to integrate it with the Arduino..." Read more

"Pro:Good wifi range for the sizeEasy to program and set upSmallCons:..." Read more

"Overall, this is a great device. Having wifi and a bunch of ready-to-use digital IO is great...." Read more

99 customers mention67 positive32 negative

Customers are mixed about the ease of use of the single board computer. Some mention that it's easy to program with the Arduino development environment, and that home automation will be super easy using this device. That said, some say that there is a lack of instructions and that the programming interface is confusing.

"...I say get the Amica-based NodeMcu board. It's the easiest and most reliable. The good thing is HiLetGo carries the Amica-based NodeMcu...." Read more

"...Once you install the driver, it appears as a USB device and is easily programmed...." Read more

"...a fair amount of testing especially around the pinout due to lack of documentation...." Read more

"...is well maintained and has plenty libraries for all your projects, easy to use and less headbanging against the wall..." Read more

23 customers mention13 positive10 negative

Customers are mixed about the speed of the single board computer. Some mention that it works fantastic and extremely fast, with an upload speed of 921600. However, others say that it's too slow for their needs and serial support is too limited. Compiling and flashing the firmware is painfully slow when compared to traditional methods, and getting everything to work takes hours.

"...When I publish MQTT messages to my broker, there is no perceptible delay before this board responds...." Read more

"...and also the reaction is very slow from the moment pir detects movement to the moment the other esp module receives an alert..." Read more

"...that I can send commands to the arduino over wifi now and it's quite responsive." Read more

"...The difference in programming speed isn't huge, so no big deal. Overall, I am very pleased with these boards...." Read more

22 customers mention3 positive19 negative

Customers are dissatisfied with the port of the single board computer. They mention that it does not work, the MAC does not see the USB, and it can't be powered by USB as it was originally meant. Some say that the onboard USB does not seem to be reliable.

"...My only complaint about this board would be that it only has one ADC port that can only measure 0 to 1V. Since I have come across this limitation on..." Read more

"...However, one of the pins was bent on arrival. i bent it back into place, but i believe this is a bigger issue due to how small the packaging is...." Read more

"...The HUZZAH is a little more compact but it requires an outboard TLL/USB adapter while this has one onboard. But that's not all...." Read more

"...Initial tests indicate everything is ok. One of the header strip pins was bent over from the foam, but not a big deal...." Read more

21 customers mention3 positive18 negative

Customers are dissatisfied with the connectivity of the single board computer. They mention that it loses the ability to connect to it, the WiFi will disconnect a lot, and it doesn't connect to any router. The WiFi is very unstable and disconnects frequently. The outgoing TCP connections are broken. Some say that the board was not soldered correctly or that it became disconnected in shipping.

"...badly maintained- to many bugs to be reliable (random disconnects, reboots, hangs, values in scripts not incrementing, if/then/else cases not..." Read more

"...reasons that I would maybe use an Arduino board instead of these: Analog inputs - this has just one built in...." Read more

"...Be aware that there is only one analog input...." Read more

"...Even after getting it working once, I would lose the ability to connect to it. I'm not sure I've totally figured it out...." Read more

Best ESP8266 dev board out there!
5 Stars
Best ESP8266 dev board out there!
July 25th Review Update============I ordered 6 more pieces last night, and I got all of them following day. I installed Micropython on all of them and activated WebRepl, and I have no issues so far. All of them worked! I'm attaching new screenshots (the one with a fleet of NodeMcu's). Included in this screenshots are some of the projects I have done with this board:1. Thermal camera sensor2. Motion detector3. Robot car4. Laser tripwire system with RFID-based card access5. Stepper motor with DRV8825 driver integration6. Micro servo with OLED screen / Hall Sensor switchAll of these are programmed with Micropython. I have also attached screenshots of my frontend and backend Raspberry-based data collector and analytics program (my own platform). The point of these screenshots is to show what's possible with this board.So far out of my 19 NodeMcu boards, 17 are perfect. The other two were failure because one of them was never delivered and the other one won't allow any firmware installation. Amazon has refunded those two by the way.July 10th Review Update============So I ordered two more. However one of them was missing. Amazon only delivered one! The other one isn't accepting firmware updates. I wasted a week of waiting for the delivery and talking to support. The good thing is Amazon refunded both, and HiLetGo email tech support is able to provide "moral" support. At least they are responsive. So at the end the delivery part was Amazon's fault because what HiLetGo does is they delivery the items to Amazon and Amazon is the one who fulfills the order. Now the other board that's malfunctioning seems to HiLetGo's fault. I am at odds whether I should reduce my rating from 5 stars to 4 or 3 stars.I looked for alternatives but I can't find any reliable sellers with reliable reviews. So I still went with HiLetGo. I ordered an extra 5 boards again. And they all worked fine. It took 2 mins to flash the firmware. So 10 good boards versus 1 missing and 1 malfunctioning (which both got refunded) I think should offset the bad experience I had. Comment below if you agree or not.As part of my research why this other board isn't flashing correctly because of "espcomm_sync failed" errors, it seems it's a hardware misconfiguration. There were suggested workarounds but they didn't work for me. Google "nodemcu espcomm_sync failed" for solutions since I am not allowed to post a URL here. Also Google "Comparison of ESP8266 NodeMCU development boards" to get more information on various NodeMcu boards.I say get the Amica-based NodeMcu board. It's the easiest and most reliable. The good thing is HiLetGo carries the Amica-based NodeMcu.So far the projects I have made with this board are:* Robot car* Magnetic reed switches for door and mailbox* Joystick controllers* Rfid controller* Weight sensors* Neopixel controllersI still prefer this board over the Adafruit Huzzah and Wemos. Recently I've dabbled with Ultrasonic Sensors and Relay. This board also worked flawlessly but the Olimex board seems better but pricier because it has integrated relay. I guess that's not really better because you can buy an extra relay and put it with the NodeMcu.Jun 29th 2017 Review Update============So I ordered two of these again since they are the most reliable ESP8266 dev board out there (for the cheapest price). Oh I've tried them all (Huzzah, Olimex, Wemos etc). If you think I haven't, send me a message and I will order it.Today I had a hiccup with uploading Micropython. It won't flash. The same commands that worked on my previous two NodeMcus worked flawlessly from these same vendor. But now it won't. I figured I have to use special flash mode when using esptool. Now it's working again.So for those who are using Micropython and flashing the firmware with esptool, here's the commands that I'd suggest you try1. Erase first. This assumes you update the PORT accordinglyesptool.py --port /dev/tty.SLAB_USBtoUART erase_flash2. Upload the firmware. This assumes you went to Micropython and downloaded the firmware! The "-fm dio" is CRITICAL for these latest two dev boards I ordered. Previously I didn't need those. I read from the docs, most NodeMcu boards use this mode. So I guess I got lucky on my first two.esptool.py --port /dev/tty.SLAB_USBtoUART --baud 115200 write_flash -fm dio 0x00000 esp8266-20170526-v1.9.bin3. Reset and connect to your terminal to verify.Bonus content:Upload a NodeMcu LUA-based firmware:===============================esptool.py --port /dev/tty.SLAB_USBtoUART write_flash -fm dio 0x00000 nodemcu-master-21-modules-2017-06-09-04-48-50-float.binNote: This assumes you went to NodeMcu and downloaded their firmware. And you browse to the directory where you have this firmware.Upload a NonOS firmware from Espressif:===============================esptool.py --port /dev/tty.SLAB_USBtoUART --baud 115200 write_flash --flash_mode dio --flash_size detect 0x00000 boot_v1.7.bin 0x01000 at/512+512/user1.1024.new.2.bin 0x3fc000 esp_init_data_default.bin 0x7e000 blank.bin 0x3fe000 blank.binNote: This assumes you downloaded the ESP8266_NONOS_SDK-2.1.0 sdk from Espressif's website. After downloading browse to ESP8266_NONOS_SDK-2.1.0/bin directory.Screenshots from my projects=======================I've done a couple but I think these two robots I've made are notable and shows you can control these with NodeMcu. The joystick is controlled by a mini NodeMcu (same code I used for the standard NodeMcu). Whoemever is saying this dev board is fake doesn't know a thing.Original Review============I ordered two of this, so I can play around with Micropython firmware (Python-based language) and the Nodemcu firmware (LUA-based language).Pros:* Solid build like a rock (compare to other ESP8266 boards)* It has everything you need. No need for a separate FTDI cable or breakout board* No need to pull down GPIOs to do a firmware flash update. It's all automatic. Firmware update with Micropython is pure magic.* No need to solder pins since they are presoldered. Of course you might need to solder the unit itself with your projects but that's a different discussion.* 4MB memory. That's 32Mbit* Price is reasonable compare to EbayCons* None. It just works. That's why I ordered a second one.
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Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2017
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5.0 out of 5 stars Best ESP8266 dev board out there!
Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2017


July 25th Review Update
============
I ordered 6 more pieces last night, and I got all of them following day. I installed Micropython on all of them and activated WebRepl, and I have no issues so far. All of them worked! I'm attaching new screenshots (the one with a fleet of NodeMcu's). Included in this screenshots are some of the projects I have done with this board:

1. Thermal camera sensor
2. Motion detector
3. Robot car
4. Laser tripwire system with RFID-based card access
5. Stepper motor with DRV8825 driver integration
6. Micro servo with OLED screen / Hall Sensor switch

All of these are programmed with Micropython. I have also attached screenshots of my frontend and backend Raspberry-based data collector and analytics program (my own platform). The point of these screenshots is to show what's possible with this board.

So far out of my 19 NodeMcu boards, 17 are perfect. The other two were failure because one of them was never delivered and the other one won't allow any firmware installation. Amazon has refunded those two by the way.

July 10th Review Update
============
So I ordered two more. However one of them was missing. Amazon only delivered one! The other one isn't accepting firmware updates. I wasted a week of waiting for the delivery and talking to support. The good thing is Amazon refunded both, and HiLetGo email tech support is able to provide "moral" support. At least they are responsive. So at the end the delivery part was Amazon's fault because what HiLetGo does is they delivery the items to Amazon and Amazon is the one who fulfills the order. Now the other board that's malfunctioning seems to HiLetGo's fault. I am at odds whether I should reduce my rating from 5 stars to 4 or 3 stars.

I looked for alternatives but I can't find any reliable sellers with reliable reviews. So I still went with HiLetGo. I ordered an extra 5 boards again. And they all worked fine. It took 2 mins to flash the firmware. So 10 good boards versus 1 missing and 1 malfunctioning (which both got refunded) I think should offset the bad experience I had. Comment below if you agree or not.

As part of my research why this other board isn't flashing correctly because of "espcomm_sync failed" errors, it seems it's a hardware misconfiguration. There were suggested workarounds but they didn't work for me. Google "nodemcu espcomm_sync failed" for solutions since I am not allowed to post a URL here. Also Google "Comparison of ESP8266 NodeMCU development boards" to get more information on various NodeMcu boards.

I say get the Amica-based NodeMcu board. It's the easiest and most reliable. The good thing is HiLetGo carries the Amica-based NodeMcu.

So far the projects I have made with this board are:
* Robot car
* Magnetic reed switches for door and mailbox
* Joystick controllers
* Rfid controller
* Weight sensors
* Neopixel controllers

I still prefer this board over the Adafruit Huzzah and Wemos. Recently I've dabbled with Ultrasonic Sensors and Relay. This board also worked flawlessly but the Olimex board seems better but pricier because it has integrated relay. I guess that's not really better because you can buy an extra relay and put it with the NodeMcu.

Jun 29th 2017 Review Update
============
So I ordered two of these again since they are the most reliable ESP8266 dev board out there (for the cheapest price). Oh I've tried them all (Huzzah, Olimex, Wemos etc). If you think I haven't, send me a message and I will order it.

Today I had a hiccup with uploading Micropython. It won't flash. The same commands that worked on my previous two NodeMcus worked flawlessly from these same vendor. But now it won't. I figured I have to use special flash mode when using esptool. Now it's working again.

So for those who are using Micropython and flashing the firmware with esptool, here's the commands that I'd suggest you try
1. Erase first. This assumes you update the PORT accordingly
esptool.py --port /dev/tty.SLAB_USBtoUART erase_flash

2. Upload the firmware. This assumes you went to Micropython and downloaded the firmware! The "-fm dio" is CRITICAL for these latest two dev boards I ordered. Previously I didn't need those. I read from the docs, most NodeMcu boards use this mode. So I guess I got lucky on my first two.
esptool.py --port /dev/tty.SLAB_USBtoUART --baud 115200 write_flash -fm dio 0x00000 esp8266-20170526-v1.9.bin

3. Reset and connect to your terminal to verify.

Bonus content:
Upload a NodeMcu LUA-based firmware:
===============================
esptool.py --port /dev/tty.SLAB_USBtoUART write_flash -fm dio 0x00000 nodemcu-master-21-modules-2017-06-09-04-48-50-float.bin

Note: This assumes you went to NodeMcu and downloaded their firmware. And you browse to the directory where you have this firmware.

Upload a NonOS firmware from Espressif:
===============================
esptool.py --port /dev/tty.SLAB_USBtoUART --baud 115200 write_flash --flash_mode dio --flash_size detect 0x00000 boot_v1.7.bin 0x01000 at/512+512/user1.1024.new.2.bin 0x3fc000 esp_init_data_default.bin 0x7e000 blank.bin 0x3fe000 blank.bin

Note: This assumes you downloaded the ESP8266_NONOS_SDK-2.1.0 sdk from Espressif's website. After downloading browse to ESP8266_NONOS_SDK-2.1.0/bin directory.

Screenshots from my projects
=======================
I've done a couple but I think these two robots I've made are notable and shows you can control these with NodeMcu. The joystick is controlled by a mini NodeMcu (same code I used for the standard NodeMcu). Whoemever is saying this dev board is fake doesn't know a thing.

Original Review
============
I ordered two of this, so I can play around with Micropython firmware (Python-based language) and the Nodemcu firmware (LUA-based language).

Pros:
* Solid build like a rock (compare to other ESP8266 boards)
* It has everything you need. No need for a separate FTDI cable or breakout board
* No need to pull down GPIOs to do a firmware flash update. It's all automatic. Firmware update with Micropython is pure magic.
* No need to solder pins since they are presoldered. Of course you might need to solder the unit itself with your projects but that's a different discussion.
* 4MB memory. That's 32Mbit
* Price is reasonable compare to Ebay

Cons
* None. It just works. That's why I ordered a second one.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2017
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Reviewed in the United States on June 26, 2019
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5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Board for the Price!
Reviewed in the United States on June 26, 2019
I have over 100 different microcontrollers that I use and have tried for various projects. There is never a one-size fits all, but this board has one primary advantage, the price. If you are familiar with the variety of boards out there one thing you probably know is that the more features you want, the higher the price. Many boards I have used that have built-in Wi-Fi, USB programming and a host of ports can cost upwards of $20.

Right out of the gate, this board supports a handful of ways to program it. The two most popular (in my opinion) are Micro Python and the Arduino IDE, both of which have great support. Once you install the driver, it appears as a USB device and is easily programmed. This makes it a great startup board for any beginner as well as a go-to board for advance usage.

The Wi-Fi is easy to use and reliable. I have had success with it connected it to various cloud services (did tests with Adafruit IO and Arduino Cloud).

Some have complained that the port assignments do not match the board. This is true and untrue. If you understand the difference between Arduino port assignments and how manufactures assign (pin) numbers to their GPIO ports then you will understand why this is different, however, to use the board you do not need to understand any of this. When you install the board driver in the Arduino IDE, you can use pin assignments such as D0 and D1 just like you see printed on the board. Of course, you can still use the GPIO pin numbers as well. If you need to understand the pin assignments in greater detail, click the pin assignment image in the product detail and print it out, it is a great resource. In addition, the Internet is full of samples and explanations on how to get the most of this board. It is open source and many, many people are using it. Check out Adafruit as they have a board called Huzzah based on the ESP8266 and it is similar. In fact, I built a plant monitoring system using the Huzzah and then later swapped it out for this board (I needed more ports).

My latest project, a plant monitoring and watering system, uses an SPI device (MCP3008), an I2C device (TSL2591) for monitoring light levels, and several other sensors. I built a small voltage regulator using a LM7805 to provide 5V power to the Vin pin, and I used the 3.3V pin to provide power to my sensors. I drive a 12V motor directly from the power supply using a N-Channel MOSFET and PWM from a digital pin to control the speed. The versatility of this board is amazing, again for such a low price!

My only complaint about this board would be that it only has one ADC port that can only measure 0 to 1V. Since I have come across this limitation on other boards, and is not a limitation of HiLetgo’s design, I am still giving this board 5 stars. I use an inexpensive MCP3008 ADC chip and it works just fine while adding 8 ADC channels to my project.

If you wish to see an example of my circuit and code, search GitHub using my name and look at the Plant Monitor and Watering System repository.

When you using this board you need to be aware that some of the pins serve multiple purposes so you have to be careful how you use them (true with all ESP8266 based boards). For example, GPIO15 (D8) is used to detect boot mode and must be LOW when the device starts. There is a similar requirement on GPIO2. A search on the Internet this will reveal a lot of easy to follow instructions and help you not fall into issues with these ports. Again, these are limitations of the ESP8266 and not HiLetgos’s design, so I am not reflecting this in the rating.

I have also confirmed what other reviewers are saying, that is, you can program this at full speed: 921600. I have not had any issue at this COM speed.

In general, I am not saying this is the best and only board to buy. I think for the features and the price; this is one of my favorites!
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