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Connect a NodeMCU ESP8266 to Ubidots over TCP/UDP
Connect a NodeMCU ESP8266 to Ubidots over TCP/UDP

Learn to connect the NodeMCU ESP8266 to Ubidots Application Development Platform over TCP/UDP

Isabel Lopez avatar
Written by Isabel Lopez
Updated over a week ago

The NodeMCU Development Kit is based on the ESP8266, and integrates GPIO, PWM, IIC, 1-Wire and ADC into one board.

By following this guide you will be able to POST and GET data to/from Ubidots using the NodeMCU ESP8266 module in just a couple of minutes!    

Requiremets

Step-by-Step

  1. Setting up the Arduino IDE

  2. Sending (POST) Data to Ubidots

  3. Receiving (GET) Data from Ubidots 

  4. Summary  

1. Setting up the Arduino IDE

1. To be able to work with the NodeMCU ESP8266 platform in the Arduino IDE, you will need to install the ESP8266 platform using the preconfigured Arduino Board Manager. If you are not familiar with adding a board with the Arduino IDE, refer to this article for additional guidance.

2. With the ESP8266 platform installed, select the ESP8266 device you are working with. In the case, we are working with a “NodeMCU 1.0(ESP12E module)”. To select your board from the Arduino IDE, select Tools > Board NodeMCU 1.0(ESP12E module)”.

3. Download and install the Ubidots library. For a detailed explanation of how to install libraries using the Arduino IDE, refer to this guide.  

2. Sending (POST) Data to Ubidots

With the following sample code you will be able to post readings taken from the ANALOG pin of the NodeMCU ESP8266.

1. To begin posting values to Ubidots, open the Arduino IDE and paste the sample code below. Once you have pasted the code, be sure to assign the following parameters:

  • SSID (WiFi Name) & Password of the available network connection.

  • TCP Sample code

/****************************************
 * Include Libraries
 ****************************************/

#include "Ubidots.h"

/****************************************
 * Define Instances and Constants
 ****************************************/

const char* UBIDOTS_TOKEN = "...";  // Put here your Ubidots TOKEN
const char* WIFI_SSID = "..."; // Put here your Wi-Fi SSID
const char* WIFI_PASS = "..."; // Put here your Wi-Fi password

Ubidots ubidots(UBIDOTS_TOKEN, UBI_TCP);

/****************************************
 * Auxiliar Functions
 ****************************************/

// Put here your auxiliar functions

/****************************************
 * Main Functions
 ****************************************/

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);
  ubidots.wifiConnect(WIFI_SSID, WIFI_PASS);

  // ubidots.setDebug(true);  // Uncomment this line for printing debug messages
}

void loop() {
  float value1 = random(0, 9) * 10;
  float value2 = random(0, 9) * 100;
  float value3 = random(0, 9) * 1000;
  ubidots.add("Variable_Name_One", value1);  // Change for your variable name
  ubidots.add("Variable_Name_Two", value2);
  ubidots.add("Variable_Name_Three", value3);

  bool bufferSent = false;
  bufferSent = ubidots.send();  // Will send data to a device label that matches the device Id

  if (bufferSent) {
    // Do something if values were sent properly
    Serial.println("Values sent by the device");
  }

  delay(5000);
}

  • UDP Sample code

/****************************************
 * Include Libraries
 ****************************************/

#include "Ubidots.h"

/****************************************
 * Define Instances and Constants
 ****************************************/

const char* UBIDOTS_TOKEN = "...";  // Put here your Ubidots TOKEN
const char* WIFI_SSID = "..."; // Put here your Wi-Fi SSID
const char* WIFI_PASS = "..."; // Put here your Wi-Fi password

Ubidots ubidots(UBIDOTS_TOKEN, UBI_UDP);

/****************************************
 * Auxiliar Functions
 ****************************************/

// Put here your auxiliar functions

/****************************************
 * Main Functions
 ****************************************/

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);
  ubidots.wifiConnect(WIFI_SSID, WIFI_PASS);

  // ubidots.setDebug(true);  // Uncomment this line for printing debug messages
}

void loop() {
  float value1 = random(0, 9) * 10;
  float value2 = random(0, 9) * 100;
  float value3 = random(0, 9) * 1000;
  ubidots.add("Variable_Name_One", value1);  // Change for your variable name
  ubidots.add("Variable_Name_Two", value2);
  ubidots.add("Variable_Name_Three", value3);

  bool bufferSent = false;
  bufferSent = ubidots.send();  // Will send data to a device label that matches the device Id

  if (bufferSent) {
    // Do something if values were sent properly
    Serial.println("Values sent by the device");
  }

  delay(5000);
}

2. Verify your code within the Arduino IDE. To do this, in the top left corner of our Arduino IDE you will see the "Check Mark" icon; press it to verify your code. 

3. Upload the code into your “NodeMCU 1.0(ESP12E module)”. To do this, choose the "right-arrow" icon beside the "check mark" icon. 

4. To verify the connectivity of the device and the data sent, open the serial monitor by selecting the "magnifying glass" icon in the top right corner of the Arduino IDE to see the connectivity logs. 

NOTE: If no response is seen, try unplugging the NodeMCU and then plugging it again. Make sure the baud rate of the Serial monitor is set to the same one specified in your code 115200.

5. Confirm your data in Ubidots. Now you should see the posted data in your Ubidots account.  

3. Receiving (GET) Data from Ubidots

With the following sample code you will be able to get a value from Ubidots to start controlling any asset you desire. 

1. To begin getting values from Ubidots, open the Arduino IDE and paste the sample code below. Once you have pasted the code, be sure to assign the following parameters:

  • TCP Sample code:

/****************************************
 * Include Libraries
 ****************************************/

#include "Ubidots.h"

/****************************************
 * Define Constants
 ****************************************/

const char* UBIDOTS_TOKEN = "...";  // Put here your Ubidots TOKEN
const char* WIFI_SSID = "..."; // Put here your Wi-Fi SSID
const char* WIFI_PASS = "..."; // Put here your Wi-Fi password
const char* DEVICE_LABEL_TO_RETRIEVE_VALUES_FROM = "weather-station";  // Replace by your device label                     const char* VARIABLE_LABEL_TO_RETRIEVE_VALUES_FROM = "humidity";       // Replace by your variable label

Ubidots ubidots(UBIDOTS_TOKEN, UBI_TCP);

/****************************************
 * Auxiliar Functions
 ****************************************/

// Put here your auxiliar functions

/****************************************
 * Main Functions
 ****************************************/

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);
  ubidots.wifiConnect(WIFI_SSID, WIFI_PASS);
  // ubidots.setDebug(true); //Uncomment this line for printing debug messages
}

void loop() {
  /* Obtain last value from a variable as float using HTTP */
  float value = ubidots.get(DEVICE_LABEL_TO_RETRIEVE_VALUES_FROM, VARIABLE_LABEL_TO_RETRIEVE_VALUES_FROM);

  // Evaluates the results obtained
  if (value != ERROR_VALUE) {
    Serial.print("Value:");
    Serial.println(value);
  }
  delay(5000);
}

2. Verify & Upload the code into the board following the same steps provided in the POST step above.

3. To verify the connectivity of the device and the data which is being received, open the serial monitor by selecting the "magnifying glass" icon in the top right corner of the Arduino IDE to see the connectivity logs. 

NOTE: If no response is seen, try unplugging the NodeMCU and then plugging it again. Make sure the baud rate of the Serial monitor is set to the same one specified in your code 115200.

4. In the serial monitor, you will be able to see the last value received in Ubidots of the variable specified in the firmware. 

4. Summary  

With this simple tutorial you are able to POST & GET data to/from Ubidots with the ease of the Arduino IDE and an NodeMCU ESP8266. If your wish to find more examples to handle context or timestamp values in your request checkout Ubidots documentation with the ESP8266 by clicking here

Now its time to create Ubidots Dashboards to visualize your data and deploy your IoT solution!  Happy Hacking! :) 

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