The C6 never loaded its /config.json, so it fell back to defaults
(SSID RemoteRig, empty password) and couldn't join Wi-Fi. Two bugs:
- Data file was named esp32-config.json but the firmware reads
/config.json → renamed to config.json.
- Firmware used SPIFFS while pioarduino's uploadfs builds a LittleFS
image; the SPIFFS mount then reformatted it empty. Switch the C6 to
LittleFS (matches the toolchain default and the ESP-01S).
Also:
- log loaded ssid/broker/camera_id on config load (not the password)
- platformio.ini: land the ESP-01S env retarget (board d1_mini ->
esp01_1m, dout, upload_speed 115200) that was missed in 403e1d9
- committed config.json keeps wifi_password blank; the real value is
flashed to the device, not stored in git
Verified: C6 loads config and associates (got a DHCP lease). MQTT to
the broker is a separate network issue (hub IP / subnet).
Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 <noreply@anthropic.com>
Complete rewrite of firmware into two dedicated boards per camera node:
ESP8266 (Camera Bridge):
- Connects ONLY to GoPro AP — polls status, sends over UART
- Zero network switching, zero MQTT
- HTTP GET /bacpac/SH for status, start/stop
- JSON-per-line UART protocol to ESP32
ESP32 (MQTT Bridge):
- Connects ONLY to travel router — MQTT to Pi hub
- Reads status from ESP8266 over UART2 (RX16/TX17)
- Auto-registration, heartbeat, command forwarding
- Zero camera communication
UART Protocol: JSON-per-line at 115200 8N1
ESP8266→ESP32: status/ack/pong/error
ESP32→ESP8266: cmd (start_recording/stop_recording/ping)
Hardware updates:
- BOM now includes both boards (~4/node)
- 3D case has stacked dual-board compartment
- UART wire channel between board recesses
- Shared 3.3V power rail for both boards
- Unified firmware for ESP32 (dual-STA) and ESP8266 (time-shared STA)
- ESP8266: alternates between GoPro AP and travel router per poll cycle
- PlatformIO dual-target: esp32dev + esp8266dev (d1_mini)
- camera_ip config field for Akaso/non-GoPro cameras
- LittleFS support for ESP8266 (replaces SPIFFS)
- Camera compatibility table (GoPro H3/H4, Akaso)
- LED polarity handled per-platform (ESP8266 active-low)
ESP8266 time-sharing adds ~4s latency per 30s cycle — invisible at poll rate.
Joshua King
Hermes