OpenEPaperLink Mini-AP v3 / zigbee<->wifi gateway

Name: OpenEPaperLink Mini-AP v3 / zigbee<->wifi gateway
SKU: 31726
Price: 39.00 USD
Availability: Discontinued
Rating: 4.90 (18 reviews)

(18 Reviews)

This is a Access Point for the OpenEPaperLink project, using a ESP32-S3 and ESP32-C6. Includes an interface port to flash your tags.

Designed by {Electronics by Nic} in Netherlands

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OpenEPaperLink Mini-AP v3 / zigbee<->wifi gateway 1

OpenEPaperLink Mini-AP v3 / zigbee<->wifi gateway 2

OpenEPaperLink Mini-AP v3 / zigbee<->wifi gateway 3

OpenEPaperLink Mini-AP v3 / zigbee<->wifi gateway 4

OpenEPaperLink Mini-AP v3 / zigbee<->wifi gateway 5

OpenEPaperLink Mini-AP v3 / zigbee<->wifi gateway 6

OpenEPaperLink Mini-AP v3 / zigbee<->wifi gateway 7

2024-02-08T14:27:26.410Z-Screenshot 2024-02-02 21.33.22.png

This is a Access Point for the OpenEPaperLink project, using a ESP32-S3 and ESP32-C6. Includes an interface port to flash your tags.

I cannot edit the title in the headline, as it will break the page URL, but this is the OpenEPaperLink Mini Access Point v4 rev2 Availability status: Due to time restrictions, I'm currently not plann…

OpenEPaperLink Mini Access Point v4 rev2

Availability status:

Due to time restrictions, I'm currently not planning on building a new batch of access points soon, so if ever, it will take at least a few months before any will be available. Please, don't message me with questions about current availability. Luckily, you can build everything yourself, with the info on the OpenEpaperLink Github repo.

What the heck can I do with this?

Basicly, this is a universal WiFi <-> IEEE 802.15.4 gateway, with a size smaller than a credit card. The Access Point is powered by USB-C cable (not included)

You can use this set to setup your own E-Paper display system at home. The displays can display nearly anything. Just send a jpg file to the AP, and it can be displayed on one of the displays. The AP can generate all kinds of content itself too! Stuff like weather forecasts and the date can be shown on a tag, making for a nice dynamic little screen. It's also possible to use the AP with HomeAssistant thanks to an integration.

All details can be found here: OpenEPaperLink. With this Access Point and some displays, you have a fully working system.

The access point has a flasher port for flashing Solum tags. Now, you can revive your Solum tags after a firmware update goes wrong, or when you find compatible tags on eBay which are not preflashed yet. You need an optional cable.

If you just want to tinker with Thread or Zigbee instead, you can make this as a WiFi to Thread/Zigbee gateway, possibly use it together with Zigbee2mqtt. But no software is written for it yet, if you want to use it that way. Looking forward to see some nice implementations!

Background info

The AP is based on an ESP32-S3 and uses a ESP32-C6 as a radio interface. With the OpenEpaperLink software, the system uses unencrypted, Zigbee-like (IEEE 802.15.4) packets on 2.4Ghz. Thanks to a web-interface on the ESP32-S3, the accesspoint is fully self-contained to works together with electronic shelf labels that run the OpenEpaperLink firmware.

What you will receive

Only the assembled version of the access point is currently available. It is flashed with the firmware and tested. It consists of:

3D-printed case (SLA, professionally resin printed)
PCB, with SMD-components
ESP32-S3-WROOM-1 module (16 MB flash, 8 MB psram)
ESP32-C6-WROOM-1 module (4 MB flash)
0.96" TFT screen

So you don't need to build anything, no soldering needed.

I you want to tinker a bit more: On the pcb, you will find a footprint for an optional CC1101 module (not included, you can get it at Aliexpress) or a Ebyte E07-900M10S module (not included, you can get it at Aliexpress), which reportedly has a higher quality than the cheap CC1101 modules. You can place it in case you use tags on the SubGHz (868/914MHz) frequency range, like the Chroma type.

flasher cable/connector

These are out of stock and unavailable. You can get the parts yourself. All documentation, design files, and gerber files of the flasher cable are available on Github

This jig is to be used as a temporary connection to the tags: you hold the connector in place, while the firmware is flashed. If you need a more permament connection, for example when developing firmware, there are other jigs to 3D-print yourself, which are different for each tag model.

In autoflash mode, it uses the web interface to automatically download the right firmware files from github, and flash your tag (currently M2 type tags only). In advanced mode, you can use the command line script OEPL-Flasher.py to communicate with the tag (both M2 and M3 type tags).

Price tags:

I don't have a source for the electronic shelf labels to sell with them anymore. :-( So, you have to get your own displays. Please don't ask me where to get them or if a certain type is compatible. I don't know, and sometimes compatibility for new models is added by other people. Do some research first. For some models the implementation is still highly experimental. Also, not all tag brands/models have a nice way to flash the firmware: sometimes it involves carefully drilling holes, or some magic spell to open a tag case.

Things you should know:

While the OpenEPaperlink software and the access point hardware runs very stable, it can be complicated to get displays to work or to flash the firmware to them. Be aware of this before buying. If you don't like tinkering with hardware and software, this might not be the right project for you. I can only provide support for the access point hardware.

This is hobby-DIY-maker stuff, made by a hobbyist. Please don't use this where its functioning or malfunctioning may cause, or lead to, directly or indirectly, damage to property, damage to life or limb, or psychological distress. I'm no lawyer, but I basically don't want to get sued over providing people with some nice toys to tinker with.

The OpenEPaperLink software is open-source. Contributions to the project are very welcome! I invest a significant amount of time in software development for the OpenEpaperLink project. The software is free, but when you purchase this hardware, you directly contribute to making this possible. Thank you for your support!

Review Breakdown

Average Ratings

Product: (5.00)

Documentation: (4.67)

Shipping: (5.00)

Communication: (4.94)

Simon | June 6, 2024

Amazing little gadget

Bought this to tinker with, thinking it may fail with BLE tags. Bought the GICIsky BLE 5.0 2.1 tags from Ali express. Had 5 tags up and running within around an hour with home assistant.

Not really sure why, but the tags were not identified immediately, but after a couple of reboots, and reflashing the firmware on the gateway (not sure if that helped or not), they appeared.

No need to flash the displays.

Thanks, really appreciate your efforts.

Really good product.

Simon | April 19, 2024

Interesting concept

I purchased the pre-assembled v4 AP and 10 tags (5x 2.9" and 5x 1.54"). Great quality on the AP, and it was very easy to set up. The tags were recognized and automatically added to the AP after I rebooted them by removing the batteries and shorting the contacts. Connected the AP to Home Assistant using the OpenEPaperLink integration available in HACS. I've been testing the tags by displaying information such as the next mail delivery times, garbage collection dates, indoor and outdoor temperatures, weather forecast, and calendar events. It's a really interesting concept with much potential to have tiny e-ink displays around with this information. Highly recommended for anyone looking to enhance their smart home setup!

Thank you Nic for this pre-assembled kit and pre-flashed tags!

Lowrence | April 5, 2024

Amazing tags!

Thank you for the amazing tags! Really easy to implement and endless possibilities in home assistant. A lot of inspiration in the Discord channel about how to use the tags

Jacob | Jan. 31, 2024

Couldn't be happier

I'm glad I placed an order when I did, before they all sold out. I wanted small screens for using around my house with homeassistant and openepaperlink was the perfect solution. The hardware is well designed, the resin printed case looks great, and there was obviously care put into the software and UX. It was easy to connect to my network, the web portal works and looks great, and updating the firmware is quick and easy. You have a variety of options for what you can put on the displays using only the AP, most of which are centered around the EU; out of the builtin ones, the date one is great for putting next to a calendar.

The real power comes when you connect it to HomeAssistant. I've experienced some bugs with the integration, but since it's an extension developed by someone else I can't complain here. You can design decent UIs using the integration - you'll mostly be using [drawcustom](https://github.com/svenove/open_epaper_link_homeassistant/blob/main/docs/drawcustom/supported_types.md), and it works well enough for almost anything you'd want to do.

Some tags batteries last longer than others, but overall the battery life has been surprisingly long; I have a tag that updates every 20 minutes that's been going strong for over 2 months now.

Great job Nic, this is a killer project and you should be proud of it.

Response from {Electronics by Nic} | Feb. 1, 2024

Thanks for the review! It's a great motivation for me to hear that people are happy with the hardware and the software!

Jan | Jan. 26, 2024

Just love it!

Thanks to Nic for the ready made hardware and to the OpenEPaperLink Team for providing this amazing display solution. Very fun to integrate into home-assistant.

Nathan | Jan. 6, 2024

Fascinating platform, very interesting potential

Up and running relatively easily and connected to Home Assistant via the community integration. These displays are quirky, mysterious, and the whole thing feels like a big hack (it is of course many layers of hacks piled on top of one another) but what a fun glimpse of the future! Easy to imagine a few generations of improvement in the software stack to make this sort of thing easy and ubiquitous. Seems underground and sneaky to use recycled price tags as part of home automation (this is more home awareness than automation but fits into the home automation ecosystem).

After a few evenings of fiddling I now have little signs on the dishwasher and laundry which show how long since they last ran, and a display on the night stand which says how long since we took the dog out (i.e. how long since the back door was opened). Working on a display for the kids' bath to remind them not to use too much hot water, and another to show the electricity rates alongside current consumption.

Don't forget to look for STL files in the openepaper GitHub and print your own tabletop stands and wall mounting brackets.

Justin | Dec. 25, 2023

Excellent kit, perfect assembly instructions, Fast Shipping!

This is my second purchase here and it's been an absolute pleasure to get this thing assembled and running. Thank you so much!!

Shawn | Dec. 11, 2023

Easy setup, great build quality and instructions

Thanks Nic! For a while I wanted something like this, but didn't know about the project. I found this on Reddit and ordered the AP v3, 5x 1.54" and 5x 2.9" displays. The AP v3 had good final completion instructions, and being familiar with (re)flowing BGA and SMD, this was a breeze. Everything fit together perfectly into the provided case, and installed smoothly. Connected to the displays and HA without hiccup. Love the project and love the affordability Nic provides with his AP and screens.

M. | Dec. 11, 2023

Very quick delivery

Bought the OpenEPaperLink Mini-AP v3 / zigbee<->wifi gateway and 5 2.9" displays to play with.
The products came very quick and they already work.
Now busy to make my own layouts.
Thanks for this nice piece of work.

Scott | Nov. 27, 2023

useful small, lightweight display system

Picked up the v3 mini-ap and 10 tags (5x 1.54" and 5x 2.9"). great system. arrived quickly to the US. set up was painless and quick. display on the AP really helps to let you know it's up and running fine. software side is good, but could use some help. wish i was a developer so i could pitch in.

don't hesitate to buy these if they'll fit your use case. amazing repurposing! thanks!

Mitchell | Nov. 27, 2023

Amazing product quick delivery.

Amazing product quick delivery, tags have many build in features and will make a pull request soon to implement some more.

Jan | Nov. 20, 2023

Perfect!

Worked right out of the box, minimal installation needed in home assistant. Highly recommended, the perfect toy!

Kamil | Nov. 9, 2023

Great product!!!

Works great. I am using it from Home Assistant and it was straight forward to get it up and running. Thx Nic for your great work and support. The idea is fenomenal and I will definitely expand my current setup wity more tags!

Balázs | Nov. 7, 2023

So far so good!

Way better build quality than i expected. Works great, got the assembled version. Plugged it in and ready to go.
Got it with 5 pcs 2.9" epaper tags. It was shipped in one box, neatly packed.

Kristian | Nov. 6, 2023

Just what I’ve been looking for!

Swiftly shipped, and items as described. Works perfectly! Just what I’ve been looking for, many thanks!

John | Oct. 26, 2023

Very nice and complete set. Had it up and running in no time

Ordered it with 5x 2.9" and 5x 1.54" . I am using it from Home Assistant and it was straight forward to get it up and running. I had a small question about the shipment, and Nic was quick to answer. Can recommend.

Michel | Oct. 16, 2023

Really nice product

With some tags with the open firmware it’s a directly usable product, really nice.

If you want more content as the examples you need to code some json of image files, but that’s why you buy a product like this :-)

Ronny | Sept. 25, 2023

Great work and fast delivery

Thx Nic for your great work and support. It works really good. The 3d printed case has a really good quality. Thanks for the fast delivery.

I will order some more tags in the future

+ Show 13 more

{Electronics by Nic}

Eindhoven, NB, Netherlands

29 Reviews | 971 Orders

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OpenEPaperLink Mini-AP v3 / zigbee<->wifi gateway

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This is a Access Point for the OpenEPaperLink project, using a ESP32-S3 and ESP32-C6. Includes an interface port to flash your tags.

OpenEPaperLink Mini Access Point v4 rev2

Availability status:

What the heck can I do with this?

Background info

What you will receive

flasher cable/connector

Price tags:

Things you should know:

Review Breakdown

Average Ratings

Amazing little gadget

Interesting concept

Amazing tags!

Couldn't be happier

Response from {Electronics by Nic} | Feb. 1, 2024

Just love it!

Fascinating platform, very interesting potential

Excellent kit, perfect assembly instructions, Fast Shipping!

Easy setup, great build quality and instructions

Very quick delivery

useful small, lightweight display system

Amazing product quick delivery.

Perfect!

Great product!!!

So far so good!

Just what I’ve been looking for!

Very nice and complete set. Had it up and running in no time

Really nice product

Great work and fast delivery

{Electronics by Nic}

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