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OpenEPaperLink Accesspoints, optionally with some preprogrammed tags

All details can be found here: OpenEPaperLink Accesspoint

What the heck can I do with this?

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.

Background info

These pricetags are recycled Solum electronic shelf labels that were used in stores, and run on a custom firmware called OpenEPaperLink. The pricetags themselves run on a undocumented SOC, the ZBS243. It has a 8051 core, and the SOC has been carefully reverse engineered by Dmitry.gr

The AP is based on an ESP32 and uses another type of pricetag as a radio interface. The system uses unencrypted, Zigbee-like (802.15.4) packets on 2.4Ghz. Thanks to a web-interface on the ESP32, the accesspoint is fully self-contained.

What you will receive

Kit:

• 3D-printed case (SLA, professionally printed)
• Wemos S2 Mini
• Flex PCB (version 2)
• Segmented display (UK) pricetag PCB
• WS2812B LED
• lens for the LED
• 1206 1µF capacitor

Some soldering is required, but it shouldn't be too difficult. If you have some experience with a soldering iron, you can do this. You'll need to program the ESP32 using the OpenEPaperLink Web Flasher or PlatformIO. The ESP32, in turn, will program the segmented price tag. Assembly of the 3D-printed case requires a little bit of glue. The Access Point is powered by USB-C cable (not included)

In the latest batch, the case design is updated: it now includes physical buttons (for gpio0 and reset) and the shells snap nicely into place.

Assembled:

One assembled, programmed, and fully tested Mini-AP. The Access Point is powered by USB-C cable (not included)

Optional price tags:

2.9" and/or 1.54" tags. They have 296x128 / 152x152 pixels, Black-White-Red. These tags aren't new! They were used in a store, and may show some light cosmetic damage. Programmed with the OpenEPaperLink firmware. The tags include batteries (only when ordered for shipping inside the EU), but as they are not new, I cannot estimate the life span of them. They take CR2450 batteries, which can be found online. The 2.9" tags take two of them.

If you want to order more tags, order them here: 2.9" tags, 1.54" tags

Things you should know:

This mini-AP v2 is great if you're getting started with OpenEpaperLink. It's easy to build and can handle about 30 small tags. There's now a mini-AP v3, based on a esp32-C6 instead of a segmented tag, which cost a bit more, takes more experience to build, but can handle more and bigger tags. The v2 is still really useful as a starting point, or later, as a secundary access point to extend the reach of your other access points.

This is hobby-DIY-maker stuff, made by a hobbyist. Please don't use this in a commercial setting, or 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. When you purchase this hardware, you directly contribute to making this possible. Thank you for your support!