Getting feeds from ThingSpeak using ESP8266 and Arduino

November 16, 2016October 29, 2018 - by admin - 12 Comments.

Getting feeds from ThingSpeak using ESP8266 and Arduino

ThingSpeak is a popular cloud for small IOT Based projects, which can store feeds or data at runtime from various sensors. Once data is written user also needs to read the feeds from ThingSpeak to display or to make some actions based on readings.

Here we have interfaced Arduino Mega 2560 with ESP8266 to read feeds from ThingSpeak.

Connections:

See table for connection description:

Arduino Mega 2560	ESP8266	Arduino UNO *
3.3V	Vcc	3.3V
3.3V	CH_PD	3.3V
TX1	RX	TX
RX1	TX	RX
GND	GND	GND

* if you are using Arduino UNO, before uploading program to Arduino, kindly remove any connections to RX and TX pins of Arduino

Program:

/*
Getting feeds from ThingSpeak using ESP8266 and Arduino
http://www.galaxysofts.com/new/getting-feeds-thingspeak-using-arduino/Version: 1.0
Updated: 16-11-2016
By: www.GalaxySofts.com
*/
String data="";
long time2=0;

void setup()
{
Serial.begin(9600);
Serial1.begin(115200);

Serial1.println("AT");
while(!Serial1.find("OK"));
Serial1.println("AT+RST");
while(!Serial1.find("OK"));

Serial1.println("AT+CWMODE=1");
while(!Serial1.find("OK"));

Serial1.println("AT+CIFSR");
while(!Serial1.find("OK"));

Serial1.println("AT+CIPMUX=0");
while(!Serial1.find("OK"));

Serial1.println("AT+CWJAP=\"SSID\",\"password\"");
time2=millis();
while(!Serial1.find("WIFI CONNECTED"))
{
if(((millis() - time2)/1000) > 15)
Serial1.println("AT+CWJAP=\"SSID\",\"password\"");

if(Serial.find("ERROR"))
{
Serial.print("ERROR... Restarting");
asm volatile (" jmp 0"); 
}
}
Serial.print(".");
time2=millis();
while(!Serial1.find("WIFI GOT IP"))
{
if(((millis() - time2)/1000) > 15)
Serial1.println("AT+CWJAP=\"SSID\",\"password\"");

if(Serial.find("ERROR"))
{
Serial.print("ERROR... Restarting");
asm volatile (" jmp 0"); 
}
}
Serial.print(".");
// --------------------------------------------------
time2=millis(); 
while(!Serial1.find("OK"))
{
if(((millis() - time2)/1000) > 15)
Serial1.println("AT+CWJAP=\"SSID\",\"password\"");
if(Serial.find("ERROR"))
{
Serial.print("ERROR... Restarting");
asm volatile (" jmp 0"); 
}
}
// -----------------------------------------------------
Serial.print(".");
Serial1.println("AT+CIPSTART=\"TCP\",\"api.thingspeak.com\",80");

time2=millis();
while(!Serial1.find("CONNECT"))
{
if(((millis() - time2)/1000) > 15)
Serial1.println("AT+CIPSTART=\"TCP\",\"api.thingspeak.com\",80");

if(Serial.find("ERROR"))
{
Serial.print("ERROR... Restarting");
asm volatile (" jmp 0"); 
}
}
Serial.print(".");

Serial1.println("AT+CIPSEND=68");
time2=millis();
while(!Serial1.find(">"))
{
if(((millis() - time2)/1000) > 15)
Serial1.println("AT+CIPSEND=68");
if(Serial.find("ERROR"))
{
Serial.print("ERROR... Restarting");
asm volatile (" jmp 0"); 
}
}

Serial1.println("GET /channels/152333/feeds.json?results=2&api_key=X1XMADMMELRDZUC7");
time2=millis();
while(!Serial1.find("description\":\""))
{
if(((millis() - time2)/1000) > 15)
Serial1.println("GET /channels/152333/feeds.json?results=2&api_key=X1XMADMMELRDZUC7");
}
Serial.println(".");
data="";
time2=millis();
while(1)
{
int a=Serial1.read();
// Serial.print(char(a));
if(a == '\"')
break;
else if((a>=32) && (a<=127))
data +=char(a);

}
if(data == "")
{
Serial.print("RESET");
delay(100);
asm volatile (" jmp 0"); 
}
Serial.print("Title: ");
Serial.println(data);
time2=millis();
while((!Serial1.find("feeds\":")));
while((!Serial1.find("field1\":\"")));
data="";
while(1)
{
if(Serial1.available())
{
int a=Serial1.read();
if(a == '\"')
break;
else
data +=char(a);
}
}
Serial.print("field1=");
Serial.println(data);

while((!Serial1.find("field2\":\"")));
data="";
while(1)
{
if(Serial1.available())
{
int a=Serial1.read();
if(a == '\"')
break;
else
data +=char(a);
}
}
Serial.print("field2=");
Serial.println(data);

while((!Serial1.find("field3\":\"")));
data="";
while(1)
{
if(Serial1.available())
{
int a=Serial1.read();
if(a == '\"')
break;
else
data +=char(a);
}
}
Serial.print("field3=");
Serial.println(data);

// --------------------------
while((!Serial1.find("field4\":\"")));
data="";
while(1)
{
if(Serial1.available())
{
int a=Serial1.read();
if(a == '\"')
break;
else
data +=char(a);
}
}
Serial.print("field4=");
Serial.println(data);
//---------------------

Serial1.flush();

}
void loop()
{
while (Serial1.available()) {
// Serial.write(Serial1.read());
}
while (Serial.available()) {
Serial1.write(Serial.read());
}
}

* Bold letters in Code needs attention and modifications, SSID and password should be replaced with your Wifi SSDI and Wifi Password respectively and API Key with the API Read Key from your channel.

Results:

Code Version: 1.0

Updated on: 16-11-2016

12 Comments on “Getting feeds from ThingSpeak using ESP8266 and Arduino”

Franco says:

January 25, 2018 at 2:42 pm

I tried the program, I can not get any reading. I ask, if possible, help via EMail. Greetings

Reply
1. admin says:
  
  January 26, 2018 at 5:08 pm
  
  Have you changed, and set your wifi’s SSID, Password in the program? and you also need API_KEY for write, also replace that in this program.
  
  Reply
  1. Franco says:
    
    January 28, 2018 at 2:34 am
    
    All OK, now I can read. The problem was an empty field on thingspeak.
    Thanks for the reply. I ask you if you can integrate writing on the same program.
    
    Reply
  2. Franco says:
    
    January 31, 2018 at 1:43 am
    
    I apologize for the trouble. sometimes the reading is perfect. Sometimes he does not read any field. What could be the problem? I ask for advice. Thanks for your cooperation.
    
    Reply
    1. admin says:
      
      January 31, 2018 at 7:54 pm
      
      you need to wait for theoretically 15 seconds before requesting again. This delay is mentioned by ThingSpeak website (http://community.thingspeak.com/tutorials/arduino/using-the-arduino-mkr1000-with-thingspeak/)
      
      Reply
Franco says:

February 1, 2018 at 12:48 am

respected time, above 15 seconds. Arduino mega hardware + esp8266 i Serial1. For my experiments it is sufficient to read this
https://api.thingspeak.com/channels/403507/fields/1/last.txt
Thanks for your cooperation.

Reply
msl says:

April 19, 2018 at 12:26 am

Hello, I got struck with the above code. Can you please help me with the errors? It gives me error with the time2 variable.

ERROR:-

Arduino: 1.8.5 (Windows 10), Board: “Generic ESP8266 Module, 80 MHz, ck, 26 MHz, 40MHz, QIO, 512K (no SPIFFS), 2, v2 Lower Memory, Disabled, None, Only Sketch, 115200”

HelloServer:27: error: stray ‘\226’ in program

if(((millis() – time2)/1000) > 15)

^

HelloServer:40: error: stray ‘\226’ in program

if(((millis() – time2)/1000) > 15)

^

HelloServer:69: error: stray ‘\226’ in program

if(((millis() – time2)/1000) > 15)

^

HelloServer:84: error: stray ‘\226’ in program

if(((millis() – time2)/1000) > 15)

^

C:\Users\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_modified_sketch_483477\HelloServer.ino: In function ‘void setup()’:

HelloServer:27: error: expected ‘)’ before ‘time2’

if(((millis() – time2)/1000) > 15)

^

HelloServer:28: error: expected ‘)’ before ‘;’ token

Serial1.println(“AT+CWJAP=\”ABC\”,\”1234\””);

^

HelloServer:28: error: expected ‘)’ before ‘;’ token

HelloServer:40: error: expected ‘)’ before ‘time2’

if(((millis() – time2)/1000) > 15)

^

HelloServer:41: error: expected ‘)’ before ‘;’ token

Serial1.println(“AT+CWJAP=\”ABC\”,\”1234\””);

^

HelloServer:41: error: expected ‘)’ before ‘;’ token

HelloServer:69: error: expected ‘)’ before ‘time2’

if(((millis() – time2)/1000) > 15)

^

HelloServer:70: error: expected ‘)’ before ‘;’ token

Serial1.println(“AT+CIPSTART=\”TCP\”,\”api.thingspeak.com\”,80″);

^

HelloServer:70: error: expected ‘)’ before ‘;’ token

HelloServer:84: error: expected ‘)’ before ‘time2’

if(((millis() – time2)/1000) > 15)

^

HelloServer:85: error: expected ‘)’ before ‘;’ token

Serial1.println(“AT+CIPSEND=68″);

^

HelloServer:85: error: expected ‘)’ before ‘;’ token

exit status 1
stray ‘\226’ in program

——————————————————————————————————————————–

CODE EXECUTED:-

String data=””;
long time2=0;

void setup()
{
Serial.begin(9600);
Serial1.begin(115200);

Serial1.println(“AT”);
while(!Serial1.find(“OK”));
Serial1.println(“AT+RST”);
while(!Serial1.find(“OK”));

Serial1.println(“AT+CWMODE=1”);
while(!Serial1.find(“OK”));

Serial1.println(“AT+CIFSR”);
while(!Serial1.find(“OK”));

Serial1.println(“AT+CIPMUX=0”);
while(!Serial1.find(“OK”));

Serial1.println(“AT+CWJAP=\”ABC\”,\”1234\””);
time2=millis();
while(!Serial1.find(“WIFI CONNECTED”))
{
if(((millis() – time2)/1000) > 15)
Serial1.println(“AT+CWJAP=\”ABC\”,\”1234\””);

if(Serial.find(“ERROR”))
{
Serial.print(“ERROR… Restarting”);
asm volatile (” jmp 0″);
}
}
Serial.print(“.”);
time2=millis();
while(!Serial1.find(“WIFI GOT IP”))
{
if(((millis() – time2)/1000) > 15)
Serial1.println(“AT+CWJAP=\”ABC\”,\”1234\””);

if(Serial.find(“ERROR”))
{
Serial.print(“ERROR… Restarting”);
asm volatile (” jmp 0″);
}
}
Serial.print(“.”);
// ————————————————–
time2=millis();
while(!Serial1.find(“OK”))
{
if(((millis())/1000) > 15)
Serial1.println(“AT+CWJAP=\”ABC\”,\”1234\””);
if(Serial.find(“ERROR”))
{
Serial.print(“ERROR… Restarting”);
asm volatile (” jmp 0″);
}
}
// —————————————————–
Serial.print(“.”);
Serial1.println(“AT+CIPSTART=\”TCP\”,\”api.thingspeak.com\”,80″);

time2=millis();
while(!Serial1.find(“CONNECT”))
{
if(((millis() – time2)/1000) > 15)
Serial1.println(“AT+CIPSTART=\”TCP\”,\”api.thingspeak.com\”,80″);

if(Serial.find(“ERROR”))
{
Serial.print(“ERROR… Restarting”);
asm volatile (” jmp 0″);
}
}
Serial.print(“.”);

Serial1.println(“AT+CIPSEND=68”);
time2=millis();
while(!Serial1.find(“>”))
{
if(((millis() – time2)/1000) > 15)
Serial1.println(“AT+CIPSEND=68”);
if(Serial.find(“ERROR”))
{
Serial.print(“ERROR… Restarting”);
asm volatile (” jmp 0″);
}
}

Serial1.println(“GET /channels/xxxx/feeds.json?results=2&api_key=xxxxxxxxxxxx”);
time2=millis();
while(!Serial1.find(“description\”:\””))
{
if(((millis() – time2)/1000) > 15)
Serial1.println(“GET /channels/xxxxx/feeds.json?results=2&api_key=xxxxxxxxxxxx”);
}
Serial.println(“.”);
data=””;
time2=millis();
while(1)
{
int a=Serial1.read();
// Serial.print(char(a));
if(a == ‘\”‘)
break;
else if((a>=32) && (a<=127))
data +=char(a);

}
if(data == "")
{
Serial.print("RESET");
delay(100);
asm volatile (" jmp 0");
}
Serial.print("Title: ");
Serial.println(data);
time2=millis();
while((!Serial1.find("feeds\":")));
while((!Serial1.find("field1\":\"")));
data="";
while(1)
{
if(Serial1.available())
{
int a=Serial1.read();
if(a == '\"')
break;
else
data +=char(a);
}
}
Serial.print("field1=");
Serial.println(data);

Serial1.flush();

}
void loop()
{
while (Serial1.available()) {
// Serial.write(Serial1.read());
}
while (Serial.available()) {
Serial1.write(Serial.read());
}
}

Reply
akshay says:

June 30, 2018 at 3:12 pm

itne jyada errors hain isme, like stray errors, bracket errors. I got nuts in uploading this code.

Reply
1. admin says:
  
  August 19, 2018 at 6:09 pm
  
  Errors may be due to Unicode characters, if you re-write the Unicode characters like (“, ‘) again by yourself, then errors will decrease. The code is working fine.
  
  Reply
cmg says:

September 7, 2020 at 11:47 pm

Hey i’m new to arduino programming and i have an error like this

Serial
exit status 1
‘Serial1’ was not declared in this scope

I use arduino uno and esp8266 01
pls help

Reply
1. admin says:
  
  September 8, 2020 at 12:33 am
  
  Arduino Uno has only one serial port, you can only use `Serial` not `Serial1`.
  
  Reply
2. mustafa says:
  
  April 6, 2021 at 5:37 am
  
  any error you faced with uno
  i using uno and ESP8266-1S and I don’t have any error but it’s not working good
  
  Reply