Terminal Widget losing connection

[CraigDubya]

Hi,
I’m trying to understand why my code seems to continuously disconnect and reconnect to my network. If I run the terminal widget example using the same network settings I get more stability (although I still get Heartbeat timeout).

[51435] Heartbeat timeout
[56327] Connecting to blynk-cloud.com:8442
[56631] Ready (ping: 119ms).
on
[101517] Connecting to blynk-cloud.com:8442
[101826] Ready (ping: 119ms).
All LEDs switched ON
[127951] Heartbeat timeout
[132832] Connecting to blynk-cloud.com:8442
[133153] Ready (ping: 120ms).
off
[138155] Connecting to blynk-cloud.com:8442
[138465] Ready (ping: 118ms).
All LEDs switched OFF
[154465] Heartbeat timeout
[157468] Connecting to blynk-cloud.com:8442
[157778] Ready (ping: 118ms).

Although the code is kind of working I am frustrated at how many times I need to send the terminal commands for them to work.

Is my code structured correctly to achieve the proper result?

#define BLYNK_PRINT Serial

#include <SPI.h>
#include <Ethernet.h>
#include <BlynkSimpleEthernet.h>

#include <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h>

#define PIN 3
#define NUMPIXELS 30

int R;
int G;
int B;

int SPEED = 50;

boolean aOn = false;
boolean bOn = false;
boolean cOn = false;
boolean dOn = false;
boolean eOn = false;
boolean fOn = false;
boolean gOn = false;
boolean allOn = false;

String inString = "";

Adafruit_NeoPixel strip = Adafruit_NeoPixel(NUMPIXELS, PIN, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800);

WidgetTerminal terminal(V1);

char auth[] = "YourAuthToken";

// Mac address should be different for each device in your LAN
byte arduino_mac[] = { 0xDE, 0xEF, 0xCA, 0xEE, 0xEE, 0xED };
IPAddress arduino_ip ( 192,   168,   0,  21);
IPAddress dns_ip     (  192,   168,   0,   1);
IPAddress gateway_ip ( 192,   168,   0,   1);
IPAddress subnet_mask(255, 255, 255,   0);

void setup()
{
  Serial.begin(9600);
  Blynk.begin(auth, "blynk-cloud.com", 8442, arduino_ip, dns_ip, gateway_ip, subnet_mask, arduino_mac);

  strip.begin();
  strip.show(); // Initialize all pixels to 'off'

  while (Blynk.connect() == false) {
    // Wait until connected
  }

  Serial.println("Welcome to your computer lights");
  Serial.println("For preset colors select 1-8");
  Serial.println("Switch ON or OFF using 'on' or 'off' commands");
  Serial.println("'rainbow' 'theater' 'theaterrainbow' also available");

  terminal.println("Welcome to your computer lights");
  terminal.println("For preset colors select 1-8");
  terminal.println("Switch ON or OFF using 'on' or 'off' commands");
  terminal.println("'rainbow' 'theater' 'theaterrainbow' also available");
  terminal.flush();
}

BLYNK_WRITE(V1) 
{
  String inString = param.asStr();
  Serial.println(inString);

  if (Blynk.connect() == false)
  {
    terminal.println("Connection Lost");
  }
  
  if (inString == "1")
  {
    R = 255;
    G = 0;
    B = 0;
    Serial.println("Color set to Red");
    terminal.println("Color set to Red");
    terminal.flush();
  }

  if (inString == "2")
  {
    R = 255;
    G = 0;
    B = 132;
    Serial.println("Color set to Pink");
    terminal.println("Color set to Pink");
    terminal.flush();
  }

  if (inString == "3")
  {
    R = 0;
    G = 0;
    B = 255;
    Serial.println("Color set to Blue");
    terminal.println("Color set to Blue");
    terminal.flush();
  }

  if (inString == "4")
  {
    R = 0;
    G = 255;
    B = 255;
    Serial.println("Color set to Turquoise");
    terminal.println("Color set to Turquoise");
    terminal.flush();
  }

  if (inString == "5")
  {
    R = 0;
    G = 255;
    B = 0;
    Serial.println("Color set to Green");
    terminal.println("Color set to Green");
    terminal.flush();
  }

  if (inString == "6")
  {
    R = 255;
    G = 150;
    B = 0;
    Serial.println("Color set to Yellow");
    terminal.println("Color set to Yellow");
    terminal.flush();
  }

  if (inString == "7")
  {
    R = 255;
    G = 70;
    B = 0;
    Serial.println("Color set to Orange");
    terminal.println("Color set to Orange");
    terminal.flush();
  }

  if (inString == "8")
  {
    R = 255;
    G = 255;
    B = 255;
    Serial.println("Color set to White");
    terminal.println("Color set to White");
    terminal.flush();
  }

  if (inString == "off")
  {
    R = 0;
    G = 0;
    B = 0;
    backwardsColorWipe(strip.Color(R, G, B), SPEED);
    Serial.println("All LEDs switched OFF");
    terminal.println("All LEDs switched OFF");
    terminal.flush();
  }

  if (inString == "on")
  {
    if (R == 0 && G == 0 && B == 0)
    {
      R = 255;
      G = 255;
      B = 255;
    }
    colorWipe(strip.Color(R, G, B), SPEED);
    Serial.println("All LEDs switched ON");
    terminal.println("All LEDs switched ON");
    terminal.flush();
  }

  if (inString == "rainbow")
  {
    Serial.println("Rainbow selected");
    terminal.println("Rainbow selected");
    terminal.flush();
    rainbow(SPEED);
  }

  if (inString == "theater")
  {
    Serial.println("Theater Chase selected");
    terminal.println("Theater Chase selected");
    terminal.flush();
    theaterChase(strip.Color(R, G, B), SPEED);
  }

  if (inString == "theaterrainbow")
  {
    Serial.println("Theater Chase Rainbow Selected");
    terminal.println("Theater Chase Rainbow Selected");
    terminal.flush();
    theaterChaseRainbow(SPEED);
  }

  if (inString == "refresh")
  {
    refreshMenu();
  }

  if (inString == "sega")
  {
    if (aOn)
    {
      Serial.println("Segment A switched OFF");
      terminal.println("Segment A switched OFF");
      terminal.flush();
    }
    else {
      Serial.println("Segment A switched ON");
      terminal.println("Segment A switched ON");
      terminal.flush();
    }
    
    segmentAOn(R, G, B);
  }

  if (inString == "segb")
  {
    if (bOn)
    {
      Serial.println("Segment B switched OFF");
      terminal.println("Segment B switched OFF");
      terminal.flush();
    }
    else {
      Serial.println("Segment B switched ON");
      terminal.println("Segment B switched ON");
      terminal.flush();
    }
    segmentBOn(R, G, B);
  }

  if (inString == "segc")
  {
    if (cOn)
    {
      Serial.println("Segment C switched OFF");
      terminal.println("Segment C switched OFF");
      terminal.flush();
    }
    else {
      Serial.println("Segment C switched ON");
      terminal.println("Segment C switched ON");
      terminal.flush();
    }
    segmentCOn(R, G, B);
  }

  if (inString == "segd")
  {
    if (dOn)
    {
      Serial.println("Segment D switched OFF");
      terminal.println("Segment D switched OFF");
      terminal.flush();
    }
    else {
      Serial.println("Segment D switched ON");
      terminal.println("Segment D switched ON");
      terminal.flush();
    }
    segmentDOn(R, G, B);
  }

  if (inString == "sege")
  {
    if (eOn)
    {
      Serial.println("Segment E switched OFF");
      terminal.println("Segment E switched OFF");
      terminal.flush();
    }
    else {
      Serial.println("Segment E switched ON");
      terminal.println("Segment E switched ON");
      terminal.flush();
    }
    segmentEOn(R, G, B);
  }

  if (inString == "segf")
  {
    if (aOn)
    {
      Serial.println("Segment F switched OFF");
      terminal.println("Segment F switched OFF");
      terminal.flush();
    }
    else {
      Serial.println("Segment F switched ON");
      terminal.println("Segment F switched ON");
      terminal.flush();
    }
    segmentFOn(R, G, B);
  }

  if (inString == "segg")
  {
    if (gOn)
    {
      Serial.println("Segment G switched OFF");
      terminal.println("Segment G switched OFF");
      terminal.flush();
    }
    else {
      Serial.println("Segment G switched ON");
      terminal.println("Segment G switched ON");
      terminal.flush();
    }
    segmentGOn(R, G, B);
  }

  if (inString == "toggle")
  {
    if (allOn)
    {
      Serial.println("All LEDs switched OFF");
      terminal.println("All LEDs switched OFF");
      terminal.flush();
    }
    else {
      Serial.println("All LEDs switched ON");
      terminal.println("All LEDs switched ON");
      terminal.flush();
    }
    switchAll(R, G, B);
  }

  if (aOn == true && bOn == true && cOn == true && dOn == true && eOn == true && fOn == true && gOn == true) {
    allOn = true;
  }
  terminal.flush();
  inString = "";
  
}

void loop()
{
  Blynk.run();
}

void segmentAOn(int r, int g, int b) {
  if (aOn == false) {
    for(int i=0; i<4; i++) {
      strip.setPixelColor(i, strip.Color(r, g, b));
      strip.show();
      aOn = true;
      allOn = false;
    }
  }else{
    for(int i=0; i<4; i++) {
      strip.setPixelColor(i, strip.Color(0, 0, 0));
      strip.show();
      aOn = false;
      allOn = false;
    }
  }
}

void segmentBOn(int r, int g, int b) {
  if (bOn == false) {
    for(int i=4; i<8; i++) {
      strip.setPixelColor(i, strip.Color(r, g, b));
      strip.show();
      bOn = true;
      allOn = false;
    }
  }else{
    for(int i=4; i<8; i++) {
      strip.setPixelColor(i, strip.Color(0, 0, 0));
      strip.show();
      bOn = false;
      allOn = false;
    }
  }
}

void segmentCOn(int r, int g, int b) {
  if (cOn == false) {
    for(int i=8; i<12; i++) {
      strip.setPixelColor(i, strip.Color(r, g, b));
      strip.show();
      cOn = true;
      allOn = false;
    }
  }else{
    for(int i=8; i<12; i++) {
      strip.setPixelColor(i, strip.Color(0, 0, 0));
      strip.show();
      cOn = false;
      allOn = false;
    }
  }
}

void segmentDOn(int r, int g, int b) {
  if (dOn == false) {
    for(int i=12; i<18; i++) {
      strip.setPixelColor(i, strip.Color(r, g, b));
      strip.show();
      dOn = true;
      allOn = false;
    }
  }else{
    for(int i=12; i<18; i++) {
      strip.setPixelColor(i, strip.Color(0, 0, 0));
      strip.show();
      dOn = false;
      allOn = false;
    }
  }
}

void segmentEOn(int r, int g, int b) {
  if (eOn == false) {
    for(int i=18; i<22; i++) {
      strip.setPixelColor(i, strip.Color(r, g, b));
      strip.show();
      eOn = true;
      allOn = false;
    }
  }else{
    for(int i=18; i<22; i++) {
      strip.setPixelColor(i, strip.Color(0, 0, 0));
      strip.show();
      eOn = false;
      allOn = false;
    }
  }
}

void segmentFOn(int r, int g, int b) {
  if (fOn == false) {
    for(int i=22; i<26; i++) {
      strip.setPixelColor(i, strip.Color(r, g, b));
      strip.show();
      fOn = true;
      allOn = false;
    }
  }else{
    for(int i=22; i<26; i++) {
      strip.setPixelColor(i, strip.Color(0, 0, 0));
      strip.show();
      fOn = false;
      allOn = false;
    }
  }
}

void segmentGOn(int r, int g, int b) {
  if (gOn == false) {
    for(int i=26; i<30; i++) {
      strip.setPixelColor(i, strip.Color(r, g, b));
      strip.show();
      gOn = true;
      allOn = false;
    }
  }else{
    for(int i=26; i<30; i++) {
      strip.setPixelColor(i, strip.Color(0, 0, 0));
      strip.show();
      gOn = false;
      allOn = false;
    }
  }
}

void switchAll(int r, int g, int b) {
  if (allOn == false) {
    for(int i=0; i<30; i++) {
      strip.setPixelColor(i, strip.Color(r, g, b));
      strip.show();
      allOn = true;
      aOn = true;
      bOn = true;
      cOn = true;
      dOn = true;
      eOn = true;
      fOn = true;
      gOn = true;
    }
  }else{
    for(int i=0; i<30; i++) {
      strip.setPixelColor(i, strip.Color(0, 0, 0));
      strip.show();
      allOn = false;
      aOn = false;
      bOn = false;
      cOn = false;
      dOn = false;
      eOn = false;
      fOn = false;
      gOn = false;
    }
  }
}

void colorWipe(uint32_t c, uint16_t wait) {
  for(uint16_t i=0; i<strip.numPixels(); i++) {
    if (Serial.available() == 0) {
      strip.setPixelColor(i, c);
      strip.show();
      delay(wait);
    }
  }
  allOn = true;
}

void backwardsColorWipe(uint32_t c, uint16_t wait) {
  for(uint16_t i=1 + (strip.numPixels()); i>0; i--) {
    if (Serial.available() == 0) {
      strip.setPixelColor(i-1, c);
      strip.show();
      delay(wait);
    }
  }
  allOn = true;
}

void rainbow(uint8_t wait) {
  uint16_t i, j;

  for(j=0; j<256; j++) {
    if (Serial.available() == 0) {
    for(i=0; i<strip.numPixels(); i++) {
      if (Serial.available() == 0) {
      strip.setPixelColor(i, Wheel((i+j) & 255));
      }
    }
    strip.show();
    delay(wait);
    }
  }
  allOn = true;
}

void theaterChase(uint32_t c, uint8_t wait) {
  for (int j=0; j<10; j++) {  //do 10 cycles of chasing
    if (Serial.available() == 0) {
    for (int q=0; q < 3; q++) {
      for (int i=0; i < strip.numPixels(); i=i+3) {
        if (Serial.available() == 0) {
        strip.setPixelColor(i+q, c);    //turn every third pixel on
        }
      }
      strip.show();
     
      delay(wait);
     
      for (int i=0; i < strip.numPixels(); i=i+3) {
        if (Serial.available() == 0) {
        strip.setPixelColor(i+q, 0);        //turn every third pixel off
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
  allOn = true;
}

void theaterChaseRainbow(uint8_t wait) {
  for (int j=0; j < 256; j++) {     // cycle all 256 colors in the wheel
    if (Serial.available() == 0) {
    for (int q=0; q < 3; q++) {
        for (int i=0; i < strip.numPixels(); i=i+3) {
          if (Serial.available() == 0) {
          strip.setPixelColor(i+q, Wheel( (i+j) % 255));    //turn every third pixel on
          }
        }
        strip.show();
       
        delay(wait);
       
        for (int i=0; i < strip.numPixels(); i=i+3) {
          if (Serial.available() == 0) {
          strip.setPixelColor(i+q, 0);        //turn every third pixel off
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
  allOn = true;
}

void refreshMenu()
{
  Serial.println("Welcome to your computer lights");
  Serial.println("For preset colors select 1-8");
  Serial.println("Switch ON or OFF using 'on' or 'off' commands");
  Serial.println("'rainbow' 'theater' 'theaterrainbow' also available");

  terminal.println("Welcome to your computer lights");
  terminal.println("For preset colors select 1-8");
  terminal.println("Switch ON or OFF using 'on' or 'off' commands");
  terminal.println("'rainbow' 'theater' 'theaterrainbow' also available");
  terminal.flush();
}

// Input a value 0 to 255 to get a color value.
// The colours are a transition r - g - b - back to r.
uint32_t Wheel(byte WheelPos) {
  WheelPos = 255 - WheelPos;
  if(WheelPos < 85) {
   return strip.Color(255 - WheelPos * 3, 0, WheelPos * 3);
  } else if(WheelPos < 170) {
    WheelPos -= 85;
   return strip.Color(0, WheelPos * 3, 255 - WheelPos * 3);
  } else {
   WheelPos -= 170;
   return strip.Color(WheelPos * 3, 255 - WheelPos * 3, 0);
  }
}

[Dmitriy]

Hello. Does this timeout happen when you working with Blynk or when you do nothing?

[conkerkh]

This is related to effects used on WS2812 you need to have Blynk.run() inside for loops otherwise it takes a lot of time to cycle through the function and Arduino looses connectivity. You can have a look at my code that I posted a while ago. It’s not super pretty solution to put Blynk.run() inside all those loops but it is bulletproof in terms of connectivity and stable for over 30 days.

ESP8266 + WS2812B = cool desk lamp

I had 2m leftover of ws2812b from my drones and I decide to make use of it as kinda cool led lighting for my desk. Anyway everything works, you can select few effects that come with adafruit ws2812b neopixel lib. Naming convention might be slightly messy in few places however project was finished initially in 1hour and wasn’t meant to be released elsewhere, therefore it wasn’t my concern. There might be few bugs here and there therefore report them, however in general code works. You can connect…

works 100% with two ESPs on the same token

[CraigDubya]

Thank you,
This looks like the solution, I will have a go at modifying my code (first by simplifying it down to one function and adding the Blynk.run() function inside it as you have).

[vshymanskyy]

@CraigDubya

if (Blynk.connect() == false)
{
terminal.println(“Connection Lost”);
}

this looks very wrong. Probably you mean connected()…