/MetarMapLed-ESP32

Platformio based MetarMap LED for ESP32

Primary LanguageC++

ESP_METAR - ESP-32 Based Aviation Weather Map

Updates

10/25/2023 - Initial deployment, this includes a recent change to the AviationWeather.gov site which 403'd previous versions

Core harware

  • ESP-32 - This branch is intended to be a minimum MetarMap implimentation running on any ESP-32 platform. Typical implimentation is using a feather clone.

  • Make it yours

    • Update your network SSID & Password in the wifi_config.h file
    • Update the list of airports you wish to monitor

  • Firmware build

    • Clone this repository
    • Build using Platformio, it should pull all required dependencies
    • Download to your ESP-32 device using platformio tools

  • WS2812B-F5 LEDs - One per airport/weather station.
    These are RGB "neo pixels" in a standard 5mm LED form factor. They have four pins: data-in, data-out, GND, and Vcc. There appear to be two different pinouts available. This project uses the "WorldSemi" version:

    • P1: DOUT (short pin, next to flat edge)
    • P2: VCC (longest pin)
    • P3: GND (medium length pin)
    • P4: DIN (short pin)

    The other version's pinout has two long pins and two short pins. If you have access to these, they can be used, but not with the LED PCBs

    I purchased LEDs from this eBay listing and from Aliexpress

Arts and Crafts

  • Airport poster - The original source material for my poster was from the official FAA VFR Raster Charts page. This site has high-resolution PDFs available of all of the US raster charts. Other countries will likely have the same resources available, but I don't have links to those, yet.

    I had my map printed on 1/4" foam-core posterboard at a local print shop. The printing was about $20.00. They will also trim the poster down to size, or you can print registration marks and cut it yourself.

  • Picture Frame - I used a 16x20 shadow box frame from Michael's craft store. Having the depth is nice, because it allows the frame to sit flush against the wall when hung.

  • Power supply - 2A or larger USB power supply is required. The CPU board has a USB-C connector for power input. You can also run it on a power-bank-type battery tucked into the frame, but LEDs are pretty power hungry, and the software doesn't currently use any of the low-power features of the ESP-32. My prototype, with about 42 airports/LEDs uses about 500ma-600ma when running at full brightness.

  • Wire - One of the most tedious parts of building the map is wiring the LEDs (keep that in mind when you decide to put every podunk airport within 100 miles on your map!). You need four-conductor wire for the LEDs, I used this spool of wire from Amazon. In hindsight, I wish that I had used 24 gauge wire instead of 22, because this wire was pretty stiff in short lengths for close-together airports.

  • LED Clips - These add a nice finished look to the LEDs, holding them securely in the foam core board. I used these BIVAR C-105-SR that I purchased from Mouser.

    You could also use hot glue, but it won't be as "pretty".

Recomennded Tools

These tools are absolutely required:

  • Soldering Iron - Fine tip. You have one of these, right?
  • Wire Cutters - Any kind will do.
  • X-Acto Knife - The "Kleenex of Cutters" -- any sharp hobby knife will do. If you need to cut the foam core, make sure that you have a bunch of extra blades, because foam core dulls blades quickly!

These tools aren't strictly necessary, but made assembly MUCH easier: