Setting Up Relay Communication in the Desktop App

Expert Topic for experienced builders.

Big idea

Connect each relay-enabled device over USB, configure one driver as the bridge, then assign each peer driver to that bridge.

This workflow applies to compatible custom hardware and first-party Bottango control boards.

Note

RS485 relay communication is still experimental and the app workflow is not yet fully polished. The current app uses options named Create a Wireless Bridge and Connect to Wireless Bridge even when the firmware is configured to communicate over RS485. The firmware modules determine whether the devices use ESP-NOW or RS485.

Note

The screenshots use Bottango Nova, Solar, and Impulse boards. Custom devices running compatible Bottango firmware use the same driver and connection-type workflow, but firmware upload, power, status indicators, and recovery behavior depend on your hardware.

Prepare Every Device

Before creating the relay network:

• Enable relay communication in the firmware on every device.
• Create one Bottango hardware driver for each physical device.
• Connect each driver directly over USB and confirm that it can register and control its assigned effectors.

Firmware updates still need a direct USB connection to each device, so make sure each device remains easy to connect and reflash when needed.

For RS485, it is best to power down the devices and finish the bus wiring and resistor termination before configuring the software relationships. For ESP-NOW, keep the devices near each other during initial setup so that distance and interference are less likely to complicate setup.

Configure the Bridge

1. Connect the device that will be the bridge directly to the computer over USB.

2. Select its hardware driver in Bottango and press Change Connection Type.

3. Select Create a Wireless Bridge.

   

4. Allow Bottango to send the configuration and restart the device. After reconnecting, the bridge appears as an available connection in the hardware ports list.

   

Configure the Peers

Keep the bridge connected and available while configuring each peer.

1. Connect a peer directly to the computer over USB and select its hardware driver.

2. Press Change Connection Type, then select Connect to Wireless Bridge.

3. Press Select Wireless Bridge and choose the bridge from the hardware ports list.

4. Allow Bottango to save the assignment and restart the peer.

5. Repeat for every peer in the network.

Once configured, the peer drivers appear through the bridge rather than through individual serial ports:

Return a Peer to USB Control

A peer must be returned to direct USB control for firmware updates or changes that cannot be made through the bridge.

1. Connect the peer directly to the computer over USB.

2. Select its hardware driver and press Change Connection Type.

3. Select USB Connection, then select the correct serial port if prompted.

4. Confirm that the device reconnects directly and no longer waits for its bridge.

If you cannot restore the USB connection through the app, disable RELAY_SUPPORTED in BottangoArduinoModules.h and reupload the firmware. Without relay support enabled, the device will return to using a direct USB connection.

First-party Bottango boards also provide a documented factory reset.

Once relay communication is set up, you can optionally turn the bridge into a Standalone Show Controller.