🫧 Pond Aeration

Install the firmware on your ESP32

Ready in a few minutes — straight from your browser, no extra software.

Connect your ESP over USB and press the button. A dialog opens where you pick the port — everything else is automatic.

Your browser cannot flash. Please use Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge on a computer (not a phone, not Safari/Firefox). Please open this page over https:// so the browser may access the USB port.

Works in Chrome/Edge on a desktop or laptop. Version Firmware 1.7.10

What you need

  1. The controller: a Waveshare ESP32-S3-POE-ETH-8DI-8RO (8 relays, 8 inputs, LAN/PoE). This is the recommended reference hardware.
  2. A USB-C data cable — important: a data cable, not a charge-only cable. You use it to connect the ESP to the computer.
  3. Chrome or Edge on a computer (Windows, macOS, Linux). Phone browsers, Safari and Firefox cannot flash (yet).
  4. A network cable for later operation (the ESP connects to your network over LAN/PoE).

1Flash the firmware

  1. Plug in the ESP: connect the ESP to your computer with the USB-C cable.
  2. Press the button: click “Install firmware” above.
  3. Pick the port: a small dialog with a list appears. Choose your ESP (often “USB Serial”, “CP210x” or “CH340”) and click Connect.
  4. Install: confirm with Install. It takes about 1–2 minutes — don’t unplug anything. The ESP reboots on its own when done.
✔ DoneThe ESP now runs the pond-aeration firmware. Continue on the network.

2Open the device

Now connect the ESP to your network with a network cable (PoE or a separate power supply). It gets an IP address automatically (DHCP).

  1. Find the IP address: look in your router under connected devices for “pond-aeration”. (If still connected over USB, the serial output prints the IP right after boot.)
  2. Open it in a browser: type the IP address into a browser (e.g. http://192.168.1.50). The device’s control interface opens.
  3. The interface has Home (relays/sensors), Schedule, Settings, Licence, Update, Info and Log.
📶 No network cable at the pond?Then set the device up over WiFi: if neither LAN nor WiFi comes up after boot, the ESP opens its own WiFi “pond-aeration-setup” (password “pondsetup”) after ~25 s. Connect your phone to it (a phone is fine for configuring — this isn't flashing) — the config page usually opens by itself (otherwise http://192.168.4.1/). Under Settings → WiFi enter your own WiFi and save; the device is then reachable on your network. Important: the supplied antenna must be attached — WiFi does not work without it.

3Trial & activation

The firmware is donationware: a new device runs fully for 30 days (tier pro) — try everything. After that it falls back to free until you enter an activation key.

🛟 Safety always runsFailsafe, emergency valve, dry-run protection and the hand buttons are active in every tier — even unlicensed. Your pond is never left unprotected.
free — safety + hand buttons + monitoring (read the status in ioBroker).
community — adds relay control via ioBroker and the device interface, plus custom channel/button names on the web UI.
pro — adds the autonomous schedule (keeps running on its own without ioBroker).

How to get an activation key:

  1. On the device open the Licence page (/license) and read your device code (e.g. QVGJ-HFHA-V777).
  2. Send that device code together with your supporter contribution to license.pond-aeration@drcomp.de.
  3. You receive an activation key by e-mail. Paste it on the Licence page and click Activate — done, permanently.

The device code is bound to this exact device. If the hardware fails, you get a new code for the replacement.

⚠ Important: after re-flashing, re-enter your activation key Your activation key is stored on the ESP. Re-flashing the firmware through this installer page wipes that storage — the entered key is gone afterwards and the device starts a fresh 30-day trial.

No problem, though: your device code stays exactly the same (it is derived from the hardware, not from storage), so your existing activation key still works — just open the Licence page on the device and paste the same key again. You do not need a new key and don’t have to ask again. So keep the key (from the e-mail) somewhere safe.
✔ Updates keep your activation Only this installer resets the activation. A normal firmware update via the device’s “Update” page (the “Install update online” button or a file upload) leaves the stored key and all settings untouched. So for later updates, prefer the Update page over the installer.

4Connect to ioBroker (optional)

For automation, schedules and monitoring, install the ioBroker adapter automatic-pond-aeration, choose the backend “ESP32 (direct)” and enter the device’s IP. The adapter shows the licence status and takes over control (from tier community upwards).

Full instructions: see the complete manual (linked below).

Trouble?

No port / no ESP in the selection dialog

Usually it’s the cable: many USB cables only charge and carry no data — use a real data cable. Also try a different USB port. If the USB driver is missing, install the right one (CP210x by Silicon Labs or CH340) and reload the page.

Flashing starts but then fails/stalls

Put the ESP into download mode and retry: hold BOOT, tap RESET, release BOOT — then click “Install firmware” again. Also worth trying: a different data cable/USB port, closing any serial monitor in other apps, and reloading the browser tab. After a successful flash the S3’s USB port briefly disappears and re-appears — that’s normal.

The button is greyed out or says “not supported”

Web flashing only works in Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge on a computer. Phone browsers, Safari and Firefox do not support the required USB interface.

It says “not allowed” / no access to the USB port

The page must be opened over https:// (this one is). Don’t open it as a local file or over an insecure connection.

I can’t find the device’s IP address

Make sure the network cable is plugged in and the ESP has power (PoE or a power supply). Look in your router under “connected devices” for the name pond-aeration. Alternatively the serial output prints the IP right after boot.

My activation is gone after (re-)flashing

That’s expected: the installer overwrites the whole storage, which includes the activation key. But your device code is unchanged (it comes from the hardware), so the same activation key still works — open the Licence page on the device and paste it again. No new key needed. Tip: for updates use the device’s Update page (the “Install update online” button) — it keeps your activation.

The router shows an old name (e.g. “espressif”) instead of “pond-aeration”

The ESP announces its hostname over DHCP when it joins. Many routers remember the first name they saw for a MAC address and keep showing it even after the device sends a new one. Fix it by removing the old device entry / resetting the DHCP lease on the router (or briefly rebooting the router), then reconnect the ESP. On the device itself the correct name is always shown under Info. Firmware ≥ 1.2.1 also sets the name earlier during start-up so it reliably goes out in the first DHCP request.