How to Send and Receive WhatsApp Messages From ESP8266 - Arduino IDE

I'll explain how can you send yourself WhatsApp messages in a very easy way from your IoT devices. In this case from ESP8266 - Wemos D1 Mini - Using the Arduino IDE

Supplies

. Wemos D1 mini

. whatabot.io opened

. Arduino IDE

. Wifi access

Add ESP8266 Boards in Your IDE

Add this: http://arduino.esp8266.com/stable/package_esp8266com_index.json in your additional boards manager URL list in your Arduino IDE.

Steps:

1- Go to File

2- Click on Preferences

3- Add the URL in Aditional Boards Manager URLs field

Download ESP8266 Boards

Then go to:

Tools/Board/Boards Manager

Search for esp8266 and click "Install"

Select the Board You Have

In this case, we will select "LOLIN(WEMOS) D1 R2 & mini"

Enter to Whatabot.io and Follow It's Steps

You have to:

Go to https://whatabot.io/get-started

Add the number posted there in your contacts

Send the following whatsapp to this number: I allow whatabot to send me messages

Copy and save the apikeywhatabot sent you

Install the Library From the GitHub Repository

Download the soruce code.zip from https://github.com/WhatabotAPI/WhatabotAPIClient/releases/tag/1.0

Add the .ZIP library like this:

reference: https://docs.arduino.cc/software/ide-v1/tutorials/installing-libraries/#importing-a-zip-library

Install the WiFi Manager Library

Go to: Tools/Manage Libraries

Search for the library named WiFiManager (by tzapu)

Install it

Install ArduinoJson Library

Go to: Tools/Manage Libraries

Search for the library named ArduinoJson (by Benoit)

Install it

Select the Example Called WhatabotWebsocketClient

Go to File/Examples/Whatabot API Client Library/WhatabotWebsocketClient

Replace the Variables With Your Data

Variables needed:

1 - WHATABOT_CHAT_ID = "YOUR_PHONE_NUMBER"; //Without +

2 - WHATABOT_API_KEY = "YOUR_WHATABOT_API_KEY";

Example:

1 - YOUR_PHONE = "5490000000000";

2 - YOUR_APIKEY = "38rhjd-123d-432d"

Upload Your Code and Start Receiving and Sending Whatsapp Messages

Note that the first time you execute this, the library WiFiManager will generate a wifi network called "WhatabotAPI"

. You have to connect to it with your mobile or pc (Password: whatabotapi)

. With the web browser, enter to 192.168.4.1

. Press the button "Configure WiFi"

. Follow the steps to connect the arduino to your router

That's all folks!

Your Board Is Not Recognized?

If you have a CH340G based board, follow the instructions posted here:

https://www.instructables.com/Instalar-driver-para-CH340G/