publish_wait to publish_time

lib/MyESP/MyESP.cpp

@@ -8,7 +8,9 @@
 
 #include "MyESP.h"
 
+#ifdef CRASH
 EEPROM_Rotate EEPROMr;
+#endif
 
 union system_rtcmem_t {
     struct {
@@ -144,7 +146,7 @@ bool MyESP::getHeartbeat() {
 }
 
 // init heap ram
-uint32_t MyESP::getInitialFreeHeap() {
+uint32_t MyESP::_getInitialFreeHeap() {
     static uint32_t _heap = 0;
 
     if (0 == _heap) {
@@ -154,8 +156,10 @@ uint32_t MyESP::getInitialFreeHeap() {
     return _heap;
 }
 
-uint32_t MyESP::getUsedHeap() {
+// used heap mem
-    return getInitialFreeHeap() - ESP.getFreeHeap();
+// note calls to getFreeHeap sometimes causes some ESPs to crash
+uint32_t MyESP::_getUsedHeap() {
+    return _getInitialFreeHeap() - ESP.getFreeHeap();
 }
 
 // called when WiFi is connected, and used to start OTA, MQTT
@@ -198,7 +202,7 @@ void MyESP::_wifiCallback(justwifi_messages_t code, char * parameter) {
             _wifi_callback();
         }
 
-        jw.enableAPFallback(false); // Disable AP mode after initial connect was succesfull. Thanks @JewelZB
+        jw.enableAPFallback(false); // Disable AP mode after initial connect was successful
     }
 
     if (code == MESSAGE_ACCESSPOINT_CREATED) {
@@ -237,6 +241,66 @@ void MyESP::_wifiCallback(justwifi_messages_t code, char * parameter) {
         myDebug_P(PSTR("[WIFI] Disconnected"));
         _wifi_connected = false;
     }
+
+    if (code == MESSAGE_SCANNING) {
+        myDebug_P(PSTR("[WIFI] Scanning\n"));
+    }
+
+    if (code == MESSAGE_SCAN_FAILED) {
+        myDebug_P(PSTR("[WIFI] Scan failed\n"));
+    }
+
+    if (code == MESSAGE_NO_NETWORKS) {
+        myDebug_P(PSTR("[WIFI] No networks found\n"));
+    }
+
+    if (code == MESSAGE_NO_KNOWN_NETWORKS) {
+        myDebug_P(PSTR("[WIFI] No known networks found\n"));
+    }
+
+    if (code == MESSAGE_FOUND_NETWORK) {
+        myDebug_P(PSTR("[WIFI] %s\n"), parameter);
+    }
+
+    if (code == MESSAGE_CONNECT_WAITING) {
+        // too much noise
+    }
+
+    if (code == MESSAGE_ACCESSPOINT_CREATING) {
+        myDebug_P(PSTR("[WIFI] Creating access point\n"));
+    }
+
+    if (code == MESSAGE_ACCESSPOINT_FAILED) {
+        myDebug_P(PSTR("[WIFI] Could not create access point\n"));
+    }
+
+    if (code == MESSAGE_ACCESSPOINT_DESTROYED) {
+        myDebug_P(PSTR("[WIFI] Access point destroyed\n"));
+    }
+
+    if (code == MESSAGE_WPS_START) {
+        myDebug_P(PSTR("[WIFI] WPS started\n"));
+    }
+
+    if (code == MESSAGE_WPS_SUCCESS) {
+        myDebug_P(PSTR("[WIFI] WPS succeeded!\n"));
+    }
+
+    if (code == MESSAGE_WPS_ERROR) {
+        myDebug_P(PSTR("[WIFI] WPS failed\n"));
+    }
+
+    if (code == MESSAGE_SMARTCONFIG_START) {
+        myDebug_P(PSTR("[WIFI] Smart Config started\n"));
+    }
+
+    if (code == MESSAGE_SMARTCONFIG_SUCCESS) {
+        myDebug_P(PSTR("[WIFI] Smart Config succeeded!\n"));
+    }
+
+    if (code == MESSAGE_SMARTCONFIG_ERROR) {
+        myDebug_P(PSTR("[WIFI] Smart Config failed\n"));
+    }
 }
 
 // return true if in WiFi AP mode
@@ -395,6 +459,7 @@ void MyESP::setOTA(ota_callback_f OTACallback_pre, ota_callback_f OTACallback_po
 void MyESP::_OTACallback() {
     myDebug_P(PSTR("[OTA] Start"));
 
+#ifdef CRASH
     // If we are not specifically reserving the sectors we are using as
     // EEPROM in the memory layout then any OTA upgrade will overwrite
     // all but the last one.
@@ -407,6 +472,7 @@ void MyESP::_OTACallback() {
     // See onError callback below.
     EEPROMr.rotate(false);
     EEPROMr.commit();
+#endif
 
     if (_ota_pre_callback) {
         (_ota_pre_callback)(); // call custom function
@@ -449,8 +515,10 @@ void MyESP::_ota_setup() {
         else if (error == OTA_END_ERROR)
             myDebug_P(PSTR("[OTA] End Failed"));
 
-        // There's been an error, reenable rotation
+#ifdef CRASH
+        // There's been an error, reenable eeprom rotation
         EEPROMr.rotate(true);
+#endif
     });
 }
 
@@ -464,8 +532,10 @@ void MyESP::setBoottime(const char * boottime) {
 
 // eeprom
 void MyESP::_eeprom_setup() {
+#ifdef CRASH
     EEPROMr.size(4);
     EEPROMr.begin(SPI_FLASH_SEC_SIZE);
+#endif
 }
 
 // Set callback of sketch function to process project messages
@@ -480,6 +550,7 @@ void MyESP::_telnetConnected() {
     myDebug_P(PSTR("[TELNET] Telnet connection established"));
     _consoleShowHelp(); // Show the initial message
 
+#ifdef CRASH
     // show crash dump if just restarted after a fatal crash
     uint32_t crash_time;
     EEPROMr.get(SAVE_CRASH_EEPROM_OFFSET + SAVE_CRASH_CRASH_TIME, crash_time);
@@ -492,6 +563,7 @@ void MyESP::_telnetConnected() {
         EEPROMr.commit();
         */
     }
+#endif
 
     // call callback
     if (_telnet_callback) {
@@ -539,7 +611,9 @@ void MyESP::_consoleShowHelp() {
     myDebug_P(PSTR("* Commands:"));
     myDebug_P(PSTR("*  ?=help, CTRL-D/quit=exit telnet session"));
     myDebug_P(PSTR("*  set, system, reboot"));
-    myDebug_P(PSTR("*  crash <dump | clear>"));
+#ifdef CRASH
+    myDebug_P(PSTR("*  crash <dump | clear | test [n]>"));
+#endif
 
     // print custom commands if available. Taken from progmem
     if (_telnetcommand_callback) {
@@ -842,19 +916,23 @@ void MyESP::_telnetCommand(char * commandLine) {
         return;
     }
 
-
+#ifdef CRASH
     // crash command
-    if ((strcmp(ptrToCommandName, "crash") == 0) && (wc == 2)) {
+    if ((strcmp(ptrToCommandName, "crash") == 0) && (wc >= 2)) {
         char * cmd = _telnet_readWord(false);
         if (strcmp(cmd, "dump") == 0) {
             crashDump();
         } else if (strcmp(cmd, "clear") == 0) {
             crashClear();
+        } else if ((strcmp(cmd, "test") == 0) && (wc == 3)) {
+            char * value = _telnet_readWord(false);
+            crashTest(atoi(value));
         } else {
-            myDebug_P(PSTR("Error. Usage: crash <dump | clear>"));
+            myDebug_P(PSTR("Error. Usage: crash <dump | clear | test [n]>"));
         }
         return; // don't call custom command line callback
     }
+#endif
 
     // call callback function
     (_telnetcommand_callback)(wc, commandLine);
@@ -960,6 +1038,7 @@ void MyESP::_setCustomResetReason(uint8_t reason) {
     _setSystemResetReason(reason);
 }
 
+// returns false if not set and needs to be intialized
 bool MyESP::_rtcmemStatus() {
     bool readable;
 
@@ -978,12 +1057,12 @@ bool MyESP::_rtcmemStatus() {
     return readable;
 }
 
-bool MyESP::rtcmemStatus() {
+bool MyESP::_getRtcmemStatus() {
     return _rtcmem_status;
 }
 
-unsigned char MyESP::_getCustomResetReason() {
+uint8_t MyESP::_getCustomResetReason() {
-    static unsigned char status = 255;
+    static uint8_t status = 255;
     if (status == 255) {
         if (_rtcmemStatus())
             status = _getSystemResetReason();
@@ -995,7 +1074,7 @@ unsigned char MyESP::_getCustomResetReason() {
     return status;
 }
 
-void MyESP::_deferredReset(unsigned long delaytime, unsigned char reason) {
+void MyESP::_deferredReset(unsigned long delaytime, uint8_t reason) {
     delay(delaytime);
     _setCustomResetReason(reason);
 }
@@ -1010,7 +1089,7 @@ void MyESP::_setSystemCheck(bool stable) {
         value = 0; // system is ok
         // myDebug_P(PSTR("[SYSTEM] System OK\n"));
     } else {
-        if (!rtcmemStatus()) {
+        if (!_getRtcmemStatus()) {
             _setSystemStabilityCounter(1);
             return;
         }
@@ -1083,6 +1162,7 @@ void MyESP::showSystemStats() {
 
     myDebug_P(PSTR(" [WIFI] WiFi MAC: %s"), WiFi.macAddress().c_str());
 
+#ifdef CRASH
     char output_str[80] = {0};
     char buffer[16]     = {0};
     myDebug_P(PSTR(" [EEPROM] EEPROM size: %u"), EEPROMr.reserved() * SPI_FLASH_SEC_SIZE);
@@ -1094,6 +1174,7 @@ void MyESP::showSystemStats() {
         strlcat(output_str, " ", sizeof(output_str));
     }
     myDebug(output_str);
+#endif
 
 #ifdef ARDUINO_BOARD
     myDebug_P(PSTR(" [SYSTEM] Board: %s"), ARDUINO_BOARD);
@@ -1107,7 +1188,6 @@ void MyESP::showSystemStats() {
     myDebug_P(PSTR(" [SYSTEM] Core version: %s"), ESP.getCoreVersion().c_str());
     myDebug_P(PSTR(" [SYSTEM] Boot version: %d"), ESP.getBootVersion());
     myDebug_P(PSTR(" [SYSTEM] Boot mode: %d"), ESP.getBootMode());
-    //myDebug_P(PSTR("[SYSTEM] Firmware MD5: %s"), (char *)ESP.getSketchMD5().c_str());
     unsigned char reason = _getCustomResetReason();
     if (reason > 0) {
         char buffer[32];
@@ -1140,7 +1220,7 @@ void MyESP::showSystemStats() {
     myDebug_P(PSTR(" [MEM] Max OTA size: %d"), (ESP.getFreeSketchSpace() - 0x1000) & 0xFFFFF000);
     myDebug_P(PSTR(" [MEM] OTA Reserved: %d"), 4 * SPI_FLASH_SEC_SIZE);
 
-    uint32_t total_memory = getInitialFreeHeap();
+    uint32_t total_memory = _getInitialFreeHeap();
     uint32_t free_memory  = ESP.getFreeHeap();
 
     myDebug(" [MEM] Free Heap: %d bytes initially | %d bytes used (%2u%%) | %d bytes free (%2u%%)",
@@ -1166,7 +1246,7 @@ void MyESP::_heartbeatCheck(bool force = false) {
             return;
         }
 
-        uint32_t total_memory  = getInitialFreeHeap();
+        uint32_t total_memory  = _getInitialFreeHeap();
         uint32_t free_memory   = ESP.getFreeHeap();
         uint8_t  mem_available = 100 * free_memory / total_memory; // as a %
 
@@ -1531,7 +1611,6 @@ bool MyESP::fs_saveConfig() {
         return false;
     }
 
-
     // Serialize JSON to file
     if (serializeJson(json, configFile) == 0) {
         myDebug_P(PSTR("[FS] Failed to write config file"));
@@ -1630,6 +1709,7 @@ int MyESP::getWifiQuality() {
     return 2 * (dBm + 100);
 }
 
+#ifdef CRASH
 /**
  * Save crash information in EEPROM
  * This function is called automatically if ESP8266 suffers an exception
@@ -1779,15 +1859,66 @@ void MyESP::crashDump() {
     myDebug_P(PSTR("\nTo clean this dump use the command: %scrash clear%s\n"), COLOR_BOLD_ON, COLOR_BOLD_OFF);
 }
 
+void MyESP::crashTest(uint8_t t) {
+    if (t == 1) {
+        myDebug_P(PSTR("[CRASH] Attempting to divide by zero ..."));
+        int result, zero;
+        zero   = 0;
+        result = 1 / zero;
+        Serial.printf("Result = %d", result);
+    }
+
+    if (t == 2) {
+        myDebug_P(PSTR("[CRASH] Attempting to read through a pointer to no object ..."));
+        int * nullPointer;
+        nullPointer = NULL;
+        // null pointer dereference - read
+        // attempt to read a value through a null pointer
+        Serial.println(*nullPointer);
+    }
+
+    if (t == 3) {
+        myDebug_P(PSTR("[CRASH] Crashing with hardware WDT (%ld ms) ...\n"), millis());
+        ESP.wdtDisable();
+        while (true) {
+            // stay in an infinite loop doing nothing
+            // this way other process can not be executed
+            //
+            // Note:
+            // Hardware wdt kicks in if software wdt is unable to perfrom
+            // Nothing will be saved in EEPROM for the hardware wdt
+        }
+    }
+
+    if (t == 4) {
+        myDebug_P(PSTR("[CRASH] Crashing with software WDT (%ld ms) ...\n"), millis());
+        while (true) {
+            // stay in an infinite loop doing nothing
+            // this way other process can not be executed
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+#else
+void MyESP::crashTest(uint8_t t) {
+}
+void MyESP::crashClear() {
+}
+void MyESP::crashDump() {
+}
+void MyESP::crashInfo() {
+}
+#endif
+
 // setup MyESP
 void MyESP::begin(const char * app_hostname, const char * app_name, const char * app_version) {
     _app_hostname = strdup(app_hostname);
     _app_name     = strdup(app_name);
     _app_version  = strdup(app_version);
 
-    getInitialFreeHeap(); // get initial free mem
+    _getInitialFreeHeap(); // get initial free mem
 
-    _rtcmemSetup();
+    _rtcmemSetup();  // rtc internal mem setup
     _telnet_setup(); // Telnet setup, called first to set Serial
     _eeprom_setup(); // set up EEPROM for storing crash data, if compiled with -DCRASH
     _fs_setup();     // SPIFFS setup, do this first to get values

lib/MyESP/MyESP.h

@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 #ifndef MyEMS_h
 #define MyEMS_h
 
-#define MYESP_VERSION "1.1.16"
+#define MYESP_VERSION "1.1.17"
 
 #include <ArduinoJson.h>
 #include <ArduinoOTA.h>
@@ -239,9 +239,7 @@ class MyESP {
     int      getWifiQuality();
     void     showSystemStats();
     bool     getHeartbeat();
-
+    uint32_t getSystemLoadAverage();
-    // rtcmem and reset reason
-    bool     rtcmemStatus();
     uint32_t getSystemResetReason();
 
   private:
@@ -331,30 +329,26 @@ class MyESP {
     bool    _rtcmemStatus();
     void    _rtcmemInit();
     void    _rtcmemSetup();
-
     void    _deferredReset(unsigned long delay, uint8_t reason);
-
     uint8_t _getSystemStabilityCounter();
     void    _setSystemStabilityCounter(uint8_t counter);
-
-    uint8_t _getSystemResetReason();
     void    _setSystemResetReason(uint8_t reason);
-
+    uint8_t _getCustomResetReason();
-    unsigned char _getCustomResetReason();
+    void    _setCustomResetReason(uint8_t reason);
-    void          _setCustomResetReason(unsigned char reason);
-
     bool    _systemStable;
 
+    // rtcmem and reset reason
+    bool    _getRtcmemStatus();
+    uint8_t _getSystemResetReason();
     bool    getSystemCheck();
     void    _systemCheckLoop();
     void    _setSystemCheck(bool stable);
 
     // load average (0..100) and heap ram
-    uint32_t getSystemLoadAverage();
     void     _calculateLoad();
     uint32_t _load_average;
-    uint32_t getInitialFreeHeap();
+    uint32_t _getInitialFreeHeap();
-    uint32_t getUsedHeap();
+    uint32_t _getUsedHeap();
 
     // heartbeat
     void _heartbeatCheck(bool force);

src/ems-esp.cpp

@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ DS18 ds18;
 #define DEFAULT_HEATINGCIRCUIT 1 // default to HC1 for thermostats that support multiple heating circuits like the RC35
 
 // timers, all values are in seconds
-#define DEFAULT_PUBLISHWAIT 120 // every 2 minutes publish MQTT values, including Dallas sensors
+#define DEFAULT_PUBLISHTIME 120 // every 2 minutes publish MQTT values, including Dallas sensors
 Ticker publishValuesTimer;
 Ticker publishSensorValuesTimer;
 
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ typedef struct {
     bool     shower_alert;    // true if we want the alert of cold water
     bool     led;             // LED on/off
     bool     listen_mode;     // stop automatic Tx on/off
-    uint16_t publish_wait;    // frequency of MQTT publish in seconds
+    uint16_t publish_time;    // frequency of MQTT publish in seconds
     uint8_t  led_gpio;        // pin for LED
     uint8_t  dallas_gpio;     // pin for attaching external dallas temperature sensors
     bool     dallas_parasite; // on/off is using parasite
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ command_t project_cmds[] = {
     {true, "listen_mode <on | off>", "when on all automatic Tx is disabled"},
     {true, "shower_timer <on | off>", "notify via MQTT all shower durations"},
     {true, "shower_alert <on | off>", "send a warning of cold water after shower time is exceeded"},
-    {true, "publish_wait <seconds>", "set frequency for publishing to MQTT"},
+    {true, "publish_time <seconds>", "set frequency for publishing to MQTT (0=off)"},
     {true, "heating_circuit <1 | 2>", "set the thermostat HC to work with if using multiple heating circuits"},
 
     {false, "info", "show data captured on the EMS bus"},
@@ -481,13 +481,11 @@ void showInfo() {
             // Temperatures are *100
             _renderShortValue("Set room temperature", "C", EMS_Thermostat.setpoint_roomTemp, 10); // *100
             _renderShortValue("Current room temperature", "C", EMS_Thermostat.curr_roomTemp, 10); // *100
-        } 
+        } else if ((ems_getThermostatModel() == EMS_MODEL_FR10) || (ems_getThermostatModel() == EMS_MODEL_FW100)) {
-        else if ((ems_getThermostatModel() == EMS_MODEL_FR10) || (ems_getThermostatModel() == EMS_MODEL_FW100)) {
             // Temperatures are *10
             _renderShortValue("Set room temperature", "C", EMS_Thermostat.setpoint_roomTemp, 1); // *10
             _renderShortValue("Current room temperature", "C", EMS_Thermostat.curr_roomTemp, 1); // *10
-        }
+        } else {
-        else {
             // because we store in 2 bytes short, when converting to a single byte we'll loose the negative value if its unset
             if (EMS_Thermostat.setpoint_roomTemp <= 0) {
                 EMS_Thermostat.setpoint_roomTemp = EMS_VALUE_INT_NOTSET;
@@ -888,7 +886,7 @@ void do_publishSensorValues() {
 // call PublishValues without forcing, so using CRC to see if we really need to publish
 void do_publishValues() {
     // don't publish if we're not connected to the EMS bus
-    if ((ems_getBusConnected()) && (!myESP.getUseSerial()) && myESP.isMQTTConnected()) {
+    if ((ems_getBusConnected()) && (!myESP.getUseSerial()) && myESP.isMQTTConnected() && EMSESP_Status.publish_time != 0) {
         publishValues(true); // force publish
     }
 }
@@ -935,8 +933,8 @@ void do_regularUpdates() {
 
 // stop devices scan and restart all other timers
 void stopDeviceScan() {
-    publishValuesTimer.attach(EMSESP_Status.publish_wait, do_publishValues);             // post MQTT EMS values
+    publishValuesTimer.attach(EMSESP_Status.publish_time, do_publishValues);             // post MQTT EMS values
-    publishSensorValuesTimer.attach(EMSESP_Status.publish_wait, do_publishSensorValues); // post MQTT sensor values
+    publishSensorValuesTimer.attach(EMSESP_Status.publish_time, do_publishSensorValues); // post MQTT sensor values
     regularUpdatesTimer.attach(REGULARUPDATES_TIME, do_regularUpdates);                  // regular reads from the EMS
     systemCheckTimer.attach(SYSTEMCHECK_TIME, do_systemCheck);                           // check if Boiler is online
     scanThermostat_count = 0;
@@ -1056,9 +1054,9 @@ bool FSCallback(MYESP_FSACTION action, const JsonObject json) {
         // shower_alert
         EMSESP_Status.shower_alert = json["shower_alert"];
 
-        // publish_wait
+        // publish_time
-        if (!(EMSESP_Status.publish_wait = json["publish_wait"])) {
+        if (!(EMSESP_Status.publish_time = json["publish_time"])) {
-            EMSESP_Status.publish_wait = DEFAULT_PUBLISHWAIT; // default value
+            EMSESP_Status.publish_time = DEFAULT_PUBLISHTIME; // default value
         }
 
         // heating_circuit
@@ -1080,7 +1078,7 @@ bool FSCallback(MYESP_FSACTION action, const JsonObject json) {
         json["listen_mode"]     = EMSESP_Status.listen_mode;
         json["shower_timer"]    = EMSESP_Status.shower_timer;
         json["shower_alert"]    = EMSESP_Status.shower_alert;
-        json["publish_wait"]    = EMSESP_Status.publish_wait;
+        json["publish_time"]    = EMSESP_Status.publish_time;
         json["heating_circuit"] = EMSESP_Status.heating_circuit;
 
         return true;
@@ -1194,9 +1192,9 @@ bool SettingsCallback(MYESP_FSACTION action, uint8_t wc, const char * setting, c
             }
         }
 
-        // publish_wait
+        // publish_time
-        if ((strcmp(setting, "publish_wait") == 0) && (wc == 2)) {
+        if ((strcmp(setting, "publish_time") == 0) && (wc == 2)) {
-            EMSESP_Status.publish_wait = atoi(value);
+            EMSESP_Status.publish_time = atoi(value);
             ok                         = true;
         }
 
@@ -1211,7 +1209,6 @@ bool SettingsCallback(MYESP_FSACTION action, uint8_t wc, const char * setting, c
                 myDebug_P(PSTR("Error. Usage: set heating_circuit <1 | 2>"));
             }
         }
-
     }
 
     if (action == MYESP_FSACTION_LIST) {
@@ -1237,7 +1234,7 @@ bool SettingsCallback(MYESP_FSACTION action, uint8_t wc, const char * setting, c
         myDebug_P(PSTR("  listen_mode=%s"), EMSESP_Status.listen_mode ? "on" : "off");
         myDebug_P(PSTR("  shower_timer=%s"), EMSESP_Status.shower_timer ? "on" : "off");
         myDebug_P(PSTR("  shower_alert=%s"), EMSESP_Status.shower_alert ? "on" : "off");
-        myDebug_P(PSTR("  publish_wait=%d"), EMSESP_Status.publish_wait);
+        myDebug_P(PSTR("  publish_time=%d"), EMSESP_Status.publish_time);
     }
 
     return ok;
@@ -1583,7 +1580,7 @@ void initEMSESP() {
     EMSESP_Status.shower_alert    = false;
     EMSESP_Status.led             = true; // LED is on by default
     EMSESP_Status.listen_mode     = false;
-    EMSESP_Status.publish_wait    = DEFAULT_PUBLISHWAIT;
+    EMSESP_Status.publish_time    = DEFAULT_PUBLISHTIME;
     EMSESP_Status.timestamp       = millis();
     EMSESP_Status.dallas_sensors  = 0;
     EMSESP_Status.led_gpio        = EMSESP_LED_GPIO;
@@ -1696,8 +1693,8 @@ void setup() {
 
     // enable regular checks if not in test mode
     if (!EMSESP_Status.listen_mode) {
-        publishValuesTimer.attach(EMSESP_Status.publish_wait, do_publishValues);             // post MQTT EMS values
+        publishValuesTimer.attach(EMSESP_Status.publish_time, do_publishValues);             // post MQTT EMS values
-        publishSensorValuesTimer.attach(EMSESP_Status.publish_wait, do_publishSensorValues); // post MQTT sensor values
+        publishSensorValuesTimer.attach(EMSESP_Status.publish_time, do_publishSensorValues); // post MQTT sensor values
         regularUpdatesTimer.attach(REGULARUPDATES_TIME, do_regularUpdates);                  // regular reads from the EMS
     }