Router selection
In the SmartESP project, we have deliberately abandoned the simple technology of connecting controllers to the server. Yes, from the marketing point of view it is wrong. We all like the "plug and play" principle. However, if you make a little more effort and overcome the initial inconvenience, you will subsequently gain a decisive advantage in operational stability, which is so valuable for home automation. The choice is yours!
So, we all know that to connect to the Internet we use a router or as it is also called - a router. The nuance is that now you will need not the first one, but a good router, which has a built-in VPN-client function. Note that it is a VPN-client, not a VPN-server! With the VPN client, your router will connect to the SmartESP server. Of course, this is the case if you choose the Prepared server option. If you will use the Proprietary server option, then in this case you can use any router. After all, in this case the SmartESP server will address the controllers directly by LAN addresses.
Let's not beat around the bush, and let's face it: you will most likely need to purchase a new router. In general, it is important to realize that not only SmartESP, but any Smart Home project will require a router. Therefore, it is recommended to carefully consider the choice of router, regardless of whether you will use SmartESP or any other Smart Home. It is desirable to choose a sufficiently powerful router for good and stable operation of the local network, because it is planned to have a large number of WiFi controllers. In addition, the router for the Smart House should provide for different emergency scenarios for all sorts of failures, that is, it should have a variety of settings. All this means that the first router that comes along is probably not suitable for a Smart Home.
For example, if you take Mikrotik RB941-2nD model, its recommended price is $24.95.
First router connection option
This option is recommended as the easiest if you are just starting to create your Smart Home. In this case you don't risk messing up any of the settings on your current router, which already has a variety of appliances connected to it.
Your new Mikrotik router will simply be connected to the main router via a network cable. As a result, there will be two WiFi networks in the house. One old one for the appliances and one new one for the smart home. The main thing is to correctly connect the routers to each other. For the main network cable should be connected to one of the connectors named LAN, and for the gateway router, the cable will need to be connected to the WAN or Internet connector.
The second option for connecting the router
This is a more advanced option where you create your own network of routers in different parts of the house.
Look at the diagram. In its center is a Mikrotik router. The minimum model is RB941-2nD, or if you want to connect to the Internet via USB-modem, then you should use RB951-2nD. This will be the central router that connects your local network to the global Internet. And further, to this central router, it is recommended to connect other routers as needed to expand your network.
Thus, your old router may be connected to the central router (preferably via cable) and be located in another room or building, such as a garage. In this case, it acts as a repeater. Thanks to this, you get several WiFi networks, which undoubtedly increases the stability of the Smart Home and improves the speed of your home appliances - TV, phone, laptop, which are located in different rooms. Let's note the main principle: it is better to use several low-power routers in different rooms than one super-powerful and expensive one for all devices, which should penetrate "as far as possible".
Now that you've decided on a router, you can start the general configuration of your Mikrotik router for Smart Home.
A bit of technical information
As for SmartESP controllers - ESP8266 chips, they are undemanding for WiFi signal.
That's because we don't use web socket technology, which is easy for the user in the beginning but problematic later on. Web sockets are a great technology, but it is quite demanding in terms of resources both to controllers and to the north and to the WiFi network. Therefore, if every Smart Home controller starts using this technology, then stability problems appear. It is quite another matter when a single VPN connection is created on your router!
By the way, if we talk about other standards of data transportation in the Smart Home, like Z-Wave, ZigBee, BLE and so on, then despite all the uniqueness and advantages/disadvantages of each technology, there is still one word that connects them all. That word is gateway, which is essentially a highly specialized router that connects to your home. Whether you will use this company's service all your life is an open question, but they will sell you their specific and closed router guaranteed. The SmartESP project implies buying a universal router that will serve you for a long time and for different tasks. For example, even if you want to refuse our service and develop your own variant or try another Smart Home service.