Load the firmware and connect to WiFi

Reading time: ~15 minutes · Execution time: 20-30 minutes · Audience: anyone who just finished assembling the controller following guide 02

🟢 Fundamental Guide — mandatory onboarding path. Without it, the system will not start.

🗺️ Your JoyReef Path:

1. Shopping list
2. Controller assembly
3. Firmware + WiFi ← YOU ARE HERE
4. Tank and sensor configuration
5. Tasmota smart plugs
6. Automations (ATO, etc.)

1. Before you start

For this guide you need:

• ✅ The controller already assembled as in guide 02: NodeMCU on the board, probe + display + float switches connected
• ✅ The micro-USB data cable (must pass data, not just power — see shopping list)
• ✅ A computer (Windows, macOS, or Linux) — not a phone, for this part you need a real PC
• ✅ Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge installed on the computer (Safari and Firefox do not work for loading firmware)
• ✅ A 2.4 GHz WiFi network available at home (modern 5 GHz networks from newer routers are not supported by the controller)
• ✅ A phone or the same computer, for the WiFi configuration step (later)

⚠️ 2.4 GHz WiFi is mandatory: the NodeMCU's WiFi chip (model ESP8266) does not support 5 GHz networks; it's a hardware limitation of the chip and cannot be bypassed. Most modern routers offer both bands simultaneously; if your router has them merged into a single network (a feature called "band steering" or "unified WiFi"), the controller might fail to connect. In case of problems, temporarily disable the 5 GHz network from your router's configuration page — the controller will find the 2.4 GHz one immediately. Once it's connected, you can re-enable the 5 GHz: the controller remains connected to the network it learned to join. If in doubt, ask your Internet provider.

2. Create your JoyReef account

Before loading the firmware onto the controller, you must have a JoyReef account: the portal is the "brain" that receives data from the controller and allows you to view it from any phone or computer.

Registration

1. Open portal.joy-reef.com in Chrome or Edge
2. Click "Register" in the top right (or go directly to portal.joy-reef.com/register)
3. Fill out the form: - Email: the one you will use to log in - Password: choose a secure one, at least 8 characters - Confirm password: same as above
4. Click Register

Email verification

Immediately after registration, the portal will ask you to verify your email:

1. Check your inbox (also check Spam/Junk — sometimes the first message ends up there)
2. Open the "Verify your email address" message
3. Click on the verification link

Once your email is verified, you are in: you will see the portal dashboard, currently empty — this is normal, it will receive data as soon as the controller is connected.

💡 Important: the email and password you just chose are also your controller's credentials. When you have to configure it (later in this same guide), you will use exactly the same data. You don't need separate "MQTT credentials" from somewhere else.

⚠️ Not receiving the verification email? Wait 1-2 minutes, check your Spam folder. If it doesn't arrive at all, you can click "Resend verification email" from the portal. If still nothing, write to us at supporto@joy-reef.com.

3. Firmware flash and WiFi connection

The firmware loading and WiFi connection process is the same for all JoyReef devices and is described in the dedicated guide:

📖 Guide 03b — Firmware Flash and WiFi Connection

Follow that guide selecting the "Controller" firmware on the /usb-flash page. When done, come back here.

5. You've connected the controller!

Well done, you've done the hardest part. From now on, everything is configured from the portal from your couch: no more USB cables, no more captive portals.

✅ System status right now: hardware ✓, firmware ✓, WiFi ✓, JoyReef account ✓, controller online on portal ✓.

What's missing to have a dashboard full of useful data:

The controller is already sending its sensor readings to the portal, but JoyReef doesn't know what they're for yet: is the DS18B20 probe "the temperature"? And of the 4 float switches, which one is "low level ATO" and which one is "safety level"? You need to tell the portal who is who.

📖 Guide 04 — Tank and sensor configuration (~10 min)

In that guide, you will create your first virtual tank, assign sensors to their reef-keeping functions (tank temperature, sump level, etc.), and see the dashboard populated with your live data.

Happy reefing!

JoyReef Guide · v1.0 · Questions? Write to us at supporto@joy-reef.com