SRGBmods.net Wifi LED Controller

Introduction

The SRGBmods Wifi LED Controller is an entry level / low budget DIY (do it yourself) Wifi ARGB controller exclusively designed to be used with SignalRGB!

Its base is either an affordable (MSRP around $6.00) Raspberry Pi Pico W or an Arduino Nano RP2040 Connect micro-controller that makes it possible to drive leds at mid-high to high frame rates via Wifi.

8 GPIO pins within a subsequent row can be used to connect your devices to it!

Useful information that might save you some hassle and trouble shooting:

Pico W supports up to 2400 leds, while a Nano Connect only supports up to 960 leds!
Currently only WS2812B is supported officially! Other WS28XX-based strips should work as well though.
If you are running more than 100 leds off one pin, you are using a lot of pins, or your leds are flickering, you might need a Adafruit NeoPXL8 Friend (Level-Shifter) to step up to the WS2812B's 5V data line logic from the Pico W's 3.3V pin logic. It could already help to skip a pin in between data lines to reduce interferences though!
Status LED and Hardware Lighting can be configured on-the-fly directly in the device options in SignalRGB!

A word of warning:

DO NOT

Feel free to post feedback in the #hardware-diy-channel on the SignalRGB Discord!

The SRGBmods WLC is to be considered entry level / rudimentary! If you are looking for a more advanced wireless solution, check out WLED instead! (requires different MCUs!)

Global settings

Select micro controller unit (MCU):

Network connection settings

Your credentials will NOT be saved on the server, they're solely used to generate the firmware.
If you're still concerned, leave the place holder values and edit the downloaded firmware with a text editor to insert your credentials locally.

Service Set Identifier (SSID)

Password

Enable DHCP (your router assigns IP addresses, disable this to use static IP configuration!)

UDP port

Choose pins and corresponding led counts!

IMPORTANT:

ONLY a max of 8 GPIO pins can be used, all pins you choose have to be in a row of 8 subsequent pins.
You can still skip pins as long as the highest and the lowest pin number are still in the required range of 8 subsequent pins.

Examples for valid pins, so you get the general idea:

GPIO pins from 0 to 7 (either all or only selected, pins can be skipped)
GPIO pins from 2 to 9 (either all or only selected, pins can be skipped)
GPIO pins from 10 to 17 (either all or only selected, pins can be skipped)
GPIO pins from 15 to 22 (either all or only selected, pins can be skipped)

0leds

1leds

2leds

3leds

4leds

5leds

6leds

7leds

8leds

9leds

10leds

11leds

12leds

13leds

14leds

15leds

16leds

17leds

18leds

19leds

20leds

21leds

22leds

23leds

24leds

25leds

26leds

27leds

28leds

29leds

Required software:
- SignalRGB release 2.2.33 BETA 3 from Plugin Test Server or later
- Arduino IDE 2.1.0 or later (make sure NOT to use the Windows App Store version!)

Installing the required libraries:
- Launch Arduino IDE
- Click "Tools" -> "Manage Libraries..." to open the Library Manager.
- Click "File" -> "Preferences" to open settings menu.
- Click "Tools" -> "Board:" -> "Boards Manager..." to open the Boards Manager.

Setting up our micro controller:
- Click "Tools" -> "Board:" -> "Raspberry Pi RP2040 Boards" and select "Raspberry Pi Pico W" or "Arduino Nano RP2040 Connect" respectively.
- Click "Tools" -> "USB Stack:" and select "Pico SDK".
- Keep ArduinoIDE open.
- Quit SignalRGB if it is running!

Flashing the micro controller:

Generate and download the firmware sketch file, make sure to use exact LED counts and only set LED counts to pins that you are going to use.
In ArduinoIDE:
Click "File" -> "Open..." browse to the folder you downloaded the generated Sketch, select it and click "Open".
The Arduino IDE requires sketch files to be in a correctly named subfolder, so confirm the dialogue asking to move the file to the correct folder with "OK".
Click "Sketch" -> "Export compiled binary" in the ArduinoIDE window that opened.

Compiling the sketch takes a few seconds, so just wait and have an eye on the status at the bottom of the window.

Once it says "Done Compiling." you will find the compiled binary in the folder it moved the sketch to.
Click "File" -> "Quit"
Put your micro controller into boot mode with disconnecting it and holding its "BOOTSEL" button while reconnecting it.
Copy the compiled binary (SRGBmods_WLC_[TIMESTAMP].ino.uf2) from the "/build/[MCU]/" subfolder to new the flash drive that appeared. The MCU will reboot and load the binary.

Setting up SignalRG:

Download and install the latest plugin files mentioned at the top.
(Re)launch SignalRGB, click "Services" and select the SRGBmods-WLC.
Enjoy!

Generate and download Firmware

Toggle the check box below and click the huge green button to generate and download the firmware!

I have read all instructions (huge red button top of the page!) and will follow them step by step, I swear!

Please keep in mind that lots of LEDs will draw a lot of power, make sure to check the specs of the used PSU and calculate the required wattage/amperage for your project.