The Earth Module (TEM)

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Firmware Version 1.2.0

Listening to Earth’s Voice

Overview

The Earth Module (TEM) is a Eurorack module that retrieves real-time environmental data (weather, celestial, and space weather) from Earth and converts it into CV/Gate signals. Natural changes such as temperature, humidity, wind speed, and moon phases become musical modulation elements, allowing you to experience unity with Earth through sound.

Important Notices

Technical Specifications

Package Contents

• TEM module (ESP32-C3 based)
• Power cable
• QR code sticker (for setup)

Required Environment

• WiFi Environment: 2.4GHz band support required (5GHz not supported)
• OpenWeather API Key: Available for free
• Setup Device: Smartphone, tablet, or PC

Initial Setup

1. Module Startup

1. Connect the TEM module to your Eurorack case power
2. Indicator lights up and startup sequence begins
3. Wait approximately 2 minutes and confirm indicator turns red

During startup, the following sequence is executed over approximately 2 minutes:

1. Black - Immediately after power-on
2. Blue (breathing) - WiFi connection processing
3. Pink (solid) - WiFi connection failure
4. Orange (solid) - AP mode or API key not set
5. Green (solid) - API key configured, waiting for data acquisition
6. Cyan (solid) - Normal operation

2. WiFi Configuration (First time only)

For iPhone:

1. Open Settings app and tap “Wi-Fi”
2. Search and select “TheEarthModule_XXXX”
   • XXXX is the individual 4-digit ID (e.g., 2a3b)
3. Browser will automatically open upon connection

In iPhone WiFi settings, “TheEarthModule_XXXX” will appear in the list of available networks. XXXX is a unique 4-digit ID specific to each unit, printed on the back of the device. When selected, a captive portal will automatically open, displaying the configuration page.

The individual ID is printed in the format “TEM-XXXX” on the upper part of the label on the back of the device.

For Android:

1. Open “Wi-Fi” from Settings
2. Search and select “TheEarthModule_XXXX”
3. Browser will automatically open upon connection
   • If it doesn’t open automatically, access 192.168.4.1 in browser

On Android, select “TheEarthModule_XXXX” from WiFi settings. After connection, the browser will open automatically, but if it doesn’t, manually access 192.168.4.1. Captive portal behavior may vary depending on the Android device.

WiFi Configuration Page:

1. Enter SSID and Password of the WiFi network to use
2. Click “Connect” button
3. Module automatically restarts and LED changes to blue

The WiFi configuration page features a simple form where you enter the SSID (network name) and password. Clicking the “Connect” button will attempt connection to the specified network, and upon success, the module will automatically restart and switch from AP mode to normal mode.

3. WebUI Access

After WiFi configuration is complete, access using one of the following methods:

Recommended: http://tem-XXXX.local (XXXX is the individual ID)

The WebUI main screen displays an integrated dashboard featuring real-time weather data, CV/Gate output settings, LED status display, and location information configuration. Firmware update notifications and help links are positioned in the upper right corner of the screen.

OpenWeather API Key Configuration

API Key Acquisition

1. Access OpenWeather API
2. Create a free account through “Sign Up”
3. Copy the key from “API keys” tab in account settings
   • Free plan has 1,000 requests/day limit
   • TEM is optimized for 288 requests/day

The OpenWeather signup page requires entering an email address, username, and password to create an account. The free plan allows 1,000 API calls per day, and TEM operates optimally with 288 requests per day, providing ample margin.

API Key Configuration

1. Access TEM WebUI
2. Enter the key in “API Keys” field in “Configuration” section
3. Click “Save Keys”
4. Confirm indicator changes from orange to green

In the API key configuration screen, paste the API key obtained from OpenWeather into the input field and save it with the “Save Keys” button. Upon successful saving, the indicator will change from orange to green, and weather data acquisition will begin.

After API key configuration, the full operation state displays real-time weather data and active CV/Gate outputs.

Location Configuration

1. Display map in WebUI’s “Location” section
2. Set location using the following methods:
   • Click: Click anywhere on the map
   • Right Click: Fix position and start data acquisition
   • Search: Enter city name to search
   • GPS: Use 📍 button to get current location (HTTPS required)
3. Save position with “⭐ Set as Default”

Location configuration features an interactive map using Leaflet. You can select locations by clicking on the map, confirm with right-click, search city names, and acquire GPS location (HTTPS connection only). The configured location is saved in the browser.

CV/Gate Output Configuration

Available Parameters

Weather Data

• Temperature: -10°C〜40°C
• Humidity: 0〜100%
• Pressure: 950〜1,050hPa
• Wind Speed: 0〜20m/s
• Cloud Cover: 0〜100%
• Visibility: 0〜10km
• Dew Point: -20°C〜30°C
• UV Index: 0〜11+

Celestial Data

• Moon Phase: 0〜1 (New moon〜Full moon)
• Solar Elevation: -90°〜90°

Space Weather

• Solar Wind: 250〜800km/s
• Kp Index: 0〜9

Gate Logic

• Rain/Snow: ON at 1mm or more, OFF below 0.2mm
• Wind: ON at 10m/s or more, OFF below 7m/s
• Day/Night: ON at solar elevation 0° or more, OFF below -5°
• Storm: ON at Kp index 5 or more, OFF below 4

Output Configuration

1. Open “CV / GATE Outputs” section in WebUI
2. Assign parameters to CV1〜CV2 and GATE1〜GATE2 respectively
3. Settings are automatically saved and reflected in real-time

The CV/Gate output configuration screen allows assigning weather parameters to each of the four outputs (CV1, CV2, GATE1, GATE2). Selections from dropdown menus are immediately reflected, and current values are displayed in real-time.

Indicator Status Display

Indicator displays current status with the following colors:

Normal Operation Status

Color	Status	Pattern	Details
Blue	Normal Operation	Solid	WiFi connected, weather data acquired
Green	Data Standby	Solid	WiFi connected, API key configured
Orange	API Key Required	Solid	WiFi connected, API key not set

Processing Status

Color	Status	Pattern	Details
Blue	Connection Processing	Breathing	WiFi connection in progress
Blue	Data Acquisition	Breathing	Weather data acquisition in progress

Error Status

Color	Status	Pattern	Details
Pink	WiFi Connection Failed	Solid	WiFi connection error
Magenta	API Error	Solid	API communication error

Setup Status

Color	Status	Pattern	Details
Orange	Initial Setup Mode	Solid	AP mode, initial setup mode

Indicator Operation Patterns

Operation Flow:

1. Startup: Orange → Blue breathing (WiFi connecting)
2. WiFi Success: Green (API key confirmation)
3. Data Acquisition: Blue breathing → Blue (normal operation)
4. Error: Pink (WiFi failure) or Magenta (API failure)

Runtime Operation Patterns:

• Normal: Blue solid for stable operation
• Data Update: Blue breathing every 5 minutes → returns to blue solid
• Error Occurrence: Corresponding error color (Pink/Magenta) for status indication

Firmware Updates

Update Notifications

• Red dot for updates appears in upper right of WebUI
• Manual check also possible with “Check for Updates” button

Using Updater

1. Click “Check for Updates”
2. Confirmation dialog appears when new version is available
3. Click “OK” to open Updater
4. Follow on-screen instructions to update firmware

The Updater is a browser-based firmware update tool using Web Serial API. It connects directly to the ESP32-C3, automatically downloads the latest firmware, and writes it.

Update Procedure:

1. Installation Confirmation Click “Install TEM (The Earth Module)”.

2. Updater Main Screen Click “Install TEM (The Earth Module)”.

3. Device Connection Confirmation Select the TEM device in your browser.

4. Installation Execution Select “INSTALL” in the confirmation dialog to begin firmware writing.

5. Progress Monitoring During updates, a progress bar and detailed logs are displayed.

6. Completion Confirmation A completion message is displayed when installation succeeds.

Important Notes

• Do not turn off module power during updates
• Settings are retained after updates, but verification is recommended
• If problems occur, manually reconfigure API key and location information

Troubleshooting

Cannot Connect to WiFi

• WebUI: Check SSID and password on WiFi configuration page
• Cause: Using non-2.4GHz band network
• Solution: Use 2.4GHz compatible network

Weather Data Not Updating

• API Key: Verify correct entry
• Internet: Confirm connection is normal
• Update Interval: Wait as updates occur every 5 minutes
• LED Check: Reconfigure API key if LED doesn’t turn white

Cannot Access WebUI

• mDNS: Access with http://tem-XXXX.local (XXXX is individual ID, printed on device back)
• Browser: Clear cache and retry access

Settings Reset

• Firmware Update: Settings normally retained
• Full Upload: “All Flash Contents” erases settings
• Backup: Recommended to note API key and location information

UI Elements Cannot Be Operated (Grayed Out)

• API Key Not Set: Orange “API key required” display
• Device Disconnected: Red “Device disconnected” display
• Solution: Configure API key or confirm WiFi connection

Feedback and Support

Please share your opinions, feedback, bug reports, feature requests, and more through the following channels:

The Earth Module - Listening to Earth’s Voice