I have two of the same ESP8266 modules and with both I have the same problem. When I tried connecting to the Arduino IDE, it just wouldn't connect. I tried with two different serial adaptors. In the end, I tried the method which is described on the esp8266Basic website (use the Arduino UNO and remove the chip).
With this technique, I was able to flash the firmware with the tool that can be found on the ESP8266Basic website (what is the flash size, though?).
In the end, I got things running, and connected to the module with my laptop. Once on there, I could visit the page that is described on the website (192.168.4.1). When I try to save a program (or load after that), nothing really happens. The website shows the saving progress and shows an alert that the saving has successfully happened, but when I click the "Run tab", nothing happenes. It just shows "Done..." or something like that. Even a simple
Print "Hello world!"
End
will not run.
What is the problem here? I read somewhere that I need a solid adaptor (in current). Is it ok to use my usb port on my pc to feed my esp with 3.3V?
EDIT:
Perhaps I should mention that I constantly get this error when trying to upload code:
warning: espcomm_sync failed
error: espcomm_open failed
Also, I can't send AT commands (one time, I succeeded). I don't know what baud rate to set it to (I tried all). How do I know which rate to use?
I read that the blue have 512k flash and the black have 1M, so I know to set mine on 1M flash size (I have the black version).
EDIT2:
What I do sometimes receive in my Serial Monitor is the folowing text (115200 baud rate):
ets Jan 8 2013,rst cause:4, boot mode:(3,7)
wdt reset
load 0x4010f000, len 1264, room 16
tail 0
chksum 0x42
csum 0x42
~ld