# Items and things and MQTT April 2017 **URL:** \ **Category:** Beginners\ **Tags:** sitemaps, mqtt, items\ **Created:** [April 30, 2017, 8:05am UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/items-and-things-and-mqtt-april-2017/27569 "2017-04-30T08:05:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 2
**Author:** ![ThomDietrich](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/thomdietrich/32/71239_2.png) [@ThomDietrich](https://community.openhab.org/u/ThomDietrich)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2017, 3:46pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/items-and-things-and-mqtt-april-2017/27569/2 "2017-04-30T15:46:29Z")
Hey, did you have a look at the tutorial I’ve posted over at: > [@ITEAD Sonoff switches and sockets - cheap ESP8266 Wifi+MQTT hardware](https://community.openhab.org/t/itead-sonoff-switches-and-sockets-cheap-esp8266-wifi-mqtt-hardware/15024): > > ITEAD Smart Home Products These very cheap modules come with their special smartphone app but are all actually based on the famous ESP8266. It didn’t take long till the tinkerer community got a hold of that and started hacking. After opening up the cases, all you need to do is solder a few header pins and connect your FTDI breakout programmer. Alternative firmwares are ready to provide nice MQTT based Wifi SmartHome endpoints without the need to either pay a lot of mone… Contains everything you need. Pay special attention to the referenced “sub-tutorial”: > **[GitHub - arendst/Tasmota: Alternative firmware for ESP8266 and ESP32 based...](https://github.com/arendst/Tasmota)** > > Alternative firmware for ESP8266 and ESP32 based devices with easy configuration using webUI, OTA updates, automation using timers or rules, expandability and entirely local control over MQTT, HTTP, Serial or KNX. Full documentation at Regarding your posted configuration: Why do you define an Item inside your sitemaps file? Thats simply not allowed. Your items file looks okay at first sight but please check out the tutorial! If any of your five questions still need answering after going through the tutorial, please let us know 😉 --- _[View the full topic](https://community.openhab.org/t/items-and-things-and-mqtt-april-2017/27569)._