Can't update ThingSpeak field via AT commands to ESP8266

I am working towards sending data from a Picaxe using AT commands via ESP8266, based on an example from 2015 here: https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/projects/connect-a-picaxe-to-the-internet-of-things/

At this stage, I am sending the AT commands to the ESP8266 from a terminal program (Termite), so the Picaxe board is not playing an active part other than providing 3.3V for the ESP-01S module.

However, the GET command is not working and there are no updates to ThingSpeak.

I can send the same update string from a browser and the data does appear in ThingSpeak, so the key and field number are correct. This is the update URL which works:

https://api.thingspeak.com/update?key=XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX&field2=123

I understand there is a ThingSpeak library for Arduino which would simplify the process but, for various reasons, I prefer Picaxe at the moment.

Are updates via GET still supported?

Have there been any recent changes to the format which affect the data string?

I assume the byte count requires addition of 2 to account for the CR+LF sent from the terminal program but I have also tried with byte count reduced by 2 with no change in the result.

Here is the log from Termite:

AT

OK

AT+CIPSTART="TCP","thingspeak.com",80

AT+CIPSTART="TCP","thingspeak.com",80

CONNECT

OK

AT+CIPSEND=45

AT+CIPSEND=45

OK

> GET /update?key=XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX&field1=123

Recv 45 bytes

SEND OK

+IPD,69:HTTP/1.1 408 REQUEST_TIMEOUT

Content-Length:0

Connection: Close

CLOSED

Answer 1

[Richard Stallard]

Problem solved!

The web address needed "api" at the beginning.

AT+CIPSTART="TCP","api.thingspeak.com",80

[Christopher Stapels]

Thanks for updating the post! Glad you got the updates working.