Best hardware option(s)?

[Capatl]

Brand new to IoT, years ago did some VB programming (I know that doesn't count). I've tracked the ESP news since it broke on hackaday in 2014, as I'm an avid reader of maker sites. I finally have a project I want to work on, so it is time to start by buying hardware and I'm already stuck.

I want to create a wireless network (separate from my home network -I do have an extra router and can always use that as a base if needed). I want my first build to be an IR driveway sensor, to ring a doorbell (or similar alarm) in the house when anyone pulls into our driveway (mail delivery, etc) because they usually drop and run, and I'd like to know when someone is on the property. The end of the driveway is about 250-300 feet from the house, and there is a power outlet at the end of the driveway.

In a perfect world, I'd love to add an IR camera module to snap a picture of the vehicle as it goes by. It is rare, but we do have uninvited snoopers, and as a bonus, I'd probably get a picture of a deer every once in a while. I guess I might have to have a permanently-on IR emitter to light up that area of the driveway so if the camera takes a picture at night, it would get a good view.

The IR trigger would cause the WiFi module to beam an alert (and photo, eventually) to the house. Not sure yet if I'll need a small dish to make the wifi directional toward the house for maximum range and to penetrate into the house to reach the (separate) network.

Since the ESP32 has bluetooth, that also has me wondering if I should wait, and put a bluetooth emitter in our cars so that when the ESP32 detects a 'valid' bluetooth device nearby, it skips the alarm sequence. Great to keep the wife happy, since I leave for work at 5am and don't want the alarm to wake her.

So, first question is whether I should wait for ESP32, or if there is an *easy* way to have the ESP8266 suppress alerts when valid vehicles go by. If so, second question is which ESP8266 12F (FCC approved and other improvements?) modules are the best from somewhere like Aliexpress. When I search there I have a mindboggling assortment of vendors, prices, and I also recall reading that some are not standard sizes (which I don't fully appreciate yet, but I'm sure I will once I start breadboarding the other components). Since I've already got several other projects that I'd do once I learn the basics, I'm probably going for a quantity of 5x or maybe even 10x if I have confidence that I'm selecting a SKU that I won't be sorry about later.

I know that any intruder can disable my suggested project, but since the primary use will be for valid alerts (USPS, UPS, and FedEx, plus friends and family) I'm ok with that- if I build it right it won't be highly noticeable anyway, so the risk is low all around. I also understand that there are all sorts of opportunities for bad IoT behavior, but that's one of the reasons I plan to keep this separate from the home wifi network.

Other project ideas that I may do if I can get the first project working:
* run a line to a temperature sensor at the bottom of the pond next to the house and track daily high and low temps at the bottom
* connect to some (not yet purchased) weather station to collect daily weather data (wind, temp, and rain)
* see if I can find a way to use the wireless signals from our existing door and window alarms, and augment the home alarm base unit with a homegrown solution
* Maybe try to figure out some way to measure remaining liquid in a pressurized keg- either via weight or some type of food-safe flow meter (a friend makes beer, and we had talked about figuring out a cheap way to detect how much liquid is left in the keg)

I have no geek credentials, I've only got a windows PC. I don't mind learning C or whatever is best, but would need an IDE that runs on windows because learning another OS on top of a whole new IDE would be overwhelming. I just haven't gotten there yet, I wanted hardware in hand to play with.

Anyway, thanks for reading and for any advice:
* Can the ESP8266 12F detect 'approved' vehicles (maybe via a wireless signal?), while keeping wifi connected to the house?
* if so, how do I tell which ones on Aliexpress are breadboard-friendly or otherwise best for someone just starting out?
* Any recommendations for the other hardware or general approach for any of these projects?


THANK YOU!!