openinverter forum

So I got a batch of 20 wifi modules from olimex a week or two ago and guess what? They don't work. Contacted Olimex support and here is the response :

Thank you for the e-mail!

There is slight change in the design, we had to change the original SPI
memory due to unavailability. Unfortunately, the covid pandemic affected
availability of electronics components too. Anyway, the new SPI memory
requires slightly different settings to program successfully, but
otherwise should behave similarly. New memory requires different flash
mode, make sure to select QOUT instead of QIO (as it was before). Refer
to the bottom right part of the latest schematic:

https://github.com/OLIMEX/ESP8266/raw/m ... Rev_B1.pdf

This is also mentioned in the FAQ section at the bottom of product page.

Let me know if that fixes the issue.

I went ahead and tried this and they now program and create an access point but don't serve any web pages. Anyone else encountered this little problem?

I got mine to work. It seems I got a batch with mostly the old flash (GH1634 25Q16CS10) but one module with the new flash (cFeon QH168104-HIP). I got it to work with the attached settings.

Thanks Johannes. Sadly none of mine will provide an ip address upon connection. Did you make any other changes?

No, just that. What does it say on your flash chips?

I have the cFeon QH168104-HIP. Programs fine. Creates an ap but won't provide an ip to any connection. Olimex don't seem interested.

Same as mine. Seems weird lacking DHCP should be a hardware issue. What if you set a fixed IP address and then ping the module?

Found my wifi problem By default for a while now I leave all wifi supplied in kits as open networks with default espXXX ssids. Saves me getting 20 emails from folks looking for passwords. Seems the gods of Olimex/Espressif don't like this anymore so I have to specify an ssid and password or no ip address is provided to a client.

So folks don't have to suffer as I did just add :
WiFi.softAP("inverter", "inverter123",14);
to setup in fsbrowser.ino

Obviously use whatever ssid and password you like and change via the web interface.

I believe to be able to change it in the web interface, you musn't call softAP() as it will overwrite your settings. I always set the SSID via the stock IT firmware and then flash our custom one.
Forgot what 5,4 was. Not the channel though.

This is discussed further here: https://github.com/jsphuebner/esp8266-w ... e/issues/8
It might be an easy fix but I don't have any hardware on hand to test right now.

I found Olimex to be less than quality. In fact, no matter how impressive the ad, and how cheap the price, if I see Olimex, I run away. You confirmed my personal experience with that company. Sorry for your frustrations nonetheless.

Thanks. At least Johannes has a workaround so I can source my modules from him for now.

I'm thinking my workaround is a really old binary that I accidentally compiled with the most conservative flash settings and an old esp lib.
I can publish my flash procedure after Christmas

mpgMike wrote: ↑Sat Dec 18, 2021 6:31 am I found Olimex to be less than quality. In fact, no matter how impressive the ad, and how cheap the price, if I see Olimex, I run away. You confirmed my personal experience with that company. Sorry for your frustrations nonetheless.

Regardless of quality, this problem really has nothing to do with Olimex, it's an issue with the ESP8266 SDK. I believe Johannes is just using a binary built with an old version of the SDK, which works great. I don't have a module to hand, but when I do, I will test the workaround I proposed. Of course, others are welcome to try it too!

> Legacy behavior can be restored by calling enableWiFiAtBootTime() from anywhere in the code

catphish wrote: ↑Thu Dec 16, 2021 11:06 pm This is discussed further here: https://github.com/jsphuebner/esp8266-w ... e/issues/8
It might be an easy fix but I don't have any hardware on hand to test right now.

Fine! It worked for me.

Yahha777 wrote: ↑Fri Dec 24, 2021 9:38 pm Fine! It worked for me.

Good news! Just the one line of code needed?

catphish wrote: ↑Fri Dec 24, 2021 10:34 pm

Yahha777 wrote: ↑Fri Dec 24, 2021 9:38 pm Fine! It worked for me.

Good news! Just the one line of code needed?

Added this line: #include <ESP8266WiFi.h> and this is:
#ifdef WIFI_IS_OFF_AT_BOOT
enableWiFiAtBootTime(); // can be called from anywhere with the same effect
#endif
https://arduino-esp8266.readthedocs.io/ ... persistent
I did everything as described there.

Confirmed working. Many thanks for solving this problem and sharing the fix

Jack Bauer wrote: ↑Sun Dec 26, 2021 12:28 pm Confirmed working. Many thanks for solving this problem and sharing the fix

Fantastic, thanks for testing!