AP Mode does not allow connection for most devices

[ibaranov-cp]

Hello all,

Using latest staging version, RC2 from board manager.
I have two identical ESP8266-12E modules. Powered with 600mA 3.3V regulator off of USB V+
I load them both with the example WifiAccessPoint code.
I add in a Serial.println("."); into the loop to ensure they are both working.

When attempting to connect to the modules, phone has to re-connect ~3-5 times to get a connection. And then loading the example webpage at 192.168.4.1 takes ~30 seconds.

Three different models of laptops refuse to connect at all.

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[comino]

Similar observations:

• Im using the latest git version
• ESP-WROOM module
• Hardware is proven to work with SDK example

Tested:
Lennovo E550- Intel WiFi adapter - no connection at all
Lennovo X Series - after several attemps succesful
Galaxy Tab 2 - successful
Motorola Moto G - successful
Toshiba Sattelite - Realtek Wifi adapter - successful on first try

[me-no-dev]

does it make a difference if the AP is Open or Password protected?

[comino]

It asks me for a password before not connecting.

Maybe its a issue with the SDK? My running native AP code runs on SDKs 1.1.1 and there is a fix for 1.4 ("WiFi compatibility problem of special network card").

[igrr]

Since SDK 1.3, RF calibration is stored in flash. On a few occasions i had to wipe flash completely because the board failed to connect to APs.
It would be nice to check if this issue is resolved by wiping RF calibration data. If it is, perhaps it would be worth changing the default RF calibration mode.

[ibaranov-cp]

I will certainly try, any quick link to wiping the data?

Can't seem to capture any packets on Wireshark during connection, and open vs. encrypted does not make a difference so far.

[igrr]

Using esptool.py:

esptool.py -p /dev/ttyUSB0 erase_flash

Or from inside the sketch:

ESP.eraseConfig();

[ibaranov-cp]

Hello all,

Here is a compressed wireshark capture of trying to connect to esp in AP mode.
https://mrrobot.ca/owncloud/index.php/s/AKOX4BBZvoma47z

Actions taken

• Change WifiAccessPoint sketch to AP name ESP1, no password
• Connect to AP, try to hit 192.168.4.1
• Manually configure my IP to 192.168.4.10, Bcast 255.255.255.0, gateway 192.168.4.1
• Ping 192.168.4.1

I still get no connections.

[ibaranov-cp]

Adding this to the example script has no effect:

void setup() {
ESP.eraseConfig();
... etc

[ibaranov-cp]

P.S
By default, my windows 7 laptop seems to assign IP 169.254.xx.xx with bcast 255.255.0.0
This usually means no good connection established.

[ibaranov-cp]

To be clear, using a password results in no packet capture, and no successful connection.
Without a password, I get a connection and packets, but no IP assignment, and no usable connection.

[luc-github]

did you tried to change the PHY mode on ESP ?

like : wifi_set_phy_mode(PHY_MODE_11B); or wifi_set_phy_mode(PHY_MODE_11G);

[ibaranov-cp]

Adding WiFi.mode(WIFI_AP); either before or after the WiFi.softAP(ssid, password); statement has no effect.

The chip is never frozen, it continues to output serial data. etc. Just refuses to connect.

[ibaranov-cp]

Hello,

(Updated to stable Nov 30th version just to be sure)

Two questions:
What do the fields below indicate?
How can I do the phy mode set? I tried to hack it in myself, but no luck. Has anyone done it?

Here is the output of WiFi.printDiag(Serial);

Mode: AP
PHY mode: N
Channel: 1
AP id: 0
Status: 255
Auto connect: 1
SSID (0):
Passphrase (0):
BSSID set: 0
192.168.4.1

[luc-github]

AP do not support phy mode N and seems you are in N, that may explain the connection issue.
I already gave the function above but here the extract from SDK for more details :

 wifi_set_phy_mode
Function:
Set ESP8266 physical mode (802.11b/g/n).
Note:
• ESP8266 soft-AP only support 802.11b/g.
• Users can set to be 802.11g mode for consumption.
Prototype:
bool wifi_set_phy_mode(enum phy_mode mode)
Parameter:
enum phy_mode mode : physical mode
enum phy_mode {
 PHY_MODE_11B = 1,
 PHY_MODE_11G = 2,
 PHY_MODE_11N = 3
};
Return:
true : succeed
false : fail