Can not initialize ESP8266

PelleS · August 12, 2019, 5:11pm

I recently started doing networking with the Arduino, and I'm finding it rather difficult. I have the ESP8266 chip connected to an Arduino Uno board. The chip is supplied with 3.3 V (not from the arduino board), and I start by connecting it to the TX and RX ports so that I can change the baud rate to 9600 via the terminal. Everything works great this far. I change the terminal from 115200 to 9600 and send an AT command which returns OK. I can list networks and even connect to one, via the terminal.

However, when trying to run my code, the problems arise. I move the TX and RX to pins 6 and 7 before running the code, just to clarify. Here it is:

// WiFiEsp - Version: 2.2.1
#include <WiFiEsp.h>
#include <WiFiEspClient.h>
#include <WiFiEspServer.h>
#include <WiFiEspUdp.h>
// WireData - Version: Latest
#include <WireData.h>
#include <SoftwareSerial.h>
#include <Wire.h>

SoftwareSerial Serial1(6, 7);
char ssid[] = "my_SSID";
char pass[] = "my_password";
int status = WL_IDLE_STATUS;
void printWifiStatus() {
  Serial.print("SSID: ");
  Serial.println(WiFi.SSID());
  IPAddress ip = WiFi.localIP();
  Serial.print("IP Address: ");
  Serial.println(ip);
}

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);
  Serial1.begin(9600);
  delay(1000);
  WiFi.init(&Serial1);
  if (WiFi.status() == WL_NO_SHIELD) {
    Serial.println("WiFi shield not present");
    while (true);
  }
  while (status != WL_CONNECTED) {
    Serial.print("Attemting to connect to SSID: ");
    Serial.print(ssid);
    status = WiFi.begin(ssid, pass);
  }
  Serial.println("You're connected to the network");
  printWifiStatus();
}

void loop() {}

When monitoring the terminal, I see this:

[WiFiEsp] Initializing ESP module
[WiFiEsp] >>> TIMEOUT >>>
[WiFiEsp] >>> TIMEOUT >>>
[WiFiEsp] >>> TIMEOUT >>>
[WiFiEsp] >>> TIMEOUT >>>
[WiFiEsp] >>> TIMEOUT >>>
[WiFiEsp] Cannot initialize ESP module
[WiFiEsp] >>> TIMEOUT >>>
[WiFiEsp] No tag found
WiFi shield not present

Are there any obvious errors on my part?

Juraj · August 12, 2019, 5:18pm

to talk to AT firmware from sketch swap RX and TX. connect RX of Uno to TX of esp module

PelleS · August 12, 2019, 6:01pm

I'm pretty sure those are correct. Pin 7 is connected to RXD and pin 6 is connected to TXD. I tried swapping just to be sure, but that didn't change anything.

Juraj · August 12, 2019, 6:22pm

what AT firmware or SDK version do you have?

PelleS · August 12, 2019, 6:37pm

This is the output from the chip running AT+GMR:

AT version:1.1.0.0(May 11 2016 18:09:56)
SDK version:1.5.4(baaeaebb)
Ai-Thinker Technology Co. Ltd.
Dec 20 2017 10:13:56

PelleS · August 14, 2019, 12:45pm

The chip was included with the book that contains my posted code, so it would be strange if the AT version or SDK version would stop this from working.

Juraj · August 14, 2019, 1:28pm

PelleS:
The chip was included with the book that contains my posted code, so it would be strange if the AT version or SDK version would stop this from working.

I asked because I have a new WiFiEspAT library for SDK 3 (AT 1.7.x)

PelleS · August 16, 2019, 10:35pm

So, the solution is to use a newer library?

Juraj · August 17, 2019, 6:01am

PelleS:
So, the solution is to use a newer library?

it is on you. you would need to flash AT firmware version 1.7 (SDK 3) first.

PaulVdB · August 22, 2019, 11:20am

I think I have more or less the same problem as PelleS.
I searched all over the web, particulary on this forum to find an answer to my simple question : How do I establish SIMPLE communication between Uno and ESP ? e.g. send an AT command and receive the answer from the ESP. My final goal is to send data over WiFi collected by the Uno (or even Nano) to another arduino or smartphone.
I use an arduino Uno because I can't find instructions anywhere about Nano+ESP, and connect it to an 8 pin ESP-01 (8266EX) The RX-TX goes through a 3.3 /5 converter board, 3.3V and ground, I take from the Arduino board. It might be necessary to add a seperate 3.3V power supply, but because I'm not using the Wifi (yet) I know that the 3.3V output delivers enough power (for now). The current that I measured for the ESP + converter boards is about 12mA, so shouldn't be a problem for the Uno.

Here's how I connect the boards :
ESP---Arduino ESP---Arduino

TX --- TX (7) GND --- GND
CH --- NC IO2 --- NC
RST --- NC IO1 --- NC
VCC --- 3.3V RX --- RX(6)

Because I don't want to use WiFi etc. (yet) I'm only interested in simple communication with the ESP using this code :

#include "SoftwareSerial.h"
SoftwareSerial Serial1(6, 7); // RX, TX : from,to ESPString incomingString;

String incomingString = "";
String cmd = "AT+RST";

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600);   // COM
  Serial1.begin(9600);// ESP
}

void loop()
{
  Serial1.print(cmd);
  incomingString = Serial1.readString();
  Serial.println(incomingString);
  Serial.println("-----");
  incomingString = "";
  delay(500);
}

I should get
OK

OK

etc...

well ... I get this :

(10 spaces)

etc.

I do see the blue LED on the ESP board blink every +/- 500mS. If I swap RX and TX : NO blinking blue LED.

Who knows (where I can find) a SIMPLE solution for this (very basic) problem ?
After I master this, I'll try to get the WiFi working... and then Blynk, and then merge all this with my data collecting Nano... But I wanna go step by step ! So please no complete setups for webservers, etc (yet ! )

Thanks in advance !

Juraj · August 22, 2019, 2:33pm

PaulVdB:
I think I have more or less the same problem as PelleS.
I searched all over the web, particulary on this forum to find an answer to my simple question : How do I establish SIMPLE communication between Uno and ESP ? e.g. send an AT command and receive the answer from the ESP. My final goal is to send data over WiFi collected by the Uno (or even Nano) to another arduino or smartphone.
I use an arduino Uno because I can't find instructions anywhere about Nano+ESP, and connect it to an 8 pin ESP-01 (8266EX) The RX-TX goes through a 3.3 /5 converter board, 3.3V and ground, I take from the Arduino board. It might be necessary to add a seperate 3.3V power supply, but because I'm not using the Wifi (yet) I know that the 3.3V output delivers enough power (for now). The current that I measured for the ESP + converter boards is about 12mA, so shouldn't be a problem for the Uno.

Here's how I connect the boards :
ESP---Arduino ESP---Arduino

TX --- TX (7) GND --- GND
CH --- NC IO2 --- NC
RST --- NC IO1 --- NC
VCC --- 3.3V RX --- RX(6)

Because I don't want to use WiFi etc. (yet) I'm only interested in simple communication with the ESP using this code :
#include "SoftwareSerial.h"

SoftwareSerial Serial1(6, 7); // RX, TX : from,to ESPString incomingString;

String incomingString = "";
String cmd = "AT+RST";

void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600); // COM
Serial1.begin(9600);// ESP
}

void loop()
{
Serial1.print(cmd);
incomingString = Serial1.readString();
Serial.println(incomingString);
Serial.println("-----");
incomingString = "";
delay(500);
}




I should get 
OK
-----
OK
-----
etc...

well ... I get this :

(10 spaces)
-----
(10 spaces)
-----
etc.

I do see the blue LED on the ESP board blink every +/- 500mS. If I swap RX and TX : NO blinking blue LED.

Who knows (where I can find) a SIMPLE solution for this (very basic) problem ? 
After I master this, I'll try to get the WiFi working... and then Blynk, and then merge all this with my data collecting Nano... But I wanna go step by step ! :) So please no complete setups for webservers, etc (yet ! :) )

Thanks in advance !

wire RX to TX. transmit to receive

PaulVdB · August 22, 2019, 3:34pm

Juraj:
wire RX to TX. transmit to receive

OK. Thanks Juraj.
It's getting better ...
Now I get

!eIE⸮

Baud rates are set right... (both 9600)
When I change the baud rate :

void setup() 
{
  Serial.begin(9600);   // COM
  Serial1.begin(19200);// ESP
}

I see on my monitor :

AT+RST

etc..

When I disconnect and reconnect the CH pin to VCC I see this :

B⸮⸮e⸮⸮P⸮^⸮§⸮⸮)[8⸮⸮⸮⸮A⸮⸮⸮R⸮[8⸮⸮⸮⸮A⸮⸮⸮R⸮[8⸮{⸮{⸮⸮⸮⸮r ⸮⸮⸮⸮⸮⸮⸮⸮⸮
Ai-Thinker Technology Co. Ltd.

ready

AT+RSTWIFI DISCONNECT

AT+RST

etc...

what am I doing wrong ?

Juraj · August 22, 2019, 4:20pm

did you set the AT firmware to 9600 baud with AT+UART command?

PaulVdB · August 22, 2019, 8:24pm

Juraj:
did you set the AT firmware to 9600 baud with AT+UART command?

Thanks for your reply ! but nope, I hadn't done that. But after changing my setup() to :

  Serial.begin(9600);   // COM
  Serial1.begin(9600);// ESP
  Serial1.print("AT+UART_DEF=9600,8,1,0,0");

I found another way to set baud to 9600 :

void setup() 
{
  Serial.begin(9600);   // COM
  Serial1.begin(9600);// ESP
  Serial1.print("AT+CIOBAUD=9600");
}

both times the same "garbage" returns...

What's still wrong ? ? ?

Juraj · August 23, 2019, 4:58am

PaulVdB:
Thanks for your reply ! but nope, I hadn't done that. But after changing my setup() to :
  Serial.begin(9600);   // COM

Serial1.begin(9600);// ESP
Serial1.print("AT+UART_DEF=9600,8,1,0,0");

I found another way to set baud to 9600 : 
void setup()
{
Serial.begin(9600); // COM
Serial1.begin(9600);// ESP
Serial1.print("AT+CIOBAUD=9600");
}
both times the same "garbage" returns...

What's still wrong ? ? ?

you must send the command at current baud rate

PaulVdB · August 23, 2019, 6:46am

Juraj:
you must send the command at current baud rate

Thanks Juraj,
Is there a way to find out what the "current baudrate" is ?
Or is it just trial and error ?
What baudrate is standard on new ESP's ?
Anyhow... thanks for your interest !

Juraj · August 23, 2019, 7:05am

PaulVdB:
Thanks Juraj,
Is there a way to find out what the "current baudrate" is ?
Or is it just trial and error ?
What baudrate is standard on new ESP's ?
Anyhow... thanks for your interest !

on new AT firmware versions default is 115200 baud.

PaulVdB · August 23, 2019, 7:25am

Juraj:
on new AT firmware versions default is 115200 baud.

Thanks again Juray !
I've read about this, but there's lots of confusion, so I thought that 9600 always works.
Now next thing I read :
Software Serial is not reliable or even not supporting 115200...
Maybe I have to hook it up to e.g. a Mega on one of it's "hardware" serials... ?
But again... tanx for the info !

Juraj · August 23, 2019, 8:03am

PaulVdB:
Thanks again Juray !
I've read about this, but there's lots of confusion, so I thought that 9600 always works.
Now next thing I read :
Software Serial is not reliable or even not supporting 115200...
Maybe I have to hook it up to e.g. a Mega on one of it's "hardware" serials... ?
But again... tanx for the info !

SoftwareSerial has problems to receive at 115200. but you can send the command at 115200

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Can not initialize ESP8266

I should get OK

OK

(10 spaces)

(10 spaces)

!eIE⸮

!eIE⸮

AT+RST

AT+RST

AT+RST

AT+RST

Related Topics

I should get
OK