Hello,
My project is to control and LED over wifi using an ESP8226 module and Arduino. I am a web developer, so I understand code, but I'm new to electronics.
I purchased this from Amazon: HiLetgo ESP8266 NodeMCU CP2102 ESP-12E. Amazon.com
I have connected VIN->5v, GNC ->GND, TX->2, RX->3.
I'm using the following script from the internet
/*
   WiFiEsp test: BasicTest
   Performs basic connectivity test and checks.
*/
#include "WiFiEsp.h"
// Emulate Serial1 on pins 7/6 if not present
#ifndef HAVE_HWSERIAL1
#include "SoftwareSerial.h"
SoftwareSerial Serial1(2, 3); // RX, TX
#endif
// Replaced ssid and pwd before posting
char ssid[] = "XYZ";     // your network SSID (name)
char pwd[] = "XYZ";  // your network password
char pwdErr[] = "xxxx";   // wrong password
void setup()
{
    Serial.begin(115200);
    Serial1.begin(9600);
    WiFi.init(&Serial1);
}
void loop()
{
    assertEquals("Firmware version", WiFi.firmwareVersion(), "1.5.4");
    assertEquals("Status is (WL_DISCONNECTED)", WiFi.status(), WL_DISCONNECTED);
    assertEquals("Connect", WiFi.begin(ssid, pwd), WL_CONNECTED);
    assertEquals("Check status (WL_CONNECTED)", WiFi.status(), WL_CONNECTED);
    assertEquals("Check SSID", WiFi.SSID(), ssid);
    IPAddress ip = WiFi.localIP();
    assertNotEquals("Check IP Address", ip[0], 0);
    Serial.print("IP Address: ");
    Serial.println(ip);
    byte mac[6]={0,0,0,0,0,0};
    WiFi.macAddress(mac);
    Serial.print("MAC: ");
    Serial.print(mac[5], HEX);
    Serial.print(":");
    Serial.print(mac[4], HEX);
    Serial.print(":");
    Serial.print(mac[3], HEX);
    Serial.print(":");
    Serial.print(mac[2], HEX);
    Serial.print(":");
    Serial.print(mac[1], HEX);
    Serial.print(":");
    Serial.println(mac[0], HEX);
    Serial.println();
    assertEquals("Disconnect", WiFi.disconnect(), WL_DISCONNECTED);
    assertEquals("Check status (WL_DISCONNECTED)", WiFi.status(), WL_DISCONNECTED);
    assertEquals("IP Address", WiFi.localIP(), 0);
    assertEquals("Check SSID", WiFi.SSID(), "");
    assertEquals("Wrong pwd", WiFi.begin(ssid, pwdErr), WL_CONNECT_FAILED);
    IPAddress localIp(192, 168, 168, 111);
    WiFi.config(localIp);
    assertEquals("Connect", WiFi.begin(ssid, pwd), WL_CONNECTED);
    assertEquals("Check status (WL_CONNECTED)", WiFi.status(), WL_CONNECTED);
    ip = WiFi.localIP();
    assertNotEquals("Check IP Address", ip[0], 0);
    Serial.println("END OF TESTS");
    delay(60000);
}
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
void assertNotEquals(const char* test, int actual, int expected)
{
    if(actual!=expected)
        pass(test);
    else
        fail(test, actual, expected);
}
void assertEquals(const char* test, int actual, int expected)
{
    if(actual==expected)
        pass(test);
    else
        fail(test, actual, expected);
}
void assertEquals(const char* test, char* actual, char* expected)
{
    if(strcmp(actual, expected) == 0)
        pass(test);
    else
        fail(test, actual, expected);
}
void pass(const char* test)
{
    Serial.print(F("********************************************** "));
    Serial.print(test);
    Serial.println(" > PASSED");
    Serial.println();
}
void fail(const char* test, char* actual, char* expected)
{
    Serial.print(F("********************************************** "));
    Serial.print(test);
    Serial.print(" > FAILED");
    Serial.print(" (actual=\"");
    Serial.print(actual);
    Serial.print("\", expected=\"");
    Serial.print(expected);
    Serial.println("\")");
    Serial.println();
    delay(10000);
}
void fail(const char* test, int actual, int expected)
{
    Serial.print(F("********************************************** "));
    Serial.print(test);
    Serial.print(" > FAILED");
    Serial.print(" (actual=");
    Serial.print(actual);
    Serial.print(", expected=");
    Serial.print(expected);
    Serial.println(")");
    Serial.println();
    delay(10000);
}
I get the following from the serial monitor
[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
********************************************** Firmware version > FAILED (actual="", expected="1.5.4")
I'm unsure what's going wrong and what I should be doing to debug it. Any help, articles, etc would be greatly appreciated.

