WiFi on AP mode stopped working (forever?) after softAPdisconnect()

[acautomacaoecontrole]

Board

Generic development board with a ESP-WROOM-32

Device Description

Brandless generic Development board and development board with ESP32 module adapter.

Hardware Configuration

Not aplicable

Version

latest master (checkout manually)

IDE Name

PlatformIO and Arduino

Operating System

Widows 8.1

Flash frequency

40MHz

PSRAM enabled

no

Upload speed

921600

Description

HARDWARE: ESP32 240MHz, 320KB RAM, 4MB Flash
PACKAGES:

• framework-arduinoespressif32 @ 3.20014.231204 (2.0.14)
• tool-esptoolpy @ 1.40501.0 (4.5.1)
• tool-mkfatfs @ 2.0.1
• tool-mklittlefs @ 1.203.210628 (2.3)
• tool-mkspiffs @ 2.230.0 (2.30)
• toolchain-xtensa-esp32 @ 8.4.0+2021r2-patch5
  Dependency Graph
  |-- WiFi @ 2.0.0
  Building in release mode
  Advanced Memory Usage is available via "PlatformIO Home > Project Inspect"
  RAM: [= ] 13.0% (used 42508 bytes from 327680 bytes)
  Flash: [===== ] 54.9% (used 719889 bytes from 1310720 bytes)
  AVAILABLE: cmsis-dap, esp-bridge, esp-prog, espota, esptool, iot-bus-jtag, jlink, minimodule, olimex-arm-usb-ocd, olimex-arm-usb-ocd-h, olimex-arm-usb-tiny-h, olimex-jtag-tiny, tumpa
  CURRENT: upload_protocol = esptool
  esptool.py v4.5.1
  Chip is ESP32-D0WDQ6 (revision v1.0)
  Features: WiFi, BT, Dual Core, 240MHz, VRef calibration in efuse, Coding Scheme None
  Crystal is 40MHz

Hi!

I've been working on a Wi-Fi AP project and doing several changes to experiment results and after using softAPdisconnect(), I've noticed ESP32 was not transmitting anymore, even after resetting, turning it off and on and erasing flash.
At a initial moment, I could not realize that this problem happened after using softAPdisconnect().

I've removed little by little the last changes but nothing made the AP work again.

So, I've taken a second ESP32 module and the AP project came back to life. I spared the first ESP32 for a later investigation.

Back to the development of the AP project, at certain moment I included again softAPdisconnect() and the previous problem arose again. This time I could realize that it was related to this function, but I have no clue why, even after checking WiFiAP.cpp to understand what this fucttion does.

Again, a new ESP32 module was taken and the AP functions again. This time softAPdisconnect() was removed.

I do not know if what caused the problem was either softAPdisconnect( true ) or softAPdisconnect( false ). Both?

I've spending A LOT of time trying to recover those 2 ESP32 modules in order to be used as AP again. All failed till now. As a station (client), it works.

BTW, Functions "enableSTA(true)", "WiFi.mode( WIFI_MODE_STA )", "esp_wifi_set_mode( mode )" ("mode" previously set to "WIFI_MODE_STA") do not change mode value. It's always "WIFI_MODE_NULL", according to the result of "esp_wifi_get_mode( &mode )". It ALWAYS returns "ESP_OK" and put the "WIFI_MODE_NULL" value on "mode" variable.
Notice: this constant return of "WIFI_MODE_NULL" happens even on a ESP32 module that is AP operative.

So, the questions:

1. How I will make those two ESP32 modules back to normal?
2. What should I do to stop ESP32 of working as AP but without preventing it from work as AP again?

Sketch

#include  <Arduino.h>
#include <WiFi.h>
#include <WiFiClient.h>
#include <WiFiAP.h>
#include "esp_wifi.h"
#include "WiFiGeneric.h"
#include "WiFiServer.h"
#include <stdio.h>
#include <Strings.h>

//
//  Defines
//

#define MAXIMUM_CONNECTED_STATIONS                                                 50

//
// Variables
//

int         msgCounter = 0;

const char* ssid           = "uPesy_AP";                // SSID Name
const char* password       = "super_strong_password";   // SSID Password - Set to NULL to have an open AP
const int   channel        = 10;                        // WiFi Channel number between 1 and 13
const bool  hide_SSID      = false;                     // To disable SSID broadcast -> SSID will not appear in a basic WiFi scan
const int   max_connection = 2;                         // Maximum simultaneous connected clients on the AP

void showCurrentMode( const char *texto )
{   
    wifi_mode_t mode;

    msgCounter++;
    ets_printf( "\n%03d %s\n\tData returned from esp_wifi_get_mode: ", msgCounter, texto );
    switch( esp_wifi_get_mode( &mode ))
    {
        case ESP_OK:
        {
            ets_printf( "ESP_OK\n" );
            break;
        }
        case ESP_ERR_WIFI_NOT_INIT:
        {
            ets_printf( "ESP_ERR_WIFI_NOT_INIT\n" );
            break;
        }
        case ESP_ERR_INVALID_ARG:
        {
            ets_printf( "ESP_ERR_INVALID_ARG\n" );
            break;
        }
        default:
        {
            ets_printf( "resultado desconhecido\n" );    
        }
    }
    ets_printf( "\tMode: " );
    switch( esp_wifi_get_mode( &mode ))
    {
        case WIFI_MODE_NULL:
        {
            ets_printf( "WIFI_MODE_NULL %d\n", WIFI_MODE_NULL );
            break;
        }
        case WIFI_MODE_STA:
        {
            ets_printf( "WIFI_MODE_STA - %d\n", WIFI_MODE_STA );
            break;
        }
        case WIFI_MODE_AP:
        {
            ets_printf( "WIFI_MODE_AP - %d\n", WIFI_MODE_AP );
            break;
        }
        case WIFI_MODE_APSTA:
        {
            ets_printf( "WIFI_MODE_APSTA - %d\n", WIFI_MODE_APSTA );
            break;
        }
        case WIFI_MODE_MAX:
        {
            ets_printf( "WIFI_MODE_MAX - %d\n", WIFI_MODE_MAX );
            break;
        }
        default:
        {
            ets_printf( "Unkown value\n" );
        }
    }
}

void setup()
{
    wifi_mode_t mode;
    Serial.begin( 921600 );

    ets_printf( "\n" );
    Serial.println("\n[*] Creating AP");

    showCurrentMode( "Before esp_wifi_start()" );

    mode = WIFI_MODE_AP;
    WiFi.mode( mode );

    showCurrentMode( "After WiFi.mode( mode )" );

    WiFi.softAP( ssid, password );

    showCurrentMode( "After WiFi.softAP( ssid, password )" );

    Serial.print( "[+] AP Created with IP Gateway " );
    Serial.println( WiFi.softAPIP() );
}

void loop()
{
}

Debug Message

Following printout is the same for the two groups of ESP32:

[*] Creating AP

001 Before esp_wifi_start()
        Data returned from esp_wifi_get_mode: ESP_ERR_WIFI_NOT_INIT
        Mode: Unkown value

002 After esp_wifi_start()
        Data returned from esp_wifi_get_mode: ESP_ERR_WIFI_NOT_INIT
        Mode: Unkown value

getMode() - !lowLevelInitDone || !_esp_wifi_started - #1

getMode() - !lowLevelInitDone - #1.1

getMode() - !_esp_wifi_started - #1.2

wifiLowLevelInit() - @1

wifiLowLevelInit() - @2

wifiLowLevelInit() - @4

wifiLowLevelInit() - @5

wifiLowLevelInit() - @6

wifiLowLevelInit() - @9

wifiLowLevelInit() - @10

espWiFiStart() - $3

mode $13

003 After WiFi.mode( mode )
        Data returned from esp_wifi_get_mode: ESP_OK
        Mode: WIFI_MODE_NULL 0

getMode() - fim - #3

softAP() - =6
        ssid: uPesy_AP
        pass: super_strong_password
        cana: 1
        hidd: 0
        mac_: 4
        stm_: 0

004 After WiFi.softAP( ssid, password )
        Data returned from esp_wifi_get_mode: ESP_OK
        Mode: WIFI_MODE_NULL 0
[+] AP Created with IP Gateway
getMode() - fim - #3
192.168.4.1

Wifigeneric.cpp and Wifista.cpp were modified to add some messages for tracking purpose:

wifi_mode_t WiFiGenericClass::getMode()
{
    if(!lowLevelInitDone || !_esp_wifi_started){
//ssrxxxteste        
ets_printf( "\ngetMode() - !lowLevelInitDone || !_esp_wifi_started - #1\n" );//ssrxxxteste                  
if( !lowLevelInitDone )
{
    ets_printf( "\ngetMode() - !lowLevelInitDone - #1.1\n" );//ssrxxxteste
}
if( !_esp_wifi_started )
{
    ets_printf( "\ngetMode() - !_esp_wifi_started - #1.2\n" );//ssrxxxteste
}
//ssrxxxteste
        return WIFI_MODE_NULL;
 }



bool wifiLowLevelInit(bool persistent){
ets_printf( "\nwifiLowLevelInit() - @1\n" );//ssrxxxteste
    if(!lowLevelInitDone){
ets_printf( "\nwifiLowLevelInit() - @2\n" );//ssrxxxteste        
        lowLevelInitDone = true;
        if(!tcpipInit()){
ets_printf( "\nwifiLowLevelInit() - @3\n" );//ssrxxxteste                    
        	lowLevelInitDone = false;
        	return lowLevelInitDone;
        }
        if(esp_netifs[ESP_IF_WIFI_AP] == NULL){
ets_printf( "\nwifiLowLevelInit() - @4\n" );//ssrxxxteste                    
            esp_netifs[ESP_IF_WIFI_AP] = esp_netif_create_default_wifi_ap();
        }
        if(esp_netifs[ESP_IF_WIFI_STA] == NULL){
ets_printf( "\nwifiLowLevelInit() - @5\n" );//ssrxxxteste                    
            esp_netifs[ESP_IF_WIFI_STA] = esp_netif_create_default_wifi_sta();
        }

        wifi_init_config_t cfg = WIFI_INIT_CONFIG_DEFAULT();

	if(!WiFiGenericClass::useStaticBuffers()) {
ets_printf( "\nwifiLowLevelInit() - @6\n" );//ssrxxxteste        
	    cfg.static_tx_buf_num = 0;
            cfg.dynamic_tx_buf_num = 32;
	    cfg.tx_buf_type = 1;
            cfg.cache_tx_buf_num = 4;  // can't be zero!
	    cfg.static_rx_buf_num = 4;
            cfg.dynamic_rx_buf_num = 32;
        }

        esp_err_t err = esp_wifi_init(&cfg);
        if(err){
            log_e("esp_wifi_init %d", err);
        	lowLevelInitDone = false;
ets_printf( "\nwifiLowLevelInit() - @7\n" );//ssrxxxteste                    
        	return lowLevelInitDone;
        }
// Temporary fix to ensure that CDC+JTAG stay on on ESP32-C3
#if CONFIG_IDF_TARGET_ESP32C3
	phy_bbpll_en_usb(true);
#endif
        if(!persistent){
ets_printf( "\nwifiLowLevelInit() - @8\n" );//ssrxxxteste                    
        	lowLevelInitDone = esp_wifi_set_storage(WIFI_STORAGE_RAM) == ESP_OK;
        }
        if(lowLevelInitDone){
ets_printf( "\nwifiLowLevelInit() - @9\n" );//ssrxxxteste                    
			arduino_event_t arduino_event;
			arduino_event.event_id = ARDUINO_EVENT_WIFI_READY;
			postArduinoEvent(&arduino_event);
        }
    }
ets_printf( "\nwifiLowLevelInit() - @10\n" );//ssrxxxteste            
    return lowLevelInitDone;
}



static bool espWiFiStart(){
    if(_esp_wifi_started){
ets_printf( "\nespWiFiStart() - $1\n" );//ssrxxxteste                
        return true;
    }
    _esp_wifi_started = true;
    esp_err_t err = esp_wifi_start();
    if (err != ESP_OK) {
ets_printf( "\nespWiFiStart() - $2\n" );//ssrxxxteste                        
        _esp_wifi_started = false;
        log_e("esp_wifi_start %d", err);
        return _esp_wifi_started;
    }
ets_printf( "\nespWiFiStart() - $3\n" );//ssrxxxteste                    
    return _esp_wifi_started;
}



bool WiFiGenericClass::mode(wifi_mode_t m)
{
    wifi_mode_t cm = getMode();
    if(cm == m) {
ets_printf( "\n$1\n" );//ssrxxxteste          
        return true;
    }
    if(!cm && m){
        if(!wifiLowLevelInit(_persistent)){
ets_printf( "\n$2\n" );//ssrxxxteste                      
            return false;
        }
    } else if(cm && !m){
ets_printf( "\n$3\n" );//ssrxxxteste                  
        return espWiFiStop();
    }

    esp_err_t err;
    if(m & WIFI_MODE_STA){
ets_printf( "\n$4\n" );//ssrxxxteste                  
    	err = set_esp_interface_hostname(ESP_IF_WIFI_STA, get_esp_netif_hostname());
        if(err){
            log_e("Could not set hostname! %d", err);
ets_printf( "\n$5\n" );//ssrxxxteste                      
            return false;
        }
    }
    err = esp_wifi_set_mode(m);
    if(err){
        log_e("Could not set mode! %d", err);
ets_printf( "\n$6\n" );//ssrxxxteste                  
        return false;
    }
    if(_long_range){
ets_printf( "\n$7\n" );//ssrxxxteste                  
        if(m & WIFI_MODE_STA){
ets_printf( "\n$8\n" );//ssrxxxteste                      
            err = esp_wifi_set_protocol(WIFI_IF_STA, WIFI_PROTOCOL_LR);
            if(err != ESP_OK){
                log_e("Could not enable long range on STA! %d", err);
ets_printf( "\n$9\n" );//ssrxxxteste                          
                return false;
            }
        }
        if(m & WIFI_MODE_AP){
ets_printf( "\n$10\n" );//ssrxxxteste                      
            err = esp_wifi_set_protocol(WIFI_IF_AP, WIFI_PROTOCOL_LR);
            if(err != ESP_OK){
                log_e("Could not enable long range on AP! %d", err);
ets_printf( "\n$11\n" );//ssrxxxteste                          
                return false;
            }
        }
    }
    if(!espWiFiStart()){
ets_printf( "\n$12\n" );//ssrxxxteste                  
        return false;
    }

    #ifdef BOARD_HAS_DUAL_ANTENNA
        if(!setDualAntennaConfig(ANT1, ANT2, WIFI_RX_ANT_AUTO, WIFI_TX_ANT_AUTO)){
            log_e("Dual Antenna Config failed!");
            return false;
        }
    #endif
ets_printf( "\nmode $13\n" );//ssrxxxteste          
    return true;
}



wifi_mode_t WiFiGenericClass::getMode()
{
    if(!lowLevelInitDone || !_esp_wifi_started){
//ssrxxxteste        
ets_printf( "\ngetMode() - !lowLevelInitDone || !_esp_wifi_started - #1\n" );//ssrxxxteste                  
if( !lowLevelInitDone )
{
    ets_printf( "\ngetMode() - !lowLevelInitDone - #1.1\n" );//ssrxxxteste
}
if( !_esp_wifi_started )
{
    ets_printf( "\ngetMode() - !_esp_wifi_started - #1.2\n" );//ssrxxxteste
}
//ssrxxxteste
        return WIFI_MODE_NULL;
    }
    wifi_mode_t mode;
    if(esp_wifi_get_mode(&mode) != ESP_OK){
ets_printf( "\ngetMode() #2\n" );//ssrxxxteste                          
        log_w("WiFi not started");
        return WIFI_MODE_NULL;
    }
ets_printf( "\ngetMode() - fim - #3\n" );//ssrxxxteste                      
    return mode;
}



bool WiFiAPClass::softAP(const char* ssid, const char* passphrase, int channel, int ssid_hidden, int max_connection, bool ftm_responder)
{

    if(!ssid || *ssid == 0) {
        // fail SSID missing
        log_e("SSID missing!");
ets_printf( "\n=1\n" );//ssrxxxteste
        return false;
    }

    if(passphrase && (strlen(passphrase) > 0 && strlen(passphrase) < 8)) {
        // fail passphrase too short
        log_e("passphrase too short!");
ets_printf( "\n=2\n" );//ssrxxxteste        
        return false;
    }

    // last step after checking the SSID and password
    if(!WiFi.enableAP(true)) {
        // enable AP failed
        log_e("enable AP first!");
ets_printf( "\n=3\n" );//ssrxxxteste        
        return false;
    }

    wifi_config_t conf;
    wifi_config_t conf_current;
    wifi_softap_config(&conf, ssid, passphrase, channel, WIFI_AUTH_WPA2_PSK, ssid_hidden, max_connection, ftm_responder);
    esp_err_t err = esp_wifi_get_config((wifi_interface_t)WIFI_IF_AP, &conf_current);
    if(err){
    	log_e("get AP config failed");
ets_printf( "\n=4\n" );//ssrxxxteste        
        return false;
    }
    if(!softap_config_equal(conf, conf_current)) {
    	err = esp_wifi_set_config((wifi_interface_t)WIFI_IF_AP, &conf);
        if(err){
        	log_e("set AP config failed");
ets_printf( "\n=5\n" );//ssrxxxteste            
            return false;
        }
    }
//ssrxxxteste
ets_printf( "\nsoftAP() - =6\n"
            "\tssid: %s\n"
            "\tpass: %s\n"
            "\tcana: %d\n"
            "\thidd: %d\n"
            "\tmac_: %d\n"
            "\tstm_: %d\n",
            ssid, passphrase, channel, ssid_hidden, max_connection, ftm_responder );
//ssrxxxteste
    return true;
}

Other Steps to Reproduce

No response

I have checked existing issues, online documentation and the Troubleshooting Guide

• I confirm I have checked existing issues, online documentation and Troubleshooting guide.

[me-no-dev]

where in the example sketch do I call WiFi.softAPdisconnect()? After printing IP, after some time? On some event?

[VojtechBartoska]

any updates @acautomacaoecontrole?

[kestasli]

I got exactly same problem with Lilygo esp32s3 T-display. Not sure if WiFi.softAPdisconnect() was executed, as I was using WiFiMmanager library. But now it is not possible to run module in AP mode no matter what (2x modules). Third module (which was not used during the project) runs totally OK. No flash erase/code reload works.

[VojtechBartoska]

Hello, networking was refactored for 3.0.0 version. Will you be able to retest in on newest version?

[sle118]

I am experiencing the same issue on Arduino 3.0.1.

The device has been working just fine, using the wifimanager library and the arduino framework 2+, up until the point where I tried V3.0.0 and things went south. I went as far as erasing flash and flashing the WiFiAccessPoint example with no success. Logs don't show any error either.

  Arduino Version   : 3.0.1
------------------------------------------
Board Info:
------------------------------------------
  Arduino Board     : ESP32_DEV
  Arduino Variant   : esp32
  Arduino FQBN      : esp32:esp32:esp32:UploadSpeed=921600,CPUFreq=240,FlashFreq=80,FlashMode=qio,FlashSize=4M,PartitionScheme=default,DebugLevel=verbose,PSRAM=disabled,LoopCore=1,EventsCore=1,EraseFlash=none,JTAGAdapter=default,ZigbeeMode=default
============ Before Setup End ============
[   716][V][esp32-hal-periman.c:235] perimanSetBusDeinit(): Deinit function for type GPIO (1) successfully set to 0x401640c8
[   728][V][esp32-hal-periman.c:160] perimanSetPinBus(): Pin 2 successfully set to type GPIO (1) with bus 0x3
[   739][V][esp32-hal-uart.c:408] uartBegin(): UART0 baud(115200) Mode(800001c) rxPin(3) txPin(1)
[   750][V][esp32-hal-uart.c:497] uartBegin(): UART0 not installed. Starting installation
[   761][V][esp32-hal-uart.c:544] uartBegin(): UART0 initialization done.

Configuring access point...
[   786][V][NetworkEvents.cpp:119] checkForEvent(): Network Event: 9 - WIFI_READY
AP IP address: 192.168.4.1
[   887][V][AP.cpp:106] _onApEvent(): AP Started
[   893][V][NetworkEvents.cpp:119] checkForEvent(): Network Event: 19 - AP_START
[   900][V][AP.cpp:88] _onApArduinoEvent(): Arduino AP Event: 19 - AP_START
Server started
=========== After Setup Start ============
INTERNAL Memory Info:
------------------------------------------
  Total Size        :   344616 B ( 336.5 KB)
  Free Bytes        :   262352 B ( 256.2 KB)
  Allocated Bytes   :    72352 B (  70.7 KB)
  Minimum Free Bytes:   261856 B ( 255.7 KB)
  Largest Free Block:   110580 B ( 108.0 KB)
------------------------------------------
GPIO Info:
------------------------------------------
  GPIO : BUS_TYPE[bus/unit][chan]
  --------------------------------------  
     1 : UART_TX[0]
     2 : GPIO
     3 : UART_RX[0]
============ After Setup End =============

[me-no-dev]

@sle118 I can not reproduce this with your exact settings and code. AP working fine on my end.

[sle118]

@me-no-dev Since I was more familiar with the esp-idf framework than the Arduino framework (which controls a bit too much of the underlying sdkconfig to get to the bottom of issues), I went ahead and flashed the esp-idf softAP example which gave me a better clue as to what was going on and I give it to you in hope that this also applies to others hitting the same problem.

0x40080400: _init at ??:?

load:0x40080404,len:3876
entry 0x4008064c
W (69) rtc_clk_init: Possibly invalid CONFIG_XTAL_FREQ setting (40MHz). Detected 26 MHz.
��♥���lo�
c∟�lc��oo��
l�$��c�►��s|l�c�o►↕N|�↕☻��N��↕�����NN�NN�►��|ΐN�dN$ΐN���dN�♦"∟�$"��Nn��
�p~�N↕Nn�
�b�n��c��nl

I was having this gibberish serial output and I just couldn't figure out until flashing the esp-idf example which clearly showed there was a crystal speed mismatch. Once the crystal speed was set to "autodetect", problem went away and the softAP started working again.

I am unsure how I can select the proper crystal speed on the Arduino platform, but I guess I have to fiddle around to know. Other than that, the esp-idf example is working just fine. These settings are key for my board:

CONFIG_SOC_XTAL_SUPPORT_26M=y
CONFIG_SOC_XTAL_SUPPORT_40M=y
CONFIG_SOC_XTAL_SUPPORT_AUTO_DETECT=y

Edit:
Monitoring on the Arduino IDE has to be done at 74880 bauds, which is 65% of the 115200 bauds which the Serial.begin(115200) uses. This is the same ratio as the board's 26MHz clock vs the 40MHz that the system is trying to use. And I don't see in the Arduino how I could run the board at 240MHz with the 26MHz crystal.

Something that just works using the esp-idf

Edit 2:
Well. Smells like bad news
#8908

[me-no-dev]

@sle118 ouch... bad news. We could not keep the crystal to auto in Arduino for other reasons (I can not recall now, but something crucial stopped working) so we dropped support for 26MHz crystals. I only know of one board that uses it (red sparkfun esp32 board)

[VojtechBartoska]

@acautomacaoecontrole can this issue be closed?

[Parsaabasi]

Hello,

Due to the overwhelming volume of issues currently being addressed, we have decided to close the previously received tickets. If you still require assistance or if the issue persists, please don't hesitate to reopen the ticket.

Thanks.