SIO Wifi modem with esp8266

[Dropcheck]

Okay I think we need to have a common frame of reference:

I am using this ESP-01 with adapter:



When I connect it to a Mega2560 with direct connections to +5v,GND, TX and RX, I can follow the sequence of commands that manterola gave in an earlier post in the Arduino IDE serial monitor window to successfully connect to a BBS on a Windows 10 pc. I think this conclusively proves that this entire module is okay and is programmed well enough to function.

Then I made up two protoboards following the schematics of Stefan Both for one and AtariGeezer v2.0 for the other. I verified no shorts and that all connections ohmed out for both. Diode is going the correct direction on both boards.

On both I am getting the same behavior:

With the ESP-01 adapter connected and I am in the terminal mode of either Bobterm or ICE, if I power cycle the adapter I get a two line message from the ESP-01 displayed in the terminal window on the Atari.

WiFi Got Connected
WiFi Got IP

However I get no response from simply typing in the AT command.

I have swapped the TX and RX lines at the adapter and power cycled the adapter. No Response.

I have disconnected the TX line at the adapter and power cycled the adapter. No Reponse

I have disconnected the RX line at the adapter and power cycled the adapter.

I get
WiFi Got Connected
WiFi Got IP

but still no response to a AT command typed into the terminal window.

 

I am not using an external power supply.



I have used the same SIO breakout cable to successfully test the following full Rverter II circuit to connect the same Atari 130XE to my Lantronix MSS-100 device and out to a BBS. So I know the SIO breakout cable is correctly connected.

 

So at this point my question is other than no MAX232 chip, and no proceed line, how much different is this circuit from Both's and AG's?

Edited September 7, 2018 by Dropcheck

[AtariGeezer]

Have you tried a different diode yet? Mine might be a 1N914. That was Dr. V's problem with the SDrive-Max...

[Dropcheck]

Just replaced the 1N4148 DIODE for a 1N914.

No change:



Whatever I type into the entry line at the bottom of the screen is echoed to the terminal mode, but there is no response message.

[_The Doctor__]

don't use type ahead buffer... we can't tell if it really is echo from esp or not,

if in direct full duplex mode you can see what you type, then something else is at play

Edited September 7, 2018 by _The Doctor__

[Stefan Both]

So.. I don't have an idea left... :-(

 

Stefan

[manterola]

Just one idea left from me: retry the esp-01 and adatper but without LS00 and diode. Tx-->Din. And Dout-->RX. Just that. And power supply, of course. It should work, if the terminal program and the Rverter handler are driving the Sio Dout line.

Edited September 7, 2018 by manterola

[Stefan Both]

One last thing...

 

If you use Bobterm... Please load the rverter handler/driver

"by hand" before starting Bobterm...

Lets say

L rverter.com

L bobterm.com

 

Any differences when typing in?

 

Stefan

[a8isa1]

Just replaced the 1N4148 DIODE for a 1N914.

 

No change:

 

Whatever I type into the entry line at the bottom of the screen is echoed to the terminal mode, but there is no response message.

low odds here but you could try typing AT+CTRL-M and if that doesn't work AT+CTRL-J

[manterola]

a8isa1, I don't know why, but I guess you just discovered the answer to all of this. Crtl j will make it

[_The Doctor__]

had a device that needed control m and control j back to back once..... two parts to get the job done.... couldn't hurt to try I suppose

Edited September 7, 2018 by _The Doctor__

[Stefan Both]

???

errr???

[_The Doctor__]

some devices need that key combo to differentiate a line feed or return from a command which has both as terminator.... but that technically should not happen in ascii mode... telnet modes and the like can have such things in them though

Edited September 7, 2018 by _The Doctor__

[Dropcheck]

Just one idea left from me: retry the esp-01 and adatper but without LS00 and diode. Tx-->Din. And Dout-->RX. Just that. And power supply, of course. It should work, if the terminal program and the Rverter handler are driving the Sio Dout line.

 

Tried direct connection of ESP-01 module to SIO cable. No difference. Still just an echo of what I type in.

 

Tried swapping RX and TX connections on ESP-01 module. No difference. Still just an echo of what I type in.

One last thing...

 

If you use Bobterm... Please load the rverter handler/driver

"by hand" before starting Bobterm...

Lets say

L rverter.com

L bobterm.com

 

Any differences when typing in?

 

Stefan

 

Made no difference. Still just an echo of what I type in.

 

low odds here but you could try typing AT+CTRL-M and if that doesn't work AT+CTRL-J

 

Got an error on AT+CTRL-J.

 

No response on AT+CTRL-M

[manterola]

I guess if you received echo, and the error... So is working! Right? Your input goes to the esp-01... And your circuit with LS00 and diode is not wrong.. try typing AT+ and then Ctrl j. It should work. Do not use Ctrl m

Then try lowercase. Or just "at" Everytime follow with Ctrl j another option: at+ press enter and then Ctrl j.

It should work with some combination...

I am almost sure enter and then Ctrl j after each command will work

Edited September 7, 2018 by manterola

[AtariGeezer]

 

Tried direct connection of ESP-01 module to SIO cable. No difference. Still just an echo of what I type in.

This is perplexing, let's try something different.

Connect the ESP Adapter back up to your Arduino and program the baud rate to 19200, then reconnect back up to the A8 and run Bobterm at 19.2 to see if that does anything.

 

Another idea is to check the RX and TX voltages on the ESP Adapter when connected to the Arduino vs the A8.

 

Are you just using the 1088XEL or have you tried another A8 too???

[_The Doctor__]

if there is an echo then it comes down to syntax error... upper lower case or invalid command... looks like control J confirms command line termination....

 

getting an echo in with tx and rx reversed does not ispire confidence though.... it should not happen that way.... something bleeding through.... shouldn't be... perhaps a level issue, that is- unless the device detects reversals and correct them...

 

on most rs232 devices case matters... they prefer upper case.... with some of the esp firmware it prefers lower case, I feel that's a mistake.. but your mileage may vary....

Edited September 7, 2018 by _The Doctor__

[a8isa1]

 

Tried direct connection of ESP-01 module to SIO cable. No difference. Still just an echo of what I type in.

 

Tried swapping RX and TX connections on ESP-01 module. No difference. Still just an echo of what I type in.

 

Made no difference. Still just an echo of what I type in.

 

 

Got an error on AT+CTRL-J.

 

No response on AT+CTRL-M

I don't know much about the ESP8266 firmware. It's responding to Line Feed (CTRL-J) but doesn't see AT alone as a valid command. Well, that's my guess.

 

Bobterm must be sending CR+LF as EOL and ESP8266 doesn't like that either.

 

Pick a command that's supposed to return some kind of status from ESP8266 but end the command with CTRL-J.

Edited September 8, 2018 by a8isa1

[_The Doctor__]

and forget to try lower case also

[Dropcheck]

Folks, we are going in circles now.

 

I've tried three different Atari computers now, 1088XEL, Atari 800XL with 256K Rambo and Atari 130XE stock with two different versions of the 1/2 Rverter circuit and direct to the SIO using two different term programs with two different sourcings.

 

I can confirm that with the ESP-01 module connected to a Mega2560 +5V,GND, TX and RX and running Arduino IDE serial monitor I can connect to a BBS using a Windows PC with the original firmware that came on the module. This would seem to indicate that the module is functioning.

 

I can confirm that regardless of what Atari computer I'm using, regardless of whether I'm using the 1/2 Rverter circuits or connected directly to the SIO, regardless of what term program I am using, on the original firmware the most I can get is the communication of WiFi connection and IP assignment when the the ESP-01 module is power cycled. All AT commands are echoed to the terminal, but no response is generated from the ESP-01 and displayed on the terminal.

 

I have only two realistic options at this point. Flash the ESP-01 module I have with updated firmware or different firmware or try using a different ESP-01 module. I have a second ESP-01 module coming in hopefully today, otherwise it will be Monday. I have a USB programmer coming in either today or Monday as well.

 

In the meantime I would ask those who have this particular ESP-01 module and are able to connect to a BBS to do something for me. Take some time this weekend and step through your process for connecting to a BBS. Write down the Atari model, hardware setup, ESP-01 firmware version, how and from what device you loaded the term program you are using, what are the term programs settings, step by step the commands issued etc. Write them down and then post them here. It doesn't have to be fancy as long as it's accurate.

 

It's not just for me actually. I'm sure there are a lot of watchers who are thinking about doing this too, but are scared of wasting time and money on something that might not work for them. This will give them and me a roadmap to follow on what is working.

 

I'm signing off on this topic until my parts come in and I can take further steps at that point.

 

Thank you all,

[manterola]

Come on don't give up. I am sure enter+Ctrl j will work. But anyway, who wants to do all of that and that long series of commands, just to get connected, when you can flash zimodem in 1 step, and then enjoy a much better and simple implementation of an at compatible modem.

Ditch the original firmware.

[Stefan Both]

Does the zmodem firmware has speed dialing?

And the possibility connecting an OLed?

 

Stefan

[manterola]

Does the zmodem firmware has speed dialing?

And the possibility connecting an OLed?

 

Stefan

speed dialing .. I would say yes. It i a dialing directory in which you enter the internet address and some options and then you assign a number. For example, irata online is assigned the number 300. Later you just "dial" atd 300 and connect to plato irata.

OLED not sure, check zimodem in github:

https://github.com/bozimmerman/Zimodem

[AtariGeezer]

Finished my programmer / break-out board last night

 

This is the response from my ESP-01:

 

Ai-Thinker Technology Co. Ltd.

ready

AT+GMR
AT version:1.2.0.0(Jul 1 2016 20:04:45)
SDK version:1.5.4.1(39cb9a32)
Ai-Thinker Technology Co. Ltd.
Dec 2 2016 14:21:16
OK

I'll change the baud rate to 9600 and try on bobterm in a bit...

Edited September 8, 2018 by AtariGeezer

[AtariGeezer]

Hmmm, in bobterm you have to type in the AT Command, hit Return, then press CTL-J to be recognized...

[manterola]

Hmmm, in bobterm you have to type in the AT Command, hit Return, then press CTL-J to be recognized...

Just as I said yesterday. Enter then Ctrl j