PlusCart(s) does not reconnect

[Al_Nafuur]

User @Fierodoug5 reports:

After connecting two PlusCarts via "WPS Connect" and using them for a few days both PlusCarts report "No WiFi".

No Request can be found in the PlusStore log files anymore.

[Al_Nafuur]

@Fierodoug5
can you test the URL:
http://pluscart.firmaplus.de/api.php?p=
 

with a browser from a device that is connected to same WiFi like the PlusCarts? What is the response you see?

 

[Fierodoug5]

Will do when I get home tonight, at work. Thanx

[Fierodoug5]

5 086820**Update**

[Fierodoug5]

If I try to connect using the WIFI manager portal, I can connect to Pluscart, but says no internet connection

 

[Al_Nafuur]

7 minutes ago, Fierodoug5 said:

5 086820**Update**

the connection is Ok.

[Al_Nafuur]

5 minutes ago, Fierodoug5 said:

If I try to connect using the WIFI manager portal, I can connect to Pluscart, but says no internet connection

 

🤔

[Fierodoug5]

Both my carts do the same thing. I tried reflashing one of the carts, no change

[Al_Nafuur]

29 minutes ago, Fierodoug5 said:

Both my carts do the same thing. I tried reflashing one of the carts, no change

I think the problem can not be solved with reflashing the STM32 firmware🤔

 

Which AT-firmware version have you flashed to the ESP8266?

 

If you have a FTDI USB 3.3V to TTL Serial adapter you can connect to the ESP8266 directly and send AT commands with an terminal program like ESPlorer (the connection speed is 115200).

 

Unplug the PlusCart from your VCS before you connect to a FTDI board.

 

See attached picture where to connect the wires from the FTDI to the PlusCart. The wires are:

Orange:  3.3V
Black:   GND
Red:     TxD
Brown:   RxD

the AT-Command to check if the ESP is connected is:

AT+CWJAP?

 

 

the AT-Command to delete all network connections is:

AT+RESTORE

 

 

 

[Fierodoug5]

yeah, I dont have one of those.

Was just using the stock firmware that the esp8266 shipped with

[Al_Nafuur]

6 minutes ago, Fierodoug5 said:

Was just using the stock firmware that the esp8266 shipped with

🤔

This is often a very old version..

 

[Fierodoug5]

how do you update it

[Fierodoug5]

I just don't understand how both carts went from working no problem to having the exact same problem the next day. 

 

[Al_Nafuur]

38 minutes ago, Fierodoug5 said:

how do you update it

FTDI and aditionally  one pin of the esp has to be grounded.

I can send a more detailed description tomorrow

[Al_Nafuur]

36 minutes ago, Fierodoug5 said:

I just don't understand how both carts went from working no problem to having the exact same problem the next day. 

 

I am not sure, but you should check the firmware version of the ESPs. It should be v1.6.2 or higher.

The older versions are known to be bugy 

[Fierodoug5]

10 hours ago, Al_Nafuur said:

FTDI and aditionally  one pin of the esp has to be grounded.

I can send a more detailed description tomorrow

I did find one of these

[Al_Nafuur]

2 hours ago, Fierodoug5 said:

I did find one of these

Looks good, have you tried to connect to the ESP8266 (make sure the jumper on the FTDI is set to 3.3V).

 

Have you downloaded the ESPlorer ?

 

After connecting the FTDI to the ESP and USB cable to the PC you should:

1. select the com port
2. select the connection speed (115200)
3. open the connection

On the left side you should select the tab "AT-based" there are buttons for most of the AT commands, so you don't have to type them in.

• "GMR" is for checking the flashed firmware version
• "CWJAP?" queries the connection info
• "CWLAP" get list of available access points (if you get errors with "CWJAP?" and "CWLAP" you have to set the ESP to station mode with "CWMODE=1")
• "CWJAP" join an access point

 

 

[Fierodoug5]

at version 1.1.0.0

sdk version 1.5.4

When I connect to my wifi I get

WIFI CONNECTED
WIFI GOT IP

OK

[Al_Nafuur]

5 minutes ago, Fierodoug5 said:

at version 1.1.0.0

sdk version 1.5.4

When I connect to my wifi I get

WIFI CONNECTED
WIFI GOT IP

OK

🤔
this version is from May 2016

AT version:1.1.0.0(May 11 2016 18:09:56)
SDK version:1.5.4(baaeaebb)

 

I recommend  using AT version 1.6.2 :

AT+GMR
AT version:1.6.2.0(Apr 13 2018 11:10:59)
SDK version:2.2.1(6ab97e9)
compile time:Jun  7 2018 19:34:26
Bin version(Wroom 02):1.6.2

Or the newest AT version 1.7.4 from June 2020 (see attached file)

 

Flashing instructions:

• download the Nodemcu Flasher (from: https://github.com/nodemcu/nodemcu-flasher) win32 or win64 for your OS
• unpack the attached zip with the AT firmware v1.7.4 files
• select the files in the nodemcu flasher config tab like this (double check the memory addresses and that the checkbox before the filename is checked) :

 

• switch to the operations tab.
• before connecting your FTDI to the PC you have to ground the IO Pin 8 of the ESP to set it to flash mode:

• after connecting select the com port in the nodemcu flasher and press the "Flash(F)" button.

 

good luck

 

 

 

ESP8266_NonOS_AT_Bin_V1.7.4.zip

[Fierodoug5]

ok, now on 1.7.4 firmware

WPS connect results in Wifi connected but no bars in upper right and no menu options

Wifi setup results in No Wifi

Wifi manager portal results in connected but no internet

All same as before firmware update

[Fierodoug5]

When I connected using ESPlorer, it showed up in the router as ESP_FE9A4A

[Al_Nafuur]

If you connect the ESP with ESPlorer, you don't need to connect it again via "WPS Connect", "WiFi Manager" or "WiFi Setup" in the PlusCart menu. The ESP8266 should auto-connect to your AP, you can test it with the ESPlorer by turning it off and on (disconnecting and reconnect to USB)..

 

 

[Fierodoug5]

Now it wont connect in ESPlorer anymore, so got me

[Fierodoug5]

Ok, it does connect fine in ESPlorer, and stays connected when I disconnect/reconnect

Plug it into the 2600...No Wifi

[Al_Nafuur]

2 minutes ago, Fierodoug5 said:

Ok, it does connect fine in ESPlorer, and stays connected when I disconnect/reconnect

Plug it into the 2600...No Wifi

It seems like the ESP8266 can not reach the PlusStore or the Internet. Can you try to send a http request with the ESPlorer?