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

[acautomacaoecontrole]

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?

[acautomacaoecontrole]

Code is very simple but enough to show that an ESP32 has not been submited to the function softAPdisconnect() works and the two ones that softAPdisconnect() was executed, not.

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#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()
{
}
//---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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;
}

That is like the ESP32 module that executed softAPdisconnect() suffered some damage (what doesn't make any sense) or some especial flag/value were written on flash that prevents ESP32 tx radio from work.

[me-no-dev]

Please submit an issue instead, where you will detail on your environment (os, chip, revision, version of the core, etc.).

[acautomacaoecontrole]

Hi, thanks for your suggestion. I've just created a new issue report.

[acautomacaoecontrole]

This discussion was moved to the issue section at #9110