WiFi Setup Pre Firmware version vF1_1.9.19

Newer version is here

The following is for the ESP firmware supplied by ByVac (free).

Browser Method

When the firmware to the ESP device is first installed, or first purchased form ByVac the ESP device will be an Access Point (AP). This enables a connection through a browser so that its settings can be changed. At any time should something go wrong, the ESP device can be set back to the factory defaults.

This following assumes a Windows machine.

Step 1

Connect to the ESP device using the Wi-Fi settings. Exactly how this is done will of course vary from device to device. The screen shot here is from a Windows 7 machine.

The SSID normally start ESP but could be anything, just look for the open AP or one you haven't seen before.

Step 2

Using a browser enter 192.168.4.1 in the browser address bar. ** You may have to wait for the ESP to give your PC an IP address.

The actual screens may change depending on the firmware.

It is recommended, initially anyway, that the ESP be set as a station. Click on Station Setup.

Set all that is needed in one go as this is a 1 shot operation, you will not be able to get back here without re-setting the system flag or doing a factory reset.

NOTE: When pressing Save & Reboot the browser may stop responding, this is usually okay. The ESP device will need a physical reset after the set up (i.e power down and than back up).

Settings

This text will give help on the settings that are available.

Firmware: This shows the current firmware installed on the ESP device.

Baud Rate: (Default 115200). The ESP device communicates essentially through serial access, the Baud rate can be changed here. For other aspects of communication, data bits etc. then serial communication will be needed to access the command set.

SSID: This is the name of the router you wish to connect to in station mode (mode 1). Set this to the same name as your home router and all communication will be via that router. This is the most common method of using the device. [More detailed Information]

Password: This is the (wifi code) password of the home router. The ESP will figure out the type of security used and once correctly set it will enable communication vie the router.

Port: A socket consists of an IP address and a port number, the default is 80 so that it can easily communicate with a browser.


The following is only applicable to mode 1

IP Address: This has 2 options. If set to 0, which is not a valid ip address, the home router will give the ESP device an address in the correct range for your network. The down side to this is that to communicate with the ESP device you need to know the address and so you will have to login to the home router and find out what address it has been given. This is called a dynamic IP address. [More detailed information]

An alternative is for you to choose a fixed IP address so that any communication is via a known IP address. When choosing an address consider the following:

  1. The first 3 numbers must match your network (router) address.
  2. It must not have the same address as any other device on the network.

Gateway: This is the IP address of your home router

Netmask: Just set this to 255.255.255.0


Mode: This is important, there are 2 possible modes that the ESP device can work in, by default this is mode 2 and the ESP device behaves as an Access Point, exactly the same way that your home router does. It is set to this by default so that a browser can be used for setting the device up. Mode 1 is station mode that is more likely to be used, in this mode it will connect and become part of your home network.


The following is only applicable to mode 2

SSID: This sets the name of the ESP device, just as the home router has a name. It is this name that appears in the wifi list on the host when connecting to it.

Password: This can be left blank for an open, unsecured AP otherwise it needs setting, use at least 10 characters.

Auth Mode: This determines the security: 0=Open, 1=WEP, 2=WPA_PSK, 3=WPA2_PSK, 4=WPA_WPA2_PSK

Channel: This is the radio channel that the device uses.


Save & Reboot: Once this is pressed the browser will no longer be accessible, it is switched off as it will get in the way of normal operations. In some instances the browser will not respond and time out, this is normal as the settings will have likely been changed. Should anything go wrong or a mistake made then the easiest way to get the browser back is to do a physical factory reset.

IP Address (socket)

A socket consists of an IP address and a port number and as an example is specified as say 192.168.20.5:900. In this case the port is 900. Port numbers can range from 1 to 65535. The lower port numbers are usually set aside for special uses. On a private network this doesn't matter so much.

The socket in this case is equivalent to the COM port, so instead of say COM3 we use 192.168.20.11:8008

Dynamic IP

Normally an IP address is given to a device that connects to an AP by the AP. So for example if the AP had an IP address of say 192.168.20.1 then it is likely that the  AP will give the connecting client an address in the region 192.168.20.2 to 192.168.20.250. This is done by a program (DHCP) within the access point. It ensures that the connecting client, normally a laptop or PC will be able to communicate with other devices that use the same AP, and the internet of course. This is called a dynamic address as it may change each time the client connects.

This is fine for most circumstances as the IP address is not needed for most applications, however if a socket is going to be specified then a static address is needed, how would you know what IP address to use otherwise? A static address can be set up in the BV107.

Command List

The command list will change depending on the firmware installed. For an up to date list see the Details link on the ESP firmware page.

Factory Reset

For whatever reason you may be unable to communicate with the device. This may be due to something simple like a stetting an unknown Baud rate or wrog IP address.

All (ByVac) ESP devices have a factory reset button or wire, see the device data for that specific device, it will be reffered to as a button here.

Hold down the factory reset button for 10 seconds. If there is no button then with the device powered, connect GPIO0 to ground for 10 seconds. This will initiate a factory reset and restore the default values.

The default values are those shown in the browser image above with an IP address of 192.168.4.1.

Troubleshooting

Browser will not connect

1) Perform a factory reset to make sure you are at a known starting point.

2) After connecting to the ESP device, wait at least one minute for the ESP to give the host (your laptop or PC) an IP address.

3) Before browsing check again that you are still connected to the ESP device, some wifi hosts have a habit of reverting back to the most used wifi SSID.

Not Working when trying to telnet

1) Check that you have connected to the ESP8266, the wi-fi device on the host (PC or tablet) hardware should say that it is connected.

2) Use the command window and type icconfig.

Here the Wireless LAN adapter (which may be at the top of the page, so scroll) has the default Gateway correct at 192.168.4.1. This is the IP address of the ESP device.

3) The port must be 23 for telnet. The only way you can check and set the port is by using the serial end setup method.