Always On AP Mode/Manager Mode

[pkkrusty]

Separating out the discussion from #13362 so it's a little more visible for people searching for a hacky solution:

With an edited tasmota/tasmota_xdrv_driver/xdrv_01_9_webserver.ino (attached for 13.0.0.1)
xdrv_01_9_webserver.ino.zip, Tasmota can function in AP mode full-time, to allow management of a device with no access to wifi. This is useful for certain remote devices, like sensors, vehicle trackers, irrigation switches, AC IR controllers inside metal shipping containers or battery chargers in the middle of nowhere (my use-case is rural Africa where wifi is mostly non-existent except for people's phone hotspots).

There are certain considerations, of course. Time-keeping is usually important (but not always). $2 DS3231 modules work well for that, and are very accurate over long periods. Cheap $4 GPS modules also work well, but are kind of overkill.

Need to have

#define USE_ALWAYS_AP
#define WIFI_CONFIG_TOOL       WIFI_MANAGER
#define WIFI_SCAN_AT_RESTART   false
#define WIFI_SCAN_REGULARLY    false

Should have

#define WIFI_AP_PASSPHRASE     ""

in user_config_override.h

Tested on both ESP8266 and ESP32. With #define USE_ALWAYS_AP commented out, the webserver driver functions normally.

A nice feature is that you can enter a wifi network in the wifi section, and the unit will search for it on startup for 20 seconds, then activate AP mode if not found. Thus, you can restart the unit from the AP mode, then activate your phone's hotspot, and the unit will join it, giving it network access to update the RTC, send MQTT messages, and any other connected features. (I, for example, activate MQTT in AP mode, which triggers a restart, then the unit joins the phone hotspot, allowing remote control for troubleshooting).

Simply turning off the phone hotspot will cause the unit to search for 20 more seconds then re-activate AP mode. Thus both modes can be entered without physical access to the unit.

Here's a generic build with a number of sensor drivers and rules. I usually build with scripting/SD card, since data logging without wifi requires that.
tasmota.bin.gz

[kub3let]

I rebased against 13.4.0 and built images for more targets (ESP8266/ESP32/ESP32c3/ESP32s2)

• Flash correct image onto esp
  • factory binary via usb/uart using https://tasmota.github.io/install
  • normal binary as ota upgrade via web gui on existing tasmota devices
• Connect to Tasmota AP
• Visit http://tasmota.local

Firmware download:
tasmota-ap-13.4.0.zip

[nikito7]

And permanent 60ma to 100ma power consumption.

With a switch it's a good option

[FulvioSpelta]

My test (already reported in issue #13362):

Downloaded 14.3.0 sources
Overwritten xdrv_01_9_webserver.ino
Added the #define in "user_config_override.h"
Compiled and flashed into a Sonoff Basic R2
It is running ok with AP always on and webadmin interface.
Thanks

[paggps]

My test (already reported in issue #13362):

Downloaded 14.3.0 sources Overwritten xdrv_01_9_webserver.ino Added the #define in "user_config_override.h" Compiled and flashed into a Sonoff Basic R2 It is running ok with AP always on and webadmin interface. Thanks

Hello @FulvioSpelta. Can you please post the binary of Tasmota-ap compiled from 14.3.0 sources (or newer)?
Thank you very much.
JJ

[FulvioSpelta]

@paggps attached.

[firmware.zip](https://github.com/user-attachments/files/18048161/firmware.zip)

Note that the AP will be open. To set the passphrase you have to compile by your own.

#define USE_ALWAYS_AP #define WIFI_CONFIG_TOOL WIFI_MANAGER // [WifiConfig] Default tool if Wi-Fi fails to connect (default option: 4 - #define WIFI_SCAN_AT_RESTART false // [SetOption56] Scan Wi-Fi network at restart for configured AP's #define WIFI_SCAN_REGULARLY false // [SetOption57] Scan Wi-Fi network every 44 minutes for configured AP's #define WIFI_AP_PASSPHRASE "" // AccessPoint passphrase. For WPA2 min 8 char, for open use "" (max 63 char).

`Processing tasmota (platform: https://github.com/tasmota/platform-espressif8266/releases/download/2024.09.00/platform-espressif8266.zip; framework: arduino; board: esp8266_1M)

CONFIGURATION: https://docs.platformio.org/page/boards/espressif8266/esp8266_1M.html
PLATFORM: Espressif 8266 (2024.9.0) > Espressif Generic ESP8266 Tasmota 1M sketch NO FS
HARDWARE: ESP8266 80MHz, 80KB RAM, 972.00KB Flash`

[paggps]

Thank you very much @FulvioSpelta ! Just flashed and worked ok !

[hawa-lc4]

@pkkrusty the xdrv_01_9_webserver.ino files of 14.2 and 14.3 seem to be absolutely the same. I've found no differences except the modifications done regarding this feature. So I've placed your file directly to the folder.
Compilation without errors, resulting .bin files works like a charm.
I've tested only a few things like pure AP-mode, adding optional WiFi credentials to access a temporary AP on smartphone: all work fine.

@nikito7 power consumption is always a special topic for those devices.
However as long as you are not on battery it's only of lower interest.
The AC/DC power supplies of that kind have mostly a really bad efficiency.
The mains relay controlled by this circuit here switches lights of nearly 1000 Watt, so no relationship to 1 Watt consumption of the MCU.