No arduino connected. Same setup as you suggested before - go back to the previous setup when the AT commands were working. I have just FTDI adapter which RX is connected to ESP TX and vice versa.

OK, so you ARE using the Arduino IDE because that is what your picture is showing. I can see it, Arduino IDE. But, there is no Arduino connected at all, just the IDE. You are not using putty or termite as you had before - is that what you are saying?

 

Note that I am using 9600 baud rate. At 115200, There is nothing being printed on serial monitor and no response from AT commands, I asssume thats because my arduino serial is set to 9600?

Can you be more specific when you say serial monitor? The Arduino IDE serial monitor or an external program like Putty? I am assuming that you have set up the speed in all four places? The ESP8266, the Arduino software serial port, the Arduino hardware serial port and whatever you’re using as a serial monitor? Besides the two sets of serial connections having matching speeds, do you know that data bits, parity and stop bits are set properly? That’s 16 parameters you have to know and not assume (see post #59) are properly matched.

 

OK, so you ARE using the Arduino IDE because that is what your picture is showing. I can see it, Arduino IDE. But, there is no Arduino connected at all, just the IDE. You are not using putty or termite as you had before - is that what you are saying?

y

Works with termite but I cannot get it to work with Putty. Every time i type in a character into a putty serial monitor, I can see that both FTDI leds and ESP led flashes, but no response on the serial screen

I assume I just type AT and press enter?

 

Can you be more specific when you say serial monitor? The Arduino IDE serial monitor or an external program like Putty? I am assuming that you have set up the speed in all four places? The ESP8266, the Arduino software serial port, the Arduino hardware serial port and whatever you’re using as a serial monitor? Besides the two sets of serial connections having matching speeds, do you know that data bits, parity and stop bits are set properly? That’s 16 parameters you have to know and not assume (see post #59) are properly matched.

Well by saying seiral monitor I meant arduino serial monitor. It does give me same response as Termite

 

 

y
View attachment 168720
Works with termite but I cannot get it to work with Putty. Every time i type in a character into a putty serial monitor, I can see that both FTDI leds and ESP led flashes, but no response on the serial screen
View attachment 168721
I assume I just type AT and press enter?

OK, don't worry about that (putty not working).

NOW, go to post #21 and hook it up to the Arduino. And use the code that I post (it changes the serial monitor to 115200). Then type in the AT commands at the top of the Arduino window. You might have to remove and reapply power to the ESP board (forcing a reset), but please don't do anything else until you post back what you are seeing.

 

It does not seem to be working when I connect an external 3.3V supply to power the ESP instead of powering through FTDI adapter. The ESP8266 does not turn into working mode. Both LEDS are always OFF and only start blinking when I ground the reset pin. After blinking they turn OFF again. Usually, the RED LED stays on the whole time but I cannot get it to stay ON with my power supply. I get some garbage data when I ground the reset pin:

 

You have the 3V power supply ground connected to the Arduino ground - right?

If you do, it sounds like that power supply is crap and very noisy (or it is not 3.3V). You may be able to add a capacitor to filter it a some.

 

And I see AGAIN that I am thinking that you are doing one thing and then you show me a picture that you are doing something else. I thought you were going to hook up the Arduino and run the program and you show a picture of termite using.....and FTDI board. See, I was thinking you were doing what I suggested in post #66. Instead, you are changing power supplies and using the FTDI board. But when I think you are using the FTDI board, you show pics that you are using the Arduino with a program.

I am not a young man, and I am thinking that I might not last long enough to figure out what you are doing.

 

So I have connected my ESP8266 to an arduino as you said based on post 21. I have uploaded a sketch that you provided as well. It took about 20 or 30 times of restarting the ESP8266 until the RED LED finally stayed ON. I get some answer to my AT command but Arduino TX pin is blinking very fast and outpitng question marks

 

question marks after like 1 minute of running the program

 

And I see AGAIN that I am thinking that you are doing one thing and then you show me a picture that you are doing something else. I thought you were going to hook up the Arduino and run the program and you show a picture of termite using.....and FTDI board. See, I was thinking you were doing what I suggested in post #66. Instead, you are changing power supplies and using the FTDI board. But when I think you are using the FTDI board, you show pics that you are using the Arduino with a program.

I am not a young man, and I am thinking that I might not last long enough to figure out what you are doing.

sorry to confuse you again. Im trying to do everything that you say. Someone else posted an answer before, so I quoted him and uploaded a picture to asnwer his question. Tats why you were confused. I am trying to do everything that you suggest.

 

sorry to confuse you again. Im trying to do everything that you say. Someone else posted an answer before, so I quoted him and uploaded a picture to asnwer his question. Tats why you were confused. I am trying to do everything that you suggest.

OK. You have renewed my faith in you (until I find out you are doing something else while I am typing this)

I think, but do not know, that your power supply is crappy OR you have some loose connections...or both.

 

OK. You have renewed my faith in you (until I find out you are doing something else while typing)

I think, but do not know, that your power supply is crappy OR you have some loose connections...or both.

I think the connections are good. But I have just did some measurements with digital multimeter on the output of my 3.3V regulator chip and I get 2V when the ESP8266 RED led is not ON. when I press and hold RESET button on ESP, the voltage goes to 3.3V.


When I finally get the red LED on the ESP to turn and stay ON, the voltage is 3V steady

Tommorow I will test it with proper power supply and see if anything changes

 

Something is toast. We keep hooking things up Willy-nilly and hoping something will change.

Test the ESP8266 in as simple an environment as possible. No Arduino. No FTDI.

You say the ESP8266 status LEF blinks like crazy. If all you attach is the power, does this happen?

Does the Arduino hardware serial port work by itself? Reading and sending characters from the serial console?

Have you checked all sixteen parameters and are convinced they match? List them in your reply.

I know you guys are way beyond that point, but from the description, there is a basic foundational flaw. And if it’s ignored, there is no solution to the problem

Zazas321; I understand Raymond’s frustration. We ask for a test and it’s ignored or not done as we ask. There are specific reasons for what is asked of you. If you cannot follow instructions (and demonstrate that you have done so precisely), then you are wasting your time, as well as ours.

 

I think the connections are good. But I have just did some measurements with digital multimeter on the output of my 3.3V regulator chip and I get 2V when the ESP8266 RED led is not ON. when I press and hold RESET button on ESP, the voltage goes to 3.3V.

Tommorow I will test it with proper power supply and see if anything changes

Good deal.

 

Something is toast. We keep hooking things up Willy-nilly and hoping something will change.

Test the ESP8266 in as simple an environment as possible. No Arduino. No FTDI.

You say the ESP8266 status LEF blinks like crazy. If all you attach is the power, does this happen?

Does the Arduino hardware serial port work by itself? Reading and sending characters from the serial console?

Have you checked all sixteen parameters and are convinced they match? List them in your reply.

I know you guys are way beyond that point, but from the description, there is a basic foundational flaw. And if it’s ignored, there is no solution to the problem

Zazas321; I understand Raymond’s frustration. We ask for a test and it’s ignored or not done as we ask. There are specific reasons for what is asked of you. If you cannot follow instructions (and demonstrate that you have done so precisely), then you are wasting your time, as well as ours.

Not bad suggestions at all and what you say is based on a tried and true approach. Keep going backwards until you are sure about something. Divide and conquer. Remove as many variables as you can so that you can systematically go forward.

...and one other...make sure these students get jobs so that they can keep Social Security afloat

I think he will get it sorted, eventually.

 

Something is toast. We keep hooping things up Willy -nilly and hoping something will change.

Test the ESP8266 in as simple an environment as possible. No Arduino. No FTDI.

You say the ESP8266 status LEF blinks like crazy. If all you attach is the power, does this happen?

Does the Arduino hardware serial port work by itself? Reading and sending characters from the serial console?

I know you guys are way beyond that point, but from the description, there is a basic foundational flaw. And if it’s ignored, there is no solution to the problem

Zazas321; I understand Raymond’s frustration. We ask for a test and it’s ignored or not done as we ask. There are specific reasons for what is asked of you. If you cannot follow instructions (and demonstrate that you have done so precisely), then you are wasting your time, as well as ours.

Sorry guys I am trying my best not to frustrate you and myself.

When I just power the ESP8266, no LEDs are lit on the ESP8266, when I ground the reset button, both LED's flashes but as soon as I release the button, both LED's turn OFF again. I assume that this is wrong, because the normal ESP8266 operating mode is when RED light is ON. I can sometimes manage to turn and maintain the RED led on by resetting the ESP8266 like 100 times. Eventually red light stays but it is clearly something wrong.

Does the Arduino hardware serial port work by itself? Reading and sending characters from the serial console?

Yes, i have just tested it and approved it using this code:

int incomingByte =0;// for incoming serial data

voidsetup(){
       Serial.begin(9600);   // opens serial port, sets data rate to 9600 bps
}

voidloop(){

       // send data only when you receive data:
       if(Serial.available()>0){
               // read the incoming byte:
                incomingByte =Serial.read();

               // say what you got:
               Serial.print("I received: ");
               Serial.println(incomingByte,DEC);
       }
}

 

Is there a way to upload a video?

 

Is there a way to upload a video?

Dunno, usually I just send it somewhere else and post the link,

Does the Arduino hardware serial port work by itself? Reading and sending characters from the serial console?

Yes, i have just tested it and approved it using this code:

Yes and no. The HARDWARE serial port on an UNO (and there is only one hardware serial port) is used when the USB adapter is used. So, you can use Tx and Rx but only under certain conditions. That is why software serial is used so often.

You may, possibly, have bricked a chip or two, it is hard to tell. The FTDI board that you showed may carry 5V on the Tx line - many do and they are not "open" about that, you really need to check it with a meter. But, if you were always using the resistor/divider, you would be ok.

As far as I can tell, your board was working fine with the FTDI board - to the extent that it was tested.
The "noisy" text you see on boot up is normal and it is a sign on message in some funky baud rate as I remember.

That little FTDI board does not have enough to run an ESP if you turn on the transmitter, but we were not doing that. Still, a solid and clean power supply is essential. What you measure with your external power supply, is a big problem. I was ready to hear next that the ESP was hot to the touch.

You will get there. Is this for a school project or ?