WiFi module ESP8266-01 for Arduino not working

Question

I am new to using Arduino just bought my first one yesterday, and I also got an WiFi module. The Arduino I got is another brand but should be the same as the Arduino Uno rev 3 and I got the ESP8266-01 wifi module.

I've tried doing some simple examples projects following some YouYube videos, and all those have worked without problem.

What I am trying to create is a simple magnetic door switch. When it's opened I get a signal to my computer. Getting the magnetic door switch wired with the Arduino and getting an LED to light up when the magnetic switch opened worked without problem.

But to set up the wifi module, I can't get it to work.

I have spent hours and hours watching tutorials reading all I can find to trying everything to get this to work, but no luck.

I don't know If I am doing something wrong (probably) or if something is broken.

These are the instructions I am trying currently.

Video of my Arduino setup

For the Arduino board I use 12v DC in and USB from my PC.

Code:

#include "Arduino.h"
#include "ESP8266.h"

#include "SoftwareSerial.h"
SoftwareSerial  ConsoleOut(8, 9);

#define SSID  "ASUS"
#define PWD   "tmpPassword"

void setup() {
  char  *ipAddress, ap[31];

  WiFi.reset(WIFI_RESET_HARD);
  WiFi.begin(9600);
  ConsoleOut.print("flag2");
  if (WiFi.join(SSID, PWD) == WIFI_ERR_OK) {
    ipAddress = WiFi.ip(WIFI_MODE_STA);
    ConsoleOut.print(F("\n\rIP address:"));
    ConsoleOut.print(ipAddress);
    ConsoleOut.print(':');
    ConsoleOut.print("flag1");
    if (WiFi.isConnect(ap))
      ConsoleOut.println(ap);
    else
      ConsoleOut.println(F("not found"));
  } else
    while (1);
}

void loop() {
  if (WiFi.connect((char *)"www.google.co.jp", 80) == WIFI_ERR_CONNECT) {
    if (WiFi.send((const uint8_t *)"GET / HTTP/1.1\r\n\r\n") == WIFI_ERR_OK) {
      int16_t c;
      uint16_t len = WiFi.listen(10000UL);
      while (len)
        if ((c = WiFi.read()) > 0) {
          ConsoleOut.write((char)c);
          len--;
        }
    } else
      ConsoleOut.println(F("Send fail"));
    WiFi.close();
  } else
    ConsoleOut.println(F("TCP connect fail"));
  WiFi.disconnect();
  while (1);
}

Code:

Different from the example sketch is that I use 2K instead of 3K resistors for R2, R4 and 1K for R1, R3. (2K on left side in the video 1K on the right side)

The LED of the WiFi lights red constantly. I don't know what that means, and the blue LED on the wiFi module lights up whenever I upload a sketch to the Arduino.

Thanks in advance. Any help is really, really appreciated.

Answer 1

Use this code to send commands to the ESP:

#include <SoftwareSerial.h>

    SoftwareSerial esp8266(2, 3);

    void setup() {
      Serial.begin(9600);

      esp8266.begin(9600);
    }

    void loop() {
      while(esp8266.available()) {
         Serial.write(esp8266.read());
      }

      while(Serial.available()) {
        esp8266.write(Serial.read());
      }
    }

This simply reads everything from the ESP chip and sends it to the console and vica versa.

To modify the baud rate on the chip, send the following command in the serial monitor:

AT+UART_DEF=9600,8,1,0,0

This sets the baud rate to 9600 and remembers it for further use.