TIMEOUT error when connecting ESP8266 to Arduino Uno

Question

I am trying to set up my Arduino Uno to receive information from the internet, but I am having a very hard time finding proper guides online. I am using an Arduino Uno and ESP8266-01. I am trying to use the "WebClientRepeating" example from this library: https://github.com/bportaluri/WiFiEsp

Here is the code I am running (updated the SSID and password):

/*
 WiFiEsp example: WebClientRepeating

 This sketch connects to a web server and makes an HTTP request
 using an Arduino ESP8266 module.
 It repeats the HTTP call each 10 seconds.

 For more details see: http://yaab-arduino.blogspot.com/p/wifiesp.html
*/

#include "WiFiEsp.h"

// Emulate Serial1 on pins 6/7 if not present
#ifndef HAVE_HWSERIAL1
#include "SoftwareSerial.h"
SoftwareSerial Serial1(6,7); // RX, TX
#endif

char ssid[] = "MY-SSID";            // your network SSID (name)
char pass[] = "MY-PASSWORD";        // your network password
int status = WL_IDLE_STATUS;     // the Wifi radio's status

char server[] = "arduino.cc";

unsigned long lastConnectionTime = 0;         // last time you connected to the server, in milliseconds
const unsigned long postingInterval = 10000L; // delay between updates, in milliseconds

// Initialize the Ethernet client object
WiFiEspClient client;

void setup()
{
  // initialize serial for debugging
  Serial.begin(115200);
  // initialize serial for ESP module
  Serial1.begin(9600);
  // initialize ESP module
  WiFi.init(&Serial1);

  // check for the presence of the shield
  if (WiFi.status() == WL_NO_SHIELD) {
    Serial.println("WiFi shield not present");
    // don't continue
    while (true);
  }

  // attempt to connect to WiFi network
  while ( status != WL_CONNECTED) {
    Serial.print("Attempting to connect to WPA SSID: ");
    Serial.println(ssid);
    // Connect to WPA/WPA2 network
    status = WiFi.begin(ssid, pass);
  }

  Serial.println("You're connected to the network");

  printWifiStatus();
}

void loop()
{
  // if there's incoming data from the net connection send it out the serial port
  // this is for debugging purposes only
  while (client.available()) {
    char c = client.read();
    Serial.write(c);
  }

  // if 10 seconds have passed since your last connection,
  // then connect again and send data
  if (millis() - lastConnectionTime > postingInterval) {
    httpRequest();
  }
}

// this method makes a HTTP connection to the server
void httpRequest()
{
  Serial.println();

  // close any connection before send a new request
  // this will free the socket on the WiFi shield
  client.stop();

  // if there's a successful connection
  if (client.connect(server, 80)) {
    Serial.println("Connecting...");

    // send the HTTP PUT request
    client.println(F("GET /asciilogo.txt HTTP/1.1"));
    client.println(F("Host: arduino.cc"));
    client.println("Connection: close");
    client.println();

    // note the time that the connection was made
    lastConnectionTime = millis();
  }
  else {
    // if you couldn't make a connection
    Serial.println("Connection failed");
  }
}


void printWifiStatus()
{
  // print the SSID of the network you're attached to
  Serial.print("SSID: ");
  Serial.println(WiFi.SSID());

  // print your WiFi shield's IP address
  IPAddress ip = WiFi.localIP();
  Serial.print("IP Address: ");
  Serial.println(ip);

  // print the received signal strength
  long rssi = WiFi.RSSI();
  Serial.print("Signal strength (RSSI):");
  Serial.print(rssi);
  Serial.println(" dBm");
}

My wiring is as follows:

• ESP8266 RX - Uno Pin 7
• ESP8266 TX - Uno Pin 6
• ESP8266 VCC - 3.3V power source (not from Uno)
• ESP8266 GND - Uno GND
• ESP8266 CH_PD - 3.3V power source (not from Uno)

I also connected the GND of the 3.3V power source to the other GNDs.

When I go to run the WebClientRepeating example, my Serial output says:

11:05:04.764 -> [WiFiEsp] Initializing ESP module
11:05:05.760 -> [WiFiEsp] >>> TIMEOUT >>>
11:05:07.785 -> [WiFiEsp] >>> TIMEOUT >>>
11:05:09.758 -> [WiFiEsp] >>> TIMEOUT >>>
11:05:11.780 -> [WiFiEsp] >>> TIMEOUT >>>
11:05:13.803 -> [WiFiEsp] >>> TIMEOUT >>>
11:05:14.794 -> [WiFiEsp] Cannot initialize ESP module
11:05:20.794 -> [WiFiEsp] >>> TIMEOUT >>>
11:05:20.794 -> [WiFiEsp] No tag found
11:05:20.830 -> WiFi shield not present

The tutorial specifies that it uses a "ESP WiFi shield" but I am using a ESP8266 card only - could that be part of the problem? If that is a problem, are there any simple guides out there for how to connect the Arduino Uno to the internet to read information? I am frustrated with the lack of good documentation, and would really appreciate some help.

Answer 1

It means that your ESP8266 is not detected

Because of you connect RX and TX (6 and 7) to secondary pin. Use your standart RX TX pin to solve the problem