ESP8266 (WiFi Boards) - AT Version Issues and Solutions

Unfortunately, other than the recommended DCC-EX EX-WiFiShield 8266 and Makerfabs ESP8266 WiFi Shield, the Espressif ESP8266 based WiFi Boards that are available for sale routinely come with versions of the firmware that simply do not work with EX‑CommandStation. There was a run of Makerfabs boards from around May 2023 through October 2023 that had defective firmware from Expressif. You can use this tutorial to upgrade one of those boards if you have one. All boards manufactured after November 2023 have the correct firmware. These boards carry the DCC-EX logo on the bottom and display version 1.1 or later.

Which is correct version of the AT firmware 

ONLY Version 1.7.4 is known to work reliably.

That means all versions both before or after 1.7.4 are not suitable. So don’t be fooled in thinking that if it has a version later than that it will be ok. It won’t!

Symptoms of an Incorrect firmware Version 

There several common symptoms of a an incorrect firmware version:

If you set up the command station in Access Point (AP) Mode, then the SSID (Network Name) the displayed will be “DCCEX_SAYS_BROKEN_FIRMWARE” or “UPDATE_ESP_FIRMWARE”.
You can’t connect to the displayed Access Point.
Your phone can connect to the Access Point, but can’t connect your WiFi throttle (e.g. Engine Driver or WiThrottle) to the EX‑CommandStation.
You can connect and use a phone once, but it will not connect again unless you re-start the EX‑CommandStation.
You can connect and use one phone, but it will not allow connection of a second phone, or the second phone works, but it disconnects the first phone.

Find Your AT Version 

It is important to find out which version of the firmware you board has and correct it if necessary.

There are two basic ways that you can check:

AFTER you load the EX-CommandStation software
BEFORE you load the EX-CommandStation software

Checking AFTER you load the EX-CommandStation software 

One you have loaded the EX‑CommandStation software you will be able to see the AT version in the start-up log by connecting the serial monitor in either the EX‑Installer or Arduino IDE (whichever you used to upload the EX‑CommandStation onto your device).

You can check the AT version two ways. Which is best for you depends on how you loaded the EX‑CommandStation software:

Using EX-Installer
Using EX-WebThrottle
Using the Arduino IDE

Checking the AT version using EX-Installer 

Once you have successfully loaded the EX‑CommandStation software:

Click back through the pages of the EX‑Installer till you get to the ‘Select your Device’ screen
Click on the View device monitor button
A new window will open and a lot of text will appear
You need to look for a line that will have a section highlighted in green

e.g. AT version:1.7.4.0(May 11 2020 19:13:04)

Alternately, you can enter the command <+GMR> and click Send. A similar line will be shown.

If it says anything other than 1.7.4 in that line, then you have the wrong version you will need to follow the instructions at the end of this page to correct it.

Checking the AT version using EX-WebThrottle 

Once you have successfully loaded the EX‑CommandStation software

Close EX-Installer (Or the Arduino IDE if you used it)
Open EX-WebThrottle
Click the Connect EX-CS button and select the COM port that you used to load the software onto the EX‑CommandStation
look at the log that will appear at the bottom of the screen
You need to look for a line that will have a section highlighted in green

e.g. AT version:1.7.4.0(May 11 2020 19:13:04)

Alternately, you can enter the command <+GMR> and click Send. A similar line will be shown.

If it says anything other than 1.7.4 in that line, then you have the wrong version you will need to follow the instructions at the end of this page to correct it.

Checking the AT version with the Arduino IDE 

If you loaded the EX‑CommandStation software using the Arduino, once you have successfully loaded the EX‑CommandStation software:

select Tools -> Serial monitor from the menus
A new pane will open at the bottom of the IDE window will open and a lot of text will appear
you need to look for a line similar to the following

e.g. AT version:1.7.4.0(May 11 2020 19:13:04)

Alternately, you can enter the command <+GMR> and click Send. A similar line will be shown.

If it says anything other than 1.7.4 in that line, then you have the wrong version you will need to follow the instructions at the end of this page to correct it.

Checking BEFORE you load the EX-CommandStation software 

How to check before you load the EX‑CommandStation software will depend on which WiFi shield or board you are using:

ESP-01 or ESP-01s
Makerfabs ESP8266 Wifi Shield
Duinopeak ESP8266 WiFi Expansion board
Mega+WiF board

Checking the AT version of a ESP-01 or ESP-01s 

There are a number of ways that you can check the AT version an a ESP-01 or ESP-01s:

with a USB Serial Adapter
with a USB to TTL CH340G Converter Module Adapter
with a Arduino Uno

Checking the AT version of a ESP-01 with a USB Serial Adapter

Connect the ESP01 to the serial adapter with the instructions on here: https://remotexy.com/en/help/esp8266-firmware-update (see the section on ‘Connection via the USB-UARt adapter’)
Note the orange wire is not needed for checking the AT version.
Plug the serial adapter it the PC
Open the Arduino IDE
Select Tools -> Serial monitor from the menus
Select baud: 115200 and Both NL & CR
A new pane will open at the bottom of the IDE window will open
Enter the command AT+RST and click Send.
Enter the command AT+GMR and click Send.

It will reply with something like AT version:1.7.4.0(May 11 2020 19:13:04)

If it says anything other than 1.7.4 in that line, then you have the wrong version you will need to follow the instructions at the end of this page to correct it.

Checking the AT version of a ESP-01 a with a USB to TTL CH340G Converter Module Adapter

Todo

Checking AT version with a USB to TTL CH340G Converter Module Adapter prior to upload

Connect the ESP01 to the adapter
Plug the adapter it the PC
Open the Arduino IDE
Select Tools -> Serial monitor from the menus
Select baud: 115200 and Both NL & CR
A new pane will open at the bottom of the IDE window will open
Enter the command AT+RST and click Send.
Enter the command AT+GMR and click Send.

It will reply with something like AT version:1.7.4.0(May 11 2020 19:13:04)

If it says anything other than 1.7.4 in that line, then you have the wrong version you will need to follow the instructions at the end of this page to correct it.

Checking the AT version of a ESP-01 a with a Arduino Uno

Todo

Checking AT version with a Arduino Uno prior to upload

Checking the AT version of a Makerfabs ESP8266 WiFi Shield 

Todo

Checking AT version ESP8266 Wifi Shield prior to upload

Checking the AT version of a Duinopeak ESP8266 WiFi Expansion Board 

Todo

Checking AT version ESP8266 WiFi Expansion Board prior to upload

Checking the AT version of a Mega+WiFi 

Todo

Checking AT version Mega+WiFi prior to upload

What to do if you have the wrong AT Firmware version 

The steps necessary to correct the AT version will depend on your hardware:

ESP-01 or ESP-01s
Makerfabs ESP8266 Wifi Shield
Duinopeak ESP8266 WiFi Expansion board
Mega+WiF board

We strongly recommend upgrading or downgrading to the “NonOS AT” version 1.7.4 available on our ESP8266 (WiFi Boards) download page prior to reaching out for support from the team.

Correcting the AT version on a ESP-01 

Correcting the AT version of a ESP-01or ESP01s requires additional hardware. One of following is required:

A USB to ESP-01 Adapter
A USB to TTL CH340G Converter Module Adapter
An Arduino Uno

Correcting a ESP-01 with a USB Serial Adapter 

See https://remotexy.com/en/help/esp8266-firmware-update/

Correcting a ESP-01 with a USB to ESP-01 Adapter Board 

Correcting a ESP-01 or ESP-01s with a USB to TTL CH340G Converter Module Adapter

The early/normal boards needs to be modified to be able to temporarily connect GND to GPIO 0.

See here for the modification needed https://www.mogtour.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/ch340g.pdf

Later boards do not require the modification.

See https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/projects/update-the-firmware-in-your-esp8266-wi-fi-module/

Correcting a ESP-01 with a Arduino Uno 

See https://cordobo.com/2300-flash-esp8266-01-with-arduino-uno/

Or https://remotexy.com/en/help/esp8266-firmware-update/

Correcting the AT version on a Makerfabs ESP8266 Wifi Shield 

There are two options for correcting the AT version on a Makerfabs ESP8266 Wifi Shield:

With a USB to TTL Converter Module Adapter (recommended)
With an Arduino Mega

Correcting the Makerfabs ESP8266 WiFi Shield With a USB to TTL Converter Module Adapter 

Recommended approach

Note

Some people have experienced problems with v3.8.5 of the flash download tool (available from the DCC-EX Downloads) when following the instructions of the linked page. They have had more success with v2.3 (available here or here .)

If you don’t succeed after several attempts with v3.8.5 try v2.3 instead.

See https://gist.github.com/nathankellenicki/7008540322c617869cec17226cff579d

Also see a detailed video by Andrew from Wotton Tor - Flashing the Makerfabs wifi board (The flashing demo starts about 9 minutes into the video.)

Correcting the Makerfabs ESP8266 WiFi Shield With an Arduino Mega 

Warning

The instructions on the following page have been proven to work on Linux PCs, so will probably work on macOS PCs (Apple), however attempts to get them to work on Microsoft Windows PCs have so far been unsuccessful. We need to do more testing. If you have an issue with this method, simply purchase a USB to TTL converter module and use the recommended process in the previous heading. This should not be an issue for most people since they will have the DCC-EX EX-WiFi Shield 8266 which has the correct firmware and a much easier upgrade process should that be required in the future.

Flashing the ESP8266 WiFi Shield using an Arduino Mega is covered here.

Correcting the AT version on a Duinopeak ESP8266 WiFi Expansion Board 

Todo

Correcting AT version Duinopeak ESP8266 WiFi Expansion Board

Correcting the AT version on a Mega+WiFi 

Flashing the ESP8266 chip on a Mega+WiFi is covered in detail here.