Wifi Access Point

WiFi Access Point Application

Overview

This application demonstrates how to configure a NetBurner device to operate as a WiFi Access Point (AP) with an integrated DHCP server. The application allows other devices to connect directly to the NetBurner module and automatically receive IP addresses.

Features

• WiFi Access Point mode operation
• Integrated DHCP server for automatic IP assignment
• Configurable network settings
• Client connection monitoring
• Serial interface for displaying connected clients

Default Configuration

The application uses the following default network settings:

• Access Point SSID: NetBurnerAP
• Access Point Password: password
• WiFi Interface IP: 192.168.3.1
• Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
• DHCP Start Address: 192.168.3.2
• WiFi Channel: 6 (802.11)

Network Setup

Recommended Configuration

For proper Access Point operation, configure your network settings as follows:

• WiFi Interface IP: 192.168.0.1 (or your preferred network)
• Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
• DHCP Start Address: 192.168.0.2

Configuration Methods

1. IPSetup Tool: Use the NetBurner IPSetup utility to configure:
   • WiFi interface IP address and subnet mask
   • SSID and password settings
2. Code Modification: Modify the default values in main.cpp:

   IPADDR4 startAddr = AsciiToIp4("192.168.3.2");  // DHCP start address
   IPADDR4 defaultWifiIPAddr = AsciiToIp4("192.168.3.1");  // AP IP address

How It Works

1. Initialization: The application initializes the system and waits for network activation
2. WiFi AP Setup: Configures the WiFi module in Access Point mode using SPI communication
3. IP Configuration: Sets up the WiFi interface with IP address and subnet mask
4. DHCP Server: Starts a DHCP server on the WiFi interface to assign IP addresses to connecting clients
5. Monitoring: Provides serial interface to display connected DHCP clients

Function Parameters

The InitAP_SPI() function accepts the following parameters:

• SSID: Network name (default from config if empty)
• password: Network password (8-64 characters, default from config if empty)
• channel: 802.11 channel (default: 6)
• irqNum: Interrupt number (default: 3)
• moduleNum: Module number (default: 1)
• csNum: Chip select number
• connectorNum: Connector number
• gpioPinNum: GPIO pin number
• resetPinNum: Reset pin number (default: 42)

Usage

1. Compile and Deploy: Build and flash the application to your NetBurner device
2. Connect: Use a WiFi-enabled device to connect to the NetBurnerAP network with password password
3. Access: The device will automatically receive an IP address via DHCP
4. Monitor: Press any key in the serial terminal to display connected clients
5. Web Access: Access the NetBurner web interface at the AP IP address (default: 192.168.3.1)

Serial Interface

The application provides a simple serial interface:

• Press any key to display currently connected DHCP clients
• System diagnostics are enabled for debugging (should be disabled in production)

Error Handling

The application includes error handling for:

• WiFi initialization failures
• DHCP server startup failures
• Network configuration issues

If errors occur, the application will display error messages and enter an infinite loop for debugging.

Production Considerations

• Security: Change the default SSID and password before deployment
• Diagnostics: Disable EnableSystemDiagnostics() in production code
• Network Planning: Choose appropriate IP ranges that don't conflict with existing networks
• Channel Selection: Select an appropriate WiFi channel based on your environment

Troubleshooting

• WiFi fails to initialize: Check SPI connections and module configuration
• DHCP server fails: Verify IP configuration and ensure no conflicts
• Clients can't connect: Check SSID/password and WiFi channel settings
• No IP assignment: Verify DHCP start address is in the same subnet as the AP IP