can't connect to a different WIFI once it is configured

[user514]

Describe you new feature you'd like

Let me explain the problem. (I could be doing something wrong)

-My brother has a somfy installation. I'm the one who knows how to build and configure the thing.
-I build a box with your (greeeeat! project).
-I gave him the box with the firmware written and working but not configured
-He plug the box at his house and I (remotely) configured his WIFI network on the first access to 192.168.4.1
-I disconnect and check that Ii can access then through 192.168.1.123. Everything ok.
-I noticed RADIO DOESN'T INITIALIZE. Wrong wiring... my fault because upside downed the RF card.
-He gave me back the box to fixit.
-I plug it in my home... but couldn't access.

Here is the problem. I thought that if the esp32 hasn't been able to connect to a wifi (because in my house the wifi has a different name, of course)... passed some seconds or minutes, the internal network (192.168.4.1) will fallback and I will be able to connect to it and reconfigure wifi it to my place, etc.

...but I couldn't. I wait seconds, minutes, hours, but ESPSomfyRTS default network did not appear.

• tryed unplugin/pluging the power cord to the box three consecutive time, and 5, and 20... because some devices use that to reset configuration.

• I press the boot button on esp32, one click, for 10 seconds, for 20 seconds.

• I press the IO0 button on esp32, one click, for 10 seconds, for 20 seconds...

  ...no SSID come up.

  I thought that if the esp32 did not find a configured wifi, it will fallback to the default network to reconfigure. But it does not. No matter what I did.

  Finally I open the box, disconnect all the wiring, re-connect the esp32 through USB to re-write the firmware 2.4.6. And from that point I could re-enter and reconfigure on 192.168.4.1.

  After connecting correctly the E07-M1101D wiring.. I could START the RADIO without problems, and gave back the box to my brother to end up configuring shades, etc.

So. Is there any tip to reset the board (even loosing all its configuration) that allows me to connect it to a different wifi, without having to re-write through USB?.

If not... that's my request. An alternative way to reset the box without having to re-open it, disconnect, etc.

ps.- I even tried to get router from the closet, gave it the SSID that my brother has at it's house, with same password and connect it to my main router. That way, the esp32 will find a router with same info, will connect and I will be able to change wifi to my main one. But... I couldn't neither. Maybe the esp32 checks routers mac or something and didn't want to connect.

[rstrouse]

It should automatically fall back to create an AP network. However, if you changed the Host Name the network will appear as the Host Name that was configured on the ESP32. It will do this if the network SSID cannot be found after 20 seconds.

[user514]

It will do this if the network SSID cannot be found after 20 seconds.

That's exactly what I thougt it will do... but... it didn't work. Don't know the reason (neither with the new hostname, no SSIDs no matter what I did). Maybe because of being wrong wired to the RF card, something did not work well.

In any case. If that's how it work. It should be a problem on my side. Now that I have it right wired and it's working (radio up, configured, etc), I can test again by switching off the router and checking if the esp32 starts the new AP (ok, with the personalized name I gave it, not problem), and if it does... it will demonstrate it was for the wiring problem.

Thanks a lot @rstrouse for the answer, and mainly for your work with the project. Really complete and well done. Thanks!.