Well, it has been an interesting few weeks as the first production
batch of OVMS v3 came online. I don’t know about for others
helping out with support tickets, but I’ve sure learned a lot -
especially about what can go wrong for inexperienced users trying
to setup a complex product. 14 support tickets were opened, along
with another perhaps 6 calls for help via other means, and here
are the most common problems encountered:
- Switched from Access Point mode to Client mode,
and lost access.
- Can’t get into module via USB (drivers seem ok,
but terminal emulators, and baud rates, are beyond most
people’s understanding).
- Too hard for most to do a factory reset.
- Can’t see modem ICCID when powered off.
- Modem powered off by default, unless the little
tick box is clicked.
- Server v2 off by default, unless the little tick
box is clicked.
- Upper vs lower case on command execution.
- Unable to do firmware update in Access Point
mode.
- Password confusion (wifi client vs module vs
server vehicle vs server account vs access point vs OVMSinit
vs etc etc).
- wifi vs modem switches and DNS settings.
- Modem SIM registration issues (can’t see, or
don’t know how to see, status of simcom).
- Don’t understand how to check status.
While some of these issues have been addressed, I am
reluctant to release a new batch of modules to the world,
especially this time with less technically capable users coming
online.
It is probably not ‘fun’ work, but I think we can
make this much simpler for new users. We can lead them through
the setup in the following stages:
- Require, as a pre-requisite, users to initially
setup the module within range of a home wifi / cellular
hotspot connection.
- Factory default, use Access Point mode, SSID OVMS
password “OVMSinit”, and no module password. Have them
connect to the module over wifi Access Point, and http://192.168.4.1/.
- The web interface then shows them a list of WiFi
access points in range, and asks them to choose one and
enter the password for that access point (clearly labelled
as SSID, and "<SSID> Password”).
- The module then reconfigures as Client + Access
Point mode, and tries to connect to the client wifi, as well
as keeping the access point connection open. If not ok, tell
them and go back to #3 for them to try again.
- When ok, proceed to ask them to update the
firmware. This will do a simple OTA download over HTTP, then
reboot.
- When back up, in one screen ask them to enter all
the details for their network, and configure appropriately:
- Use Wifi?
- WiFi Mode (AccessPoint+SpecificClient, or
ScanningClient)
- OVMS Access Point SSID
- New OVMS Access Point password (as OVMSinit
is insecure beyond initial setup)
- DNS (default: google, or custom)
- Module password (as default empty is insecure
beyond initial setup)
- Use OVMS Server v2?
- Vehicle type
- Vehicle ID
- Vehicle Server password
- Vehicle server (openvehicles, dexter, or
custom)
- Use modem?
- Modem APN, username and password (default:
hologram)
- Test each of the above, and show them the
results. Set auto appropriately, and disable quickstart then
reboot.
The point is to lead them through each of the steps,
test each setting and show them the result.
Technically, my only concern is the switch from AP
to AP+client mode and whether the existing wifi connection will
die or survive the channel switch. We also have to do a wifi
scan, in Access Point mode, but I think we can do that by just
temporarily turning off access point or doing it before the
access point is brought up. Both these will depend on how ESP32
handles it.
I’m happy to do a lot (if not all) of the above, but
will definitely need help with the web side.
But, first let’s agree on the proper list of
questions to ask and flow to follow.
Regards, Mark.
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