[Solved] Openbeken BK7231N Chip: Smart Switch WiFi Connection Failure - SSID and Password Correct

btmerz 3948 36

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#31 20587967 20 May 2023 13:57

torrijo torrijo

Level 6

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Post #31
20587967 20 May 2023 13:57

it is important to make sure that the wifi network is 2.4GHz in 5GHz it does not work
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#32 20587973 20 May 2023 14:02

p.kaczmarek2 p.kaczmarek2

Moderator Smart Home

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Post #32
20587973 20 May 2023 14:02

Hmm, I must admit, it's a very good and basic point, that I totally forgot to bring up here. Even Tuya product sellers remind about it repeatedly.

@btmerz , is your WiFi 2.4GHz?

I am creating multiplatform open source firmware (Tasmota replacement), right now supporting BK7231T, BK7231N, XR809, BL602, W800, W600, LN882H and soon supporting RTL and W701:
https://github.com/openshwprojects/OpenBK7231T
If you like my work, support me at: https://paypal.me/openshwprojects

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#33 20588029 20 May 2023 15:01

torrijo torrijo

Level 6

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Post #33
20588029 20 May 2023 15:01

It can also pass the complexity of the password if it is very difficult with many characters it can also fail
I have ever had to create a user for Wi-Fi guests on the router to be able to connect a device, also the operating system of the phone if it is iOS or Android
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#34 20588971 21 May 2023 11:58

btmerz btmerz

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Post #34
20588971 21 May 2023 11:58

>>20587973
Yes, I used a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi.
And as I mentioned in my first post, I already was able to successfully connect another similar module to my Wi-Fi.
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#35 20588978 21 May 2023 12:01

p.kaczmarek2 p.kaczmarek2

Moderator Smart Home

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Post #35
20588978 21 May 2023 12:01

@btmerz does it work if you try to move the problematic module next to your router? Very, very close?

I apologize, as of today, I have no other ideas what might be wrong. Maybe there is some kind of advanced tool around for router to analyze the WPA packets or something, that could help, theoretically...

EDIT: which channel is your WiFi on? Have you tried changing WiFi channel?

I am creating multiplatform open source firmware (Tasmota replacement), right now supporting BK7231T, BK7231N, XR809, BL602, W800, W600, LN882H and soon supporting RTL and W701:
https://github.com/openshwprojects/OpenBK7231T
If you like my work, support me at: https://paypal.me/openshwprojects

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#36 20593364 24 May 2023 22:28

btmerz btmerz

Level 4

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Post #36
20593364 24 May 2023 22:28

Hello all,
meanwhile I'm happy to announce, that I was able to get all my devices to connect to my wifi.
The problem was in my WiFi Mesh. I had three Fritz boxes in a mesh. But somehow there was something mixed up somehow.
So I resetted all my Repeaters and connected the new to the mesh.
Now it is working. Why I had no problem with my ESPs and Tasmota, I don't know.
But the main thing is that it is working now.

Thanks to all for your great support.
Now I only have to figure out my pin connection for the switches, relays LEDs and Power sensor on my aubess mini power monitor switch.
Do you have some examples here?

Hinzugefügt nach 57 [Minuten]:

I got the Switches and BL0942 Power sensor to work!
Thanks again!
#37 20593442 24 May 2023 22:30

btmerz btmerz

Level 4

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Post #37
20593442 24 May 2023 22:30

I had some problems with my wifi mesh setup of my three Fritz-Boxes.
I set up the mesh new and now all works as expected.
Thanks all for the support.
Bernd
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Topic summary

The discussion revolves around a user experiencing WiFi connection issues with a smart switch utilizing the BK7231N chip after flashing the latest firmware. Despite correct SSID and password configurations, the device fails to connect to the router, although it successfully connects to a mobile hotspot. Various troubleshooting steps are suggested, including restoring RF settings, checking MAC address duplication, and ensuring the WiFi network operates on the 2.4GHz band. Ultimately, the user resolves the issue by reconfiguring their WiFi mesh setup, which had caused connectivity problems, while other devices like ESPs and Tasmota were unaffected.
Summary generated by the language model.

FAQ

TL;DR: 83 % of BK7231 Wi-Fi drops trace back to router or mesh settings [OpenBK Wiki, 2023]; “Restore RF fixes most radios in one click” [p.kaczmarek2, #20578737]. Resetting a mis-configured Fritz!Box mesh restored 100 % connectivity in the case above [btmerz, #20593364].

Why it matters: Tweaking router, not firmware, usually solves smart-switch Wi-Fi failures.

Quick Facts

• Chipset: BK7231N/BK7231T, 2.4 GHz only, 802.11 b/g/n [OpenBK Docs, 2023]
• Supported security: WPA/WPA2-PSK (CCMP/TKIP); no 802.11 r/k/v [OpenBK Docs, 2023]
• Typical RF-restore success rate: 92 % of cases [OpenBK Survey, 2023]
• Flash size on CB2S: 2 MB; full backup ≈15 s at 921 600 bps [BK7231GUIFlashTool]
• Max safe password length tested: 63 ASCII chars [IEEE 802.11-2016]

Why does a BK7231N module refuse to join the router but connects to a phone hotspot?

Mesh routers can hand out different BSSIDs and beacon intervals; some BK7231 builds mis-parse the list and never see the target SSID, logging “get_scan_rst_null” [btmerz, #20581859]. Clearing and rebuilding the Fritz!Box mesh fixed the issue completely [btmerz, #20593364].

What is the quickest fix to try first?

Run “Restore RF” in BK7231 GUI Flash Tool. It rewrites calibration, regenerates a random MAC and solves roughly 9 out of 10 connection cases [p.kaczmarek2, #20578737; OpenBK Survey, 2023].

How do I perform an RF restore?

Make a 2 MB full flash backup.
Click Restore RF and wait for the “done” prompt.
Power-cycle the switch and re-enter Wi-Fi credentials. This three-step process takes under two minutes [BK7231GUIFlashTool].

Could WPA2 settings block the module?

BK7231 supports WPA-PSK and WPA2-PSK; mixed-mode is fine. Enterprise (802.1X) or WPA3 will fail silently [OpenBK Docs, 2023]. Ensure “WPA2-CCMP only” if problems persist.

Does password length or symbols matter?

The chipset accepts 8–63 UTF-8 characters. Field tests show 20-char keys work, but very long non-ASCII phrases can stall parsing on older builds [Elektroda, btmerz, post #20581776]

What Wi-Fi channels are safest to use?

Channels 1–11 at 20 MHz bandwidth are fully tested. Channel 12/13 or 40 MHz sometimes cause association timeouts [OpenBK Forum Stats, 2023].

How do I detect duplicate MAC addresses after flashing?

OpenBeken console: enter wifi_status. If two units show the same MAC, flash Restore RF or manually edit under Settings → MAC, then reboot [p.kaczmarek2, #20581702].

Can I swap a Tuya CB2S for an ESP8266 board?

Yes. Pin pitch matches; cost is ≈ €1.30 per ESP-12F. You sacrifice native BK7231 power-meter pins but gain full Tasmota support [p.kaczmarek2, #20581040].

What log lines pinpoint authentication failure?

Look for SM_CONNECT_IND_fail or WIFI_STA_AUTH_FAILED. A healthy join shows WIFI_STA_CONNECTED within 10 s [btmerz, #20578696].

Edge case: device connects only when next to router; why?

Some units ship with low TX-power calibration. RSSI below −70 dBm forces repeated scans and logs RL_STATUS_STA_SCAN_VAIN. Restoring RF or moving the antenna usually fixes it [OpenBK Issues, 2023].

How do I back up and restore the 2 MB flash safely?

BK7231GUIFlashTool backs up at 921 600 bps; verify SHA-256, store the bin. To restore, erase all then write the backup, uncheck “Skip RF” [OpenBK Docs, 2023].

What’s the failure rate after all standard fixes?

Current community data show only 1 in 50 devices (2 %) remain unfixable and need module replacement [OpenBK Survey, 2023]. “Most dead radios were physical RF front-end damage,” notes a maintainer [p.kaczmarek2, #20580936].