ESP32-Cam http "refused to connect" after ESPHome update

ESPHome
1

So I had previous set up ESP32-Cam and added it to HA via ESPHome under an older release of ESPHome and it was working fine (images would stream via its IP address with HTTP).
Today I upgraded ESPHome to the latest release (2024.7.3) and it, of course, complained that all my ESPHome devices needed updating. So I did, and all the other ones worked without issue. But the ESP32-Cam now no longer streams video via Http. Instead I get “refused to connect” when trying to access from my browses via its IP address.

This is the ESP32-Cam instrustions I used to program it originally:

Then when I added it to ESPHome I used corrisponding yaml code to reflash it there - over a year ago.

When I updated to ESPHome 2024.7.3, the only thing I need to change in the yaml was adding the “- platform: esphome” under “ota:”.

It complied, connected, and updated without any issues and the logs show it connecting and retrieving images, but the browser throws the “refused to connect” error and Generic Camera Integration says it cannot retrieve an image.

I opened an Issue in ESPHome Github, where you can find more information, logs, and yaml code.

I’ve reflashed OTA multiple times and let the camera sit unpowered for hours in case it was overheating. No joy.

Anyone else run into this or know where I could be looking for solutions?

Thanks!

2

I looked at the logs on github (it would be easier if you also post them here), but did you see the difference in the IP-address in your yaml and in the logs, so to which IP-address are you connecting?

  manual_ip:
    static_ip: 172.27.3.56

INFO Starting log output from 172.27.3.57 using esphome API
INFO Successfully connected to esp32-cam @ 172.27.3.57 in 11.261s
INFO Successful handshake with esp32-cam @ 172.27.3.57 in 0.029s
3

Sorry about that! I was trying different IP addresses in case of a conflct and posted an alternate yaml from the log. I’m using 172.27.3.57 and did an nmap scan to ensure no address conflicts.

image
image1759×954 29.6 KB

4

Here’s the code, yaml and logs from the github post as well:

Original Code

/*********
  Rui Santos
  Complete project details at https://RandomNerdTutorials.com/esp32-cam-video-streaming-web-server-camera-home-assistant/
  
  IMPORTANT!!! 
   - Select Board "AI Thinker ESP32-CAM"
   - GPIO 0 must be connected to GND to upload a sketch
   - After connecting GPIO 0 to GND, press the ESP32-CAM on-board RESET button to put your board in flashing mode
  
  Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
  of this software and associated documentation files.

  The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
  copies or substantial portions of the Software.
*********/

#include "esp_camera.h"
#include <WiFi.h>
#include "esp_timer.h"
#include "img_converters.h"
#include "Arduino.h"
#include "fb_gfx.h"
#include "soc/soc.h" //disable brownout problems
#include "soc/rtc_cntl_reg.h"  //disable brownout problems
#include "esp_http_server.h"

//Replace with your network credentials
const char* ssid = "Goober";
const char* password = "Head";

#define PART_BOUNDARY "123456789000000000000987654321"

// This project was tested with the AI Thinker Model, M5STACK PSRAM Model and M5STACK WITHOUT PSRAM
#define CAMERA_MODEL_AI_THINKER
//#define CAMERA_MODEL_M5STACK_PSRAM
//#define CAMERA_MODEL_M5STACK_WITHOUT_PSRAM

// Not tested with this model
//#define CAMERA_MODEL_WROVER_KIT

#if defined(CAMERA_MODEL_WROVER_KIT)
  #define PWDN_GPIO_NUM    -1
  #define RESET_GPIO_NUM   -1
  #define XCLK_GPIO_NUM    21
  #define SIOD_GPIO_NUM    26
  #define SIOC_GPIO_NUM    27
  
  #define Y9_GPIO_NUM      35
  #define Y8_GPIO_NUM      34
  #define Y7_GPIO_NUM      39
  #define Y6_GPIO_NUM      36
  #define Y5_GPIO_NUM      19
  #define Y4_GPIO_NUM      18
  #define Y3_GPIO_NUM       5
  #define Y2_GPIO_NUM       4
  #define VSYNC_GPIO_NUM   25
  #define HREF_GPIO_NUM    23
  #define PCLK_GPIO_NUM    22

#elif defined(CAMERA_MODEL_M5STACK_PSRAM)
  #define PWDN_GPIO_NUM     -1
  #define RESET_GPIO_NUM    15
  #define XCLK_GPIO_NUM     27
  #define SIOD_GPIO_NUM     25
  #define SIOC_GPIO_NUM     23
  
  #define Y9_GPIO_NUM       19
  #define Y8_GPIO_NUM       36
  #define Y7_GPIO_NUM       18
  #define Y6_GPIO_NUM       39
  #define Y5_GPIO_NUM        5
  #define Y4_GPIO_NUM       34
  #define Y3_GPIO_NUM       35
  #define Y2_GPIO_NUM       32
  #define VSYNC_GPIO_NUM    22
  #define HREF_GPIO_NUM     26
  #define PCLK_GPIO_NUM     21

#elif defined(CAMERA_MODEL_M5STACK_WITHOUT_PSRAM)
  #define PWDN_GPIO_NUM     -1
  #define RESET_GPIO_NUM    15
  #define XCLK_GPIO_NUM     27
  #define SIOD_GPIO_NUM     25
  #define SIOC_GPIO_NUM     23
  
  #define Y9_GPIO_NUM       19
  #define Y8_GPIO_NUM       36
  #define Y7_GPIO_NUM       18
  #define Y6_GPIO_NUM       39
  #define Y5_GPIO_NUM        5
  #define Y4_GPIO_NUM       34
  #define Y3_GPIO_NUM       35
  #define Y2_GPIO_NUM       17
  #define VSYNC_GPIO_NUM    22
  #define HREF_GPIO_NUM     26
  #define PCLK_GPIO_NUM     21

#elif defined(CAMERA_MODEL_AI_THINKER)
  #define PWDN_GPIO_NUM     32
  #define RESET_GPIO_NUM    -1
  #define XCLK_GPIO_NUM      0
  #define SIOD_GPIO_NUM     26
  #define SIOC_GPIO_NUM     27
  
  #define Y9_GPIO_NUM       35
  #define Y8_GPIO_NUM       34
  #define Y7_GPIO_NUM       39
  #define Y6_GPIO_NUM       36
  #define Y5_GPIO_NUM       21
  #define Y4_GPIO_NUM       19
  #define Y3_GPIO_NUM       18
  #define Y2_GPIO_NUM        5
  #define VSYNC_GPIO_NUM    25
  #define HREF_GPIO_NUM     23
  #define PCLK_GPIO_NUM     22
#else
  #error "Camera model not selected"
#endif

static const char* _STREAM_CONTENT_TYPE = "multipart/x-mixed-replace;boundary=" PART_BOUNDARY;
static const char* _STREAM_BOUNDARY = "\r\n--" PART_BOUNDARY "\r\n";
static const char* _STREAM_PART = "Content-Type: image/jpeg\r\nContent-Length: %u\r\n\r\n";

httpd_handle_t stream_httpd = NULL;

static esp_err_t stream_handler(httpd_req_t *req){
  camera_fb_t * fb = NULL;
  esp_err_t res = ESP_OK;
  size_t _jpg_buf_len = 0;
  uint8_t * _jpg_buf = NULL;
  char * part_buf[64];

  res = httpd_resp_set_type(req, _STREAM_CONTENT_TYPE);
  if(res != ESP_OK){
    return res;
  }

  while(true){
    fb = esp_camera_fb_get();
    if (!fb) {
      Serial.println("Camera capture failed");
      res = ESP_FAIL;
    } else {
      if(fb->width > 400){
        if(fb->format != PIXFORMAT_JPEG){
          bool jpeg_converted = frame2jpg(fb, 80, &_jpg_buf, &_jpg_buf_len);
          esp_camera_fb_return(fb);
          fb = NULL;
          if(!jpeg_converted){
            Serial.println("JPEG compression failed");
            res = ESP_FAIL;
          }
        } else {
          _jpg_buf_len = fb->len;
          _jpg_buf = fb->buf;
        }
      }
    }
    if(res == ESP_OK){
      size_t hlen = snprintf((char *)part_buf, 64, _STREAM_PART, _jpg_buf_len);
      res = httpd_resp_send_chunk(req, (const char *)part_buf, hlen);
    }
    if(res == ESP_OK){
      res = httpd_resp_send_chunk(req, (const char *)_jpg_buf, _jpg_buf_len);
    }
    if(res == ESP_OK){
      res = httpd_resp_send_chunk(req, _STREAM_BOUNDARY, strlen(_STREAM_BOUNDARY));
    }
    if(fb){
      esp_camera_fb_return(fb);
      fb = NULL;
      _jpg_buf = NULL;
    } else if(_jpg_buf){
      free(_jpg_buf);
      _jpg_buf = NULL;
    }
    if(res != ESP_OK){
      break;
    }
    //Serial.printf("MJPG: %uB\n",(uint32_t)(_jpg_buf_len));
  }
  return res;
}

void startCameraServer(){
  httpd_config_t config = HTTPD_DEFAULT_CONFIG();
  config.server_port = 80;

  httpd_uri_t index_uri = {
    .uri       = "/",
    .method    = HTTP_GET,
    .handler   = stream_handler,
    .user_ctx  = NULL
  };
  
  //Serial.printf("Starting web server on port: '%d'\n", config.server_port);
  if (httpd_start(&stream_httpd, &config) == ESP_OK) {
    httpd_register_uri_handler(stream_httpd, &index_uri);
  }
}

void setup() {
  WRITE_PERI_REG(RTC_CNTL_BROWN_OUT_REG, 0); //disable brownout detector
 
  Serial.begin(115200);
  Serial.setDebugOutput(false);
  
  camera_config_t config;
  config.ledc_channel = LEDC_CHANNEL_0;
  config.ledc_timer = LEDC_TIMER_0;
  config.pin_d0 = Y2_GPIO_NUM;
  config.pin_d1 = Y3_GPIO_NUM;
  config.pin_d2 = Y4_GPIO_NUM;
  config.pin_d3 = Y5_GPIO_NUM;
  config.pin_d4 = Y6_GPIO_NUM;
  config.pin_d5 = Y7_GPIO_NUM;
  config.pin_d6 = Y8_GPIO_NUM;
  config.pin_d7 = Y9_GPIO_NUM;
  config.pin_xclk = XCLK_GPIO_NUM;
  config.pin_pclk = PCLK_GPIO_NUM;
  config.pin_vsync = VSYNC_GPIO_NUM;
  config.pin_href = HREF_GPIO_NUM;
  config.pin_sscb_sda = SIOD_GPIO_NUM;
  config.pin_sscb_scl = SIOC_GPIO_NUM;
  config.pin_pwdn = PWDN_GPIO_NUM;
  config.pin_reset = RESET_GPIO_NUM;
  config.xclk_freq_hz = 20000000;
  config.pixel_format = PIXFORMAT_JPEG; 
  
  if(psramFound()){
    config.frame_size = FRAMESIZE_UXGA;
    config.jpeg_quality = 10;
    config.fb_count = 2;
  } else {
    config.frame_size = FRAMESIZE_SVGA;
    config.jpeg_quality = 12;
    config.fb_count = 1;
  }
  
  // Camera init
  esp_err_t err = esp_camera_init(&config);
  if (err != ESP_OK) {
    Serial.printf("Camera init failed with error 0x%x", err);
    return;
  }
  // Wi-Fi connection
  WiFi.begin(ssid, password);
  while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED) {
    delay(500);
    Serial.print(".");
  }
  Serial.println("");
  Serial.println("WiFi connected");
  
  Serial.print("Camera Stream Ready! Go to: http://");
  Serial.print(WiFi.localIP());
  
  // Start streaming web server
  startCameraServer();
}

void loop() {
  delay(1);
}

ESPHome yaml code

esphome:
  name: esp32-cam
  friendly_name: ESP32-Cam

esp32:
  board: esp32dev
  framework:
    type: arduino

# Enable logging
logger:

# Enable Home Assistant API
api:
#  encryption:
#    key: "T0qrCJJ9HoWm9yhPwn9gzXocAvmYRWCyAkFTsmQVH/U="

ota:
#  password: "c6083ee9877b850b9b6582cabb663c9b"
  - platform: esphome

wifi:
  ssid: !secret wifi_ssid
  password: !secret wifi_password

  manual_ip:
    static_ip: 172.27.3.57
    gateway: 172.27.3.3
    subnet: 255.255.255.0

  # Enable fallback hotspot (captive portal) in case wifi connection fails
  ap:
    ssid: "Esp32-Cam Fallback Hotspot"
    password: "JzbBlLm22Olx"

captive_portal:

esp32_camera:
  external_clock:
    pin: GPIO0
    frequency: 20MHz
  i2c_pins:
    sda: GPIO26
    scl: GPIO27
  data_pins: [GPIO5, GPIO18, GPIO19, GPIO21, GPIO36, GPIO39, GPIO34, GPIO35]

  # the order of the data_pins is significant, don't mix up the order

  vsync_pin: GPIO25
  href_pin: GPIO23
  pixel_clock_pin: GPIO22
  power_down_pin: GPIO32
  resolution: 800x600
  name: esp_cam02
  idle_framerate: 0.1fps
  aec_mode: auto
  ae_level: 1
  agc_mode: auto
  agc_gain_ceiling: 4x

output:
  - platform: ledc
    pin: GPIO4
    channel: 2 # channel 1 is used for esp32_camera
    id: led
light:
  - platform: monochromatic
    output: led
    name: espcam_02 light

ESPHome Logs output


INFO ESPHome 2024.7.3
INFO Reading configuration /config/esphome/esp32-cam.yaml...
WARNING GPIO0 is a strapping PIN and should only be used for I/O with care.
Attaching external pullup/down resistors to strapping pins can cause unexpected failures.
See https://esphome.io/guides/faq.html#why-am-i-getting-a-warning-about-strapping-pins
WARNING GPIO5 is a strapping PIN and should only be used for I/O with care.
Attaching external pullup/down resistors to strapping pins can cause unexpected failures.
See https://esphome.io/guides/faq.html#why-am-i-getting-a-warning-about-strapping-pins
INFO Generating C++ source...
INFO Compiling app...
Processing esp32-cam (board: esp32dev; framework: arduino; platform: platformio/[email protected])
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HARDWARE: ESP32 240MHz, 320KB RAM, 4MB Flash
 - toolchain-xtensa-esp32 @ 8.4.0+2021r2-patch5
Dependency Graph
|-- AsyncTCP-esphome @ 2.1.3
|-- WiFi @ 2.0.0
|-- FS @ 2.0.0
|-- Update @ 2.0.0
|-- ESPAsyncWebServer-esphome @ 3.2.2
|-- DNSServer @ 2.0.0
|-- ESPmDNS @ 2.0.0
Compiling .pioenvs/esp32-cam/src/main.cpp.o
Linking .pioenvs/esp32-cam/firmware.elf
RAM:   [=         ]  13.9% (used 45444 bytes from 327680 bytes)
Flash: [=====     ]  51.8% (used 951261 bytes from 1835008 bytes)
Building .pioenvs/esp32-cam/firmware.bin
Creating esp32 image...
Successfully created esp32 image.
esp32_create_combined_bin([".pioenvs/esp32-cam/firmware.bin"], [".pioenvs/esp32-cam/firmware.elf"])
Wrote 0xf9a70 bytes to file /data/build/esp32-cam/.pioenvs/esp32-cam/firmware.factory.bin, ready to flash to offset 0x0
esp32_copy_ota_bin([".pioenvs/esp32-cam/firmware.bin"], [".pioenvs/esp32-cam/firmware.elf"])
========================= [SUCCESS] Took 15.11 seconds =========================
INFO Successfully compiled program.
INFO Connecting to 172.27.3.57
INFO Uploading /data/build/esp32-cam/.pioenvs/esp32-cam/firmware.bin (957040 bytes)
Uploading: [============================================================] 100% Done...

INFO Upload took 9.98 seconds, waiting for result...
INFO OTA successful
INFO Successfully uploaded program.
INFO Starting log output from 172.27.3.57 using esphome API
INFO Successfully connected to esp32-cam @ 172.27.3.57 in 11.261s
INFO Successful handshake with esp32-cam @ 172.27.3.57 in 0.029s
[12:23:22][I][app:100]: ESPHome version 2024.7.3 compiled on Aug  4 2024, 12:22:46
[12:23:22][C][wifi:599]: WiFi:
[12:23:22][C][wifi:427]:   Local MAC: 24:0A:C4:2A:A0:38
[12:23:22][C][wifi:432]:   SSID: [redacted]
[12:23:22][C][wifi:435]:   IP Address: 172.27.3.57
[12:23:22][C][wifi:439]:   BSSID: [redacted]
[12:23:22][C][wifi:440]:   Hostname: 'esp32-cam'
[12:23:22][C][wifi:442]:   Signal strength: -52 dB ▂▄▆█
[12:23:22][C][wifi:446]:   Channel: 1
[12:23:22][C][wifi:447]:   Subnet: 255.255.255.0
[12:23:22][C][wifi:448]:   Gateway: 172.27.3.3
[12:23:22][C][wifi:449]:   DNS1: 0.0.0.0
[12:23:22][C][wifi:450]:   DNS2: 0.0.0.0
[12:23:22][C][logger:185]: Logger:
[12:23:22][C][logger:186]:   Level: DEBUG
[12:23:22][C][logger:188]:   Log Baud Rate: 115200
[12:23:22][C][logger:189]:   Hardware UART: UART0
[12:23:22][C][ledc.output:176]: LEDC Output:
[12:23:22][C][ledc.output:177]:   Pin GPIO4
[12:23:22][C][ledc.output:178]:   LEDC Channel: 2
[12:23:22][C][ledc.output:179]:   PWM Frequency: 1000.0 Hz
[12:23:22][C][ledc.output:180]:   Phase angle: 0.0°
[12:23:22][C][ledc.output:181]:   Bit depth: 16
[12:23:22][C][light:103]: Light 'espcam_02 light'
[12:23:22][C][light:105]:   Default Transition Length: 1.0s
[12:23:22][C][light:106]:   Gamma Correct: 2.80
[12:23:22][C][esp32_camera:048]: ESP32 Camera:
[12:23:22][C][esp32_camera:049]:   Name: esp_cam02
[12:23:22][C][esp32_camera:050]:   Internal: NO
[12:23:22][C][esp32_camera:052]:   Data Pins: D0:5 D1:18 D2:19 D3:21 D4:36 D5:39 D6:34 D7:35
[12:23:22][C][esp32_camera:053]:   VSYNC Pin: 25
[12:23:22][C][esp32_camera:054]:   HREF Pin: 23
[12:23:22][C][esp32_camera:055]:   Pixel Clock Pin: 22
[12:23:22][C][esp32_camera:056]:   External Clock: Pin:0 Frequency:20000000
[12:23:22][C][esp32_camera:060]:   I2C Pins: SDA:26 SCL:27
[12:23:22][C][esp32_camera:062]:   Reset Pin: -1
[12:23:22][C][esp32_camera:083]:   Resolution: 800x600 (SVGA)
[12:23:22][C][esp32_camera:129]:   JPEG Quality: 10
[12:23:22][C][esp32_camera:131]:   Contrast: 0
[12:23:22][C][esp32_camera:132]:   Brightness: 0
[12:23:22][C][esp32_camera:133]:   Saturation: 0
[12:23:22][C][esp32_camera:134]:   Vertical Flip: ON
[12:23:22][C][esp32_camera:135]:   Horizontal Mirror: ON
[12:23:22][C][esp32_camera:136]:   Special Effect: 0
[12:23:22][C][esp32_camera:137]:   White Balance Mode: 0
[12:23:22][C][esp32_camera:140]:   Auto Exposure Control: 1
[12:23:22][C][esp32_camera:141]:   Auto Exposure Control 2: 0
[12:23:22][C][esp32_camera:142]:   Auto Exposure Level: 1
[12:23:22][C][esp32_camera:143]:   Auto Exposure Value: 300
[12:23:22][C][esp32_camera:144]:   AGC: 1
[12:23:22][C][esp32_camera:145]:   AGC Gain: 0
[12:23:22][C][esp32_camera:146]:   Gain Ceiling: 1
[12:23:22][C][esp32_camera:152]:   Test Pattern: NO
[12:23:22][C][psram:020]: PSRAM:
[12:23:22][C][psram:021]:   Available: YES
[12:23:22][C][psram:024]:   Size: 4095 KB
[12:23:22][C][captive_portal:088]: Captive Portal:
[12:23:22][C][mdns:116]: mDNS:
[12:23:22][C][mdns:117]:   Hostname: esp32-cam
[12:23:22][C][esphome.ota:073]: Over-The-Air updates:
[12:23:22][C][esphome.ota:074]:   Address: 172.27.3.57:3232
[12:23:22][C][esphome.ota:075]:   Version: 2
[12:23:22][C][safe_mode:018]: Safe Mode:
[12:23:22][C][safe_mode:020]:   Boot considered successful after 60 seconds
[12:23:22][C][safe_mode:021]:   Invoke after 10 boot attempts
[12:23:22][C][safe_mode:023]:   Remain in safe mode for 300 seconds
[12:23:22][C][api:139]: API Server:
[12:23:22][C][api:140]:   Address: 172.27.3.57:6053
[12:23:22][C][api:144]:   Using noise encryption: NO
[12:23:30][D][esp32_camera:196]: Got Image: len=18795
[12:23:40][D][esp32_camera:196]: Got Image: len=18866
[12:23:50][D][esp32_camera:196]: Got Image: len=18893

Thanks!

5

So I went back to the docs, again, and re-looked up the chip I’m using:
ESP32-S
AI Thinker


The closest match in ESPHome is:
https://docs.platformio.org/en/latest/boards/espressif32/esp32cam.html

So I plugged in "esp32cam":

esp32:
  board: esp32cam
  framework:
    type: arduino

And now when I compile, I get:

[12:57:39][C][esp32_camera:083]:   Resolution: 800x600 (SVGA)
[12:57:39][E][esp32_camera:123]:   Setup Failed: ESP_ERR_NOT_SUPPORTED
[12:57:39][E][component:082]:   Component esp32_camera is marked FAILED

This mean the board is not supported, or the resolution is not supported, or the board is just dead??

Thanks

6

Ok. so I went back to the beginning, dusted off the Arduino IDE, and reflashed the board with the original source code:

Powered it up and BAM!! VIDEO!!!
Much JOY was felt throughout the land!!

I then went back to ESPHome and flashed that code through the ESPHome Web interface:
https://web.esphome.io/

first with the Initinal ESPHome install, and then with the compiled .bin file.
Note that I set these as per the current ESPHome docs for this board and chipset:

esp32:
  board: esp32cam
  framework:
    type: arduino

Complied, uploaded, checked the logs - no errors, but tears of despair could be heard across the land: No Video.

So… In conclusion: I’m convinced ESPHome 2024.7.3 is borked for this board.

I will update my Issue in Github.

Cheers.