DietPi version | cat /boot/dietpi/.version
G_DIETPI_VERSION_CORE=10
G_DIETPI_VERSION_SUB=7
G_DIETPI_VERSION_RC=2
G_GITBRANCH=‘master’
G_GITOWNER=‘MichaIng’
Distro version | echo $G_DISTRO_NAME $G_RASPBIAN
trixie
Kernel version | uname --all
Linux PineA64 6.18.54-current-sunxi64 #1 SMP PREEMPT Fri Sep 25 14:35:54 UTC 2026 aarch64 GNU/Linux
Architecture | dpkg --print-architecture
Arm64
SBC model | echo $G_HW_MODEL_NAME or (EG: RPi3)
PINE A64
Power supply used | (EG: 5V 1A RAVpower)
SD card used | (EG: SanDisk ultra)
Software title | (EG: Nextcloud)
60 WiFi Hotspot
Was the software title installed freshly or updated/migrated?
Fresh, several times.
Can this issue be replicated on a fresh installation of DietPi?
Bug report ID | echo $G_HW_UUID
41ac21a0-0a4a-47e9-9fc7-758181889c17
…
…
paste lines of logs or code into such code fences here
Jappe
3 October 2026 15:51
2
Hello, can you pls edit your posting and provide some info?!
On a new install of DietPi, I’m having problems getting HotSpot mode to work. In reviewing various troubleshooting articles, I’ve gotten to the point where I don’t have anymore error messages to chase down. From the OS side it looks likes like everything is working.
None of my devices see the hotspot as an available network to connect to. I’ve tried to connect to it with the default SSID/password and the devices report network not found. I can connect to my home wlan with the WiFi adapter, an RTL8723bs so it seems to be working.
DietPi Bug report:
- Reference code: 41ac21a0-0a4a-47e9-9fc7-758181889c17
Any suggestions on additional troubleshooting?
Thanks
CVBruce
you use an extrnal adapter to setup the hotspot?
Please check back SSID and WPA key in dietpi-network. There is currently a bug due to which they cannot be changed in the tool, but you will see the effective values: Cannot change hotspot SSID or Key through dietpi-network · Issue #8335 · MichaIng/DietPi · GitHub
Also check service logs:
journalctl -u hostapd
Yes, kind of. The Pine A64 was sold with an optional WiFi card that plugged into the motherboard. Not USB. The WiFi card does work as a client on wlan.
Default SSID, DietPi-HotSpot
eA64 systemd[1]: Starting hostapd.service - Access point and authentication server for Wi-Fi and Ethernet…
Oct 02 14:59:17 PineA64 (hostapd)[595]: hostapd.service: Referenced but unset environment variable evaluates to an empty string: DAEMON_OPTS
Oct 02 14:59:18 PineA64 hostapd[595]: wlan0: interface state UNINITIALIZED->COUNTRY_UPDATE
Oct 02 14:59:18 PineA64 hostapd[595]: wlan0: interface state COUNTRY_UPDATE->ENABLED
Oct 02 14:59:18 PineA64 hostapd[595]: wlan0: AP-ENABLED
Oct 02 14:59:18 PineA64 systemd[1]: Started hostapd.service - Access point and authentication server for Wi-Fi and Ethernet.
Oct 02 15:22:44 PineA64 systemd[1]: Stopping hostapd.service - Access point and authentication server for Wi-Fi and Ethernet…
Oct 02 15:22:44 PineA64 systemd[1]: hostapd.service: Deactivated successfully.
Oct 02 15:22:44 PineA64 systemd[1]: Stopped hostapd.service - Access point and authentication server for Wi-Fi and Ethernet.
Oct 02 15:22:45 PineA64 systemd[1]: Starting hostapd.service - Access point and authentication server for Wi-Fi and Ethernet…
Oct 02 15:22:45 PineA64 (hostapd)[1998]: hostapd.service: Referenced but unset environment variable evaluates to an empty string: DAEMON_OPTS
Oct 02 15:22:45 PineA64 hostapd[1998]: wlan0: interface state UNINITIALIZED->COUNTRY_UPDATE
Oct 02 15:22:45 PineA64 hostapd[1998]: wlan0: interface state COUNTRY_UPDATE->ENABLED
Oct 02 15:22:45 PineA64 hostapd[1998]: wlan0: AP-ENABLED
Oct 02 15:22:45 PineA64 systemd[1]: Started hostapd.service - Access point and authentication server for Wi-Fi and Ethernet.
/etc/hostapd/hostapd.conf
interface=wlan0
driver=nl80211
ssid=DietPi-HotSpot
country_code=US
hw_mode=g
channel=3
ieee80211n=0
ieee80211ac=0
ieee80211ax=0
wmm_enabled=0
macaddr_acl=0
auth_algs=1
ignore_broadcast_ssid=0
wpa=2
wpa_passphrase=dietpihotspot
wpa_key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
wpa_pairwise=TKIP
rsn_pairwise=CCMP
I have an available RTL8188CUS on a USB dongle. Should I try plugin and configure that as the hotspot to rule out the current adapter?
So you tried SSID DietPi-HotSpot with key dietpihotspot?
At least worth to try with the USB WiFi adapter. There are indeed some which simple do not support AP mode.
To verify another thing:
lsmod | grep 8723bs
It seems we explicitly load a wrong kernel module 8723bs vs r8723bs. The correct one should load automatically, but we’d still want to fix this in our script.
You are sure this Wifi card is supporting AP mode? Can you check
iw list
look for Supported interface modes