ANX Labs Frequently Asked Questions

This page answers the most frequently asked questions about ANX Labs products. If your question is not listed here, check the common issues guide for step-by-step diagnostics, or reach out through the support channels listed at the bottom of this page.

Can I use the ANX dev module with Arduino IDE?

Yes. ANX Labs publishes an official Arduino board support package (BSP) that adds the ANX dev module to the Arduino IDE board manager.

Add the BSP URL to Arduino IDE

Open File → Preferences (or Arduino IDE → Settings on macOS). Paste the following URL into the Additional boards manager URLs field:

https://boards.anx-labs.io/package_index.json

Install the package

Open Tools → Board → Boards Manager, search for ANX Labs, and click Install.

Select the board and port

Go to Tools → Board, choose your ANX module from the ANX Labs section, then select the correct port under Tools → Port.

ANX Labs recommends using the ANX CLI and SDK for production development — the Arduino BSP is best suited for quick prototyping and evaluation.

Does the module support 5 GHz Wi-Fi?

No. The ANX dev module supports 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi only (802.11 b/g/n). It cannot associate with a 5 GHz access point.Many modern routers broadcast both bands under the same network name (SSID). When this happens, your phone or laptop may connect on 5 GHz while the ANX module fails silently because it cannot see the 5 GHz band at all.To resolve this, configure your router to broadcast the 2.4 GHz band on a separate, dedicated SSID (for example, MyNetwork_2G) and connect the ANX module to that SSID.

2.4 GHz has better range and wall penetration than 5 GHz, making it a practical choice for IoT deployments even if your router supports both bands.

What is the maximum current I can draw from a GPIO pin?

Each GPIO pin can source or sink up to 12 mA. The total simultaneous current across all GPIO pins must not exceed 50 mA.For loads that exceed 12 mA — such as LEDs at full brightness, relay coils, or small motors — use a transistor or MOSFET driver circuit controlled by the GPIO pin rather than powering the load directly.

Exceeding the 12 mA per-pin or 50 mA aggregate limits can permanently damage the module’s GPIO circuitry. Always calculate your load current before connecting a peripheral directly to a GPIO pin.

A standard small-signal NPN transistor (e.g., 2N2222 or BC547) is sufficient for most low-power switching applications. The GPIO drives the transistor base through a current-limiting resistor, and the transistor switches the load independently.

Can I power the module from a LiPo battery?

Yes. The ANX dev module includes an onboard LiPo charger and power management circuit, making it well suited for battery-powered applications.Connect a single-cell 3.7 V LiPo battery to the BAT+ and BAT- pads on the underside of the module. When USB is also connected, the onboard charger (MCP73831) automatically charges the battery at 200 mA.

Battery connection pads

BAT+ and BAT- are exposed pads on the module underside. Use 22–24 AWG wire and a JST-PH 2.0 connector for a secure, removable connection.

Charge rate

The MCP73831 charges at 200 mA by default. Do not connect a battery with a capacity below 200 mAh, as this may stress the cell.

Always use a LiPo battery with a built-in protection circuit (PCB). Unprotected cells can enter thermal runaway if over-discharged or short-circuited.

How do I update the ANX CLI itself?

Run the built-in update command to fetch and install the latest CLI version:

anx update

The CLI checks for updates automatically each time you run a command while connected to the internet, and prints a notice when a newer version is available. Running anx update applies the update immediately.To check your current CLI version without triggering an update:

anx --version

Keep the CLI up to date to ensure compatibility with the latest ANX OS firmware images and new module hardware revisions.

Is the ANX SDK open source?

The ANX SDK is source-available under the ANX Labs Developer License.

Permitted

Read, modify, and use the SDK in your own applications — commercial and personal projects both included.

Restricted

Redistributing the SDK as a standalone package or library requires a separate commercial license from ANX Labs.

License file

The full license text is included in the LICENSE file at the root of the SDK repository.

If you need to redistribute the SDK or embed it in a product you sell, contact support@anx-labs.io to discuss commercial licensing terms.

What happens if an OTA update fails mid-update?

ANX OS uses a dual-partition scheme to make OTA updates safe by design. The update image is written to the inactive partition while the current firmware continues running normally on the active partition.Only after the new firmware is fully written and passes its startup health check does the bootloader switch the active partition pointer. If anything goes wrong — a failed hash check, a power loss, or a connectivity drop — the device automatically reboots back into the previous stable firmware.You never end up with a bricked device from a failed OTA update. Retry the update at any time with:

anx ota update --retry

How do I factory reset the module?

To restore the module to its out-of-box configuration, perform a hardware factory reset:

Hold the BOOT button for 10 seconds

Press and hold the BOOT button. Keep holding it — do not release early.

Watch for the LED confirmation

After 10 seconds, the status LED flashes red three times. Release the button.

Module reboots

The module reboots automatically. config.json and all user files stored in the flash file system are erased.

A factory reset erases config.json and user data from the flash file system, but it does not change the firmware. Your installed ANX OS version remains intact. To also reinstall firmware, run anx flash --latest after the reset.

Can I run my own RTOS tasks alongside ANX OS?

Yes. ANX OS is built on FreeRTOS, and you can create additional tasks using the standard FreeRTOS API from within app_main().

#include "freertos/FreeRTOS.h"
#include "freertos/task.h"

void my_task(void *pvParameters) {
    while (1) {
        // Your task logic here
        vTaskDelay(pdMS_TO_TICKS(100));
    }
}

void app_main(void) {
    xTaskCreate(
        my_task,          // Task function
        "my_task",        // Task name (for debugging)
        2048,             // Stack size in bytes
        NULL,             // Task parameters
        tskIDLE_PRIORITY + 2, // Priority
        NULL              // Task handle (optional)
    );
}

Assign your tasks a priority lower than tskIDLE_PRIORITY + 4 to avoid starving the ANX OS system tasks, which handle Wi-Fi, MQTT, and OTA. Assigning a higher priority can cause connectivity failures or watchdog resets.

Refer to the FreeRTOS documentation for a full reference on task management, queues, and synchronization primitives.

Where can I get support?

ANX Labs offers several support channels depending on your needs:

GitHub Issues

File a bug report or feature request on the ANX Labs GitHub. Include your CLI version, OS firmware version, and steps to reproduce.

Community Discord

Join the developer community at discord.gg/anx-labs for real-time help, project showcases, and announcements.

Commercial Support

For priority support, SLA-backed responses, and production deployment assistance, email support@anx-labs.io.

When filing an issue or asking for help, include the output of anx --version and anx device info — this helps the team diagnose your problem faster.

Get Started

Dev Module

OS Firmware

Example Applications

Troubleshooting

ANX Labs Frequently Asked Questions

Battery connection pads

Charge rate

Permitted

Restricted

License file

GitHub Issues

Community Discord

Commercial Support