UDP messages from mesh root to softAP

[Mermaja]

Hello.

I am performing some tests to communicate an Espressif WiFi mesh network with an external agent, using standard UDP messages (by means of Berkeley sockets). In my tests, only the root of the mesh sends messages to the external agent, which listens on a port for the messages.

The weird case is that all the tests work, except when the external agent is another Espressif device that acts at the access point the root is connected to.

To clarify, if root is connected to an external router, and the external agent is connected to the same router, it works ok. If root is connected to the softAP of a PC with Windows 11, and the external agent is an application on the same PC, it works ok. But if the external agent is another Espressif device acting as the softAp root is connected to, messages are sent without error but are not received by the external agent.

I have also tested a single node, not a mesh root, connected to another Espressif device acting as softAp, and the messages are received without problem.

To summarize, a mesh root UDP messages are not received from another Espressif device if this device is acting as softAP for the root. In all other cases, messages are sent and received without problems. Any hint about why this is happenning?

Thank you for your support,
Germán.

[nopnop2002]

Limited broadcast address
The address represented by 255.255.255.255, or <broadcast>, cannot cross the router.

Directed broadcast address
It is possible to cross the router with an address that represents only the last octet as 255, such as 192.168.10.255.

Unicast address
It is possible to cross the router with an address that specifies all octets, such as 192.168.10.41.