[Bug]: BK7238 Wi-Fi fails to start after changing MAC address via Web Interface

[BurdinMaksim]

Hello,

I am experiencing an issue with the OpenBeken firmware for Mini Smart Switch WiFi T1-2S-NL (the BK7238 chip). After changing the MAC address via the web interface, the device fails to create its Wi-Fi access point on the next boot.

Steps to Reproduce:

1. Flash a clean OpenBK7238_QIO_1.18.172.bin (or other version) onto a BK7238-based device (e.g., a relay).
2. The device boots successfully and creates its Wi-Fi AP. Connection and web interface work correctly.
3. Navigate to the Network or System settings in the web interface.
4. Change the MAC address to a new, locally administered unicast address (e.g., CA:47:8C:42:88:01).
5. Save the settings. The device reboots.
6. After reboot, the Wi-Fi access point does not appear. The device becomes unreachable over Wi-Fi.

Expected behavior: The device should reboot with the new MAC address and create its Wi-Fi access point as usual.

Actual behavior: The Wi-Fi interface fails to initialize.The device is bricked from a network perspective until it is reflashed. Through UART, I can see the bootloader looping, attempting to boot unsuccessfully (go os_addr(0x10000)..........), indicating a problem occurring very early in the firmware initialization, likely related to Wi-Fi/RF calibration or MAC validation.

Workaround: The only way to recover the device is to perform a full chip erase and reflash the original firmware image.Changing the MAC address via the web interface is not a viable option.

Additional context:

· The original MAC address that works is C8:47:8C:42:88:48.
· The new MAC address I tried (which causes the failure) is CA:47:8C:42:88:01.
· I have confirmed that the new MAC address is a valid locally administered unicast address.
· The issue is reproducible 100% of the time.
· This prevents setting up multiple devices on the same network without MAC conflicts.

Thank you for your work on this project. I hope this issue can be resolved.

[NonPIayerCharacter]

On T1 RF partition is not at an expected address of 0x1E0000, but at 0x1E3000. And so a default MAC is used
I made a patch for BK7231GUIFlashTool to move it to an address that OBK is expecting.
Download patched version from https://github.com/openshwprojects/BK7231GUIFlashTool/actions/runs/17843405998/artifacts/4050982438
Integrated into last release v58
Enable "Show advanced options", open "Custom operation", press "Restore RF from backup" and select your backup.
Alternatively, you can use "Restore RF part", but i didn't test it.

[BurdinMaksim]

Everything worked. I restored the RF from buckap on two relays, and both received their MAC addresses. Thank you so much for your help! I wish you success in developing your project!