diff --git a/src/CHANGES.md b/src/CHANGES.md
index 8d89f003..f2cc8785 100644
--- a/src/CHANGES.md
+++ b/src/CHANGES.md
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 # Development Changes
 
-## 0.8.98 - 2024-03-23
+## 0.8.98 - 2024-03-24
+* new network routines
 
 ## 0.8.97 - 2024-03-22
 * add support for newest generation of inverters with A-F in their serial number
diff --git a/src/app.cpp b/src/app.cpp
index f06e4a53..2dd8c49c 100644
--- a/src/app.cpp
+++ b/src/app.cpp
@@ -162,7 +162,6 @@ void app::loop(void) {
 
 //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 void app::onNetwork(bool gotIp) {
-    DPRINTLN(DBG_INFO, F("onNetwork"));
     mNetworkConnected = gotIp;
     ah::Scheduler::resetTicker();
     regularTickers(); //reinstall regular tickers
diff --git a/src/network/AhoyNetwork.h b/src/network/AhoyNetwork.h
index 3c3489bd..59e000bd 100644
--- a/src/network/AhoyNetwork.h
+++ b/src/network/AhoyNetwork.h
@@ -173,7 +173,9 @@ class AhoyNetwork {
         enum class NetworkState : uint8_t {
             DISCONNECTED,
             CONNECTED,
-            GOT_IP
+            GOT_IP,
+            SCAN_READY, // ESP8266
+            CONNECTING // ESP8266
         };
 
     protected:
diff --git a/src/network/AhoyWifiEsp8266.h b/src/network/AhoyWifiEsp8266.h
index 16a62b4b..2db24c21 100644
--- a/src/network/AhoyWifiEsp8266.h
+++ b/src/network/AhoyWifiEsp8266.h
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 
 #if defined(ESP8266)
 #include <functional>
+#include <list>
 #include <WiFiUdp.h>
 #include "AhoyNetwork.h"
 #include "ESPAsyncWebServer.h"
@@ -23,18 +24,15 @@ class AhoyWifi : public AhoyNetwork {
             });
 
             WiFi.setHostname(mConfig->sys.deviceName);
-            #if !defined(AP_ONLY)
-                WiFi.begin(mConfig->sys.stationSsid, mConfig->sys.stationPwd);
-
-                DBGPRINT(F("connect to network '")); Serial.flush();
-                DBGPRINT(mConfig->sys.stationSsid);
-            #endif
+            mBSSIDList.clear();
         }
 
         void tickNetworkLoop() override {
             if(mAp.isEnabled())
                 mAp.tickLoop();
 
+            mCnt++;
+
             switch(mStatus) {
                 case NetworkState::DISCONNECTED:
                     if(mConnected) {
@@ -46,6 +44,45 @@ class AhoyWifi : public AhoyNetwork {
                     if (WiFi.softAPgetStationNum() > 0) {
                         DBGPRINTLN(F("AP client connected"));
                     }
+                    #if !defined(AP_ONLY)
+                    else if (!mScanActive) {
+                        DBGPRINT(F("scanning APs with SSID "));
+                        DBGPRINTLN(String(mConfig->sys.stationSsid));
+                        mScanCnt = 0;
+                        mCnt = 0;
+                        mScanActive = true;
+                        WiFi.scanNetworks(true, true, 0U, ([this]() {
+                            if (mConfig->sys.isHidden)
+                                return (uint8_t*)NULL;
+                            return (uint8_t*)(mConfig->sys.stationSsid);
+                        })());
+                    } else if(getBSSIDs()) {
+                        mStatus = NetworkState::SCAN_READY;
+                        DBGPRINT(F("connect to network '")); Serial.flush();
+                        DBGPRINTLN(mConfig->sys.stationSsid);
+                    }
+                    #endif
+                    break;
+
+                case NetworkState::SCAN_READY:
+                    mStatus = NetworkState::CONNECTING;
+                    DBGPRINT(F("try to connect to BSSID:"));
+                    uint8_t bssid[6];
+                    for (int j = 0; j < 6; j++) {
+                        bssid[j] = mBSSIDList.front();
+                        mBSSIDList.pop_front();
+                        DBGPRINT(" "  + String(bssid[j], HEX));
+                    }
+                    DBGPRINTLN("");
+                    mGotDisconnect = false;
+                    WiFi.begin(mConfig->sys.stationSsid, mConfig->sys.stationPwd, 0, &bssid[0]);
+                    break;
+
+                case NetworkState::CONNECTING:
+                    if (isTimeout(TIMEOUT)) {
+                        WiFi.disconnect();
+                        mStatus = mBSSIDList.empty() ? NetworkState::DISCONNECTED : NetworkState::SCAN_READY;
+                    }
                     break;
 
                 case NetworkState::CONNECTED:
@@ -104,8 +141,45 @@ class AhoyWifi : public AhoyNetwork {
                         std::swap(sort[i], sort[j]);
         }
 
+        bool getBSSIDs() {
+            bool result = false;
+            int n = WiFi.scanComplete();
+            if (n < 0) {
+                if (++mScanCnt < 20)
+                    return false;
+            }
+            if(n > 0) {
+                mBSSIDList.clear();
+                int sort[n];
+                sortRSSI(&sort[0], n);
+                for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
+                    DBGPRINT("BSSID " + String(i) + ":");
+                    uint8_t *bssid = WiFi.BSSID(sort[i]);
+                    for (int j = 0; j < 6; j++){
+                        DBGPRINT(" " + String(bssid[j], HEX));
+                        mBSSIDList.push_back(bssid[j]);
+                    }
+                    DBGPRINTLN("");
+                }
+                result = true;
+            }
+            mScanActive = false;
+            WiFi.scanDelete();
+            return result;
+        }
+
+        bool isTimeout(uint8_t timeout) {
+            return ((mCnt % timeout) == 0);
+        }
+
     private:
+        uint8_t mCnt = 0;
+        uint8_t mScanCnt = 0;
         bool mScanActive = false;
+        bool mGotDisconnect = false;
+        std::list<uint8_t> mBSSIDList;
+        static constexpr uint8_t TIMEOUT = 20;
+        static constexpr uint8_t SCAN_TIMEOUT = 10;
 };
 
 #endif /*ESP8266*/