diff --git a/CommandStation-EX.ino b/CommandStation-EX.ino
index 24a0aef..a6885ff 100644
--- a/CommandStation-EX.ino
+++ b/CommandStation-EX.ino
@@ -95,11 +95,11 @@ void setup()
   // Start Ethernet if it exists
 #ifndef ARDUINO_ARCH_ESP32
 #if WIFI_ON
-  WifiInterface::setup(WIFI_SERIAL_LINK_SPEED, F(WIFI_SSID), F(WIFI_PASSWORD), F(WIFI_HOSTNAME), IP_PORT, WIFI_CHANNEL);
+  WifiInterface::setup(WIFI_SERIAL_LINK_SPEED, F(WIFI_SSID), F(WIFI_PASSWORD), F(WIFI_HOSTNAME), IP_PORT, WIFI_CHANNEL, WIFI_FORCE_AP);
 #endif // WIFI_ON
 #else
   // ESP32 needs wifi on always
-  WifiESP::setup(WIFI_SSID, WIFI_PASSWORD, WIFI_HOSTNAME, IP_PORT, WIFI_CHANNEL);
+  WifiESP::setup(WIFI_SSID, WIFI_PASSWORD, WIFI_HOSTNAME, IP_PORT, WIFI_CHANNEL, WIFI_FORCE_AP);
 #endif // ARDUINO_ARCH_ESP32
 
 #if ETHERNET_ON
diff --git a/WifiESP32.cpp b/WifiESP32.cpp
index 6e09aa1..3fe91ae 100644
--- a/WifiESP32.cpp
+++ b/WifiESP32.cpp
@@ -117,7 +117,8 @@ bool WifiESP::setup(const char *SSid,
                     const char *password,
                     const char *hostname,
                     int port,
-                    const byte channel) {
+                    const byte channel,
+                    const bool forceAP) {
   bool havePassword = true;
   bool haveSSID = true;
   bool wifiUp = false;
@@ -145,7 +146,7 @@ bool WifiESP::setup(const char *SSid,
   if (strncmp(yourNetwork, password, 13) == 0 || strncmp("", password, 13) == 0)
     havePassword = false;
 
-  if (haveSSID && havePassword) {
+  if (haveSSID && havePassword && !forceAP) {
     WiFi.setHostname(hostname); // Strangely does not work unless we do it HERE!
     WiFi.mode(WIFI_STA);
 #ifdef SERIAL_BT_COMMANDS
@@ -183,18 +184,20 @@ bool WifiESP::setup(const char *SSid,
       }
     }
   }
-  if (!haveSSID) {
+  if (!haveSSID || forceAP) {
     // prepare all strings
-    String strSSID("DCCEX_");
-    String strPass("PASS_");
-    String strMac = WiFi.macAddress();
-    strMac.remove(0,9);
-    strMac.replace(":","");
-    strMac.replace(":","");
-    // convert mac addr hex chars to lower case to be compatible with AT software
-    std::transform(strMac.begin(), strMac.end(), strMac.begin(), asciitolower);
-    strSSID.concat(strMac);
-    strPass.concat(strMac);
+    String strSSID(forceAP ? SSid : "DCCEX_");
+    String strPass(forceAP ? password : "PASS_");
+    if (!forceAP) {
+      String strMac = WiFi.macAddress();
+      strMac.remove(0,9);
+      strMac.replace(":","");
+      strMac.replace(":","");
+      // convert mac addr hex chars to lower case to be compatible with AT software
+      std::transform(strMac.begin(), strMac.end(), strMac.begin(), asciitolower);
+      strSSID.concat(strMac);
+      strPass.concat(strMac);
+    }
 
     WiFi.mode(WIFI_AP);
 #ifdef SERIAL_BT_COMMANDS
diff --git a/WifiESP32.h b/WifiESP32.h
index 100e393..1cf0d91 100644
--- a/WifiESP32.h
+++ b/WifiESP32.h
@@ -31,7 +31,8 @@ public:
 		    const char *wifiPassword,
 		    const char *hostname,
 		    const int port,
-		    const byte channel);
+		    const byte channel,
+			const bool forceAP);
   static void loop();
 private:
 };
diff --git a/WifiInterface.cpp b/WifiInterface.cpp
index 3a88aea..c377319 100644
--- a/WifiInterface.cpp
+++ b/WifiInterface.cpp
@@ -83,7 +83,8 @@ bool WifiInterface::setup(long serial_link_speed,
                           const FSH *wifiPassword,
                           const FSH *hostname,
                           const int port,
-                          const byte channel) {
+                          const byte channel,
+                          const bool forceAP) {
 
   wifiSerialState wifiUp = WIFI_NOAT;
 
@@ -100,7 +101,7 @@ bool WifiInterface::setup(long serial_link_speed,
 // See if the WiFi is attached to the first serial port
 #if NUM_SERIAL > 0 && !defined(SERIAL1_COMMANDS)
   SERIAL1.begin(serial_link_speed);
-  wifiUp = setup(SERIAL1, wifiESSID, wifiPassword, hostname, port, channel);
+  wifiUp = setup(SERIAL1, wifiESSID, wifiPassword, hostname, port, channel, forceAP);
 #endif
 
 // Other serials are tried, depending on hardware.
@@ -110,7 +111,7 @@ bool WifiInterface::setup(long serial_link_speed,
   if (wifiUp == WIFI_NOAT)
   {
     Serial2.begin(serial_link_speed);
-    wifiUp = setup(Serial2, wifiESSID, wifiPassword, hostname, port, channel);
+    wifiUp = setup(Serial2, wifiESSID, wifiPassword, hostname, port, channel, forceAP);
   }
 #endif
 #endif
@@ -121,7 +122,7 @@ bool WifiInterface::setup(long serial_link_speed,
   if (wifiUp == WIFI_NOAT)
   {
     SERIAL3.begin(serial_link_speed);
-    wifiUp = setup(SERIAL3, wifiESSID, wifiPassword, hostname, port, channel);
+    wifiUp = setup(SERIAL3, wifiESSID, wifiPassword, hostname, port, channel, forceAP);
   }
 #endif
 
@@ -139,7 +140,7 @@ bool WifiInterface::setup(long serial_link_speed,
 }
 
 wifiSerialState WifiInterface::setup(Stream & setupStream,  const FSH* SSid, const FSH* password,
-				     const FSH* hostname,  int port, byte channel) {
+				     const FSH* hostname,  int port, byte channel, bool forceAP) {
   wifiSerialState wifiState;
   static uint8_t ntry = 0;
   ntry++;
@@ -148,7 +149,7 @@ wifiSerialState WifiInterface::setup(Stream & setupStream,  const FSH* SSid, con
 
   DIAG(F("++ Wifi Setup Try %d ++"), ntry);
 
-  wifiState = setup2( SSid, password, hostname,  port, channel);
+  wifiState = setup2( SSid, password, hostname,  port, channel, forceAP);
 
   if (wifiState == WIFI_NOAT) {
     LCD(4, F("WiFi no AT chip"));
@@ -172,7 +173,7 @@ wifiSerialState WifiInterface::setup(Stream & setupStream,  const FSH* SSid, con
 #pragma GCC diagnostic ignored "-Wunused-parameter"
 #endif
 wifiSerialState WifiInterface::setup2(const FSH* SSid, const FSH* password,
-				      const FSH* hostname, int port, byte channel) {
+				      const FSH* hostname, int port, byte channel, bool forceAP) {
   bool ipOK = false;
   bool oldCmd = false;
 
@@ -225,7 +226,7 @@ wifiSerialState WifiInterface::setup2(const FSH* SSid, const FSH* password,
 	  if (!checkForOK(1000, F("0.0.0.0"), true,false))
 	      ipOK = true;
     }
-  } else {
+  } else if (!forceAP) {
       // SSID was configured, so we assume station (client) mode.
       if (oldCmd) {
 	      // AT command early version supports CWJAP/CWSAP
@@ -285,14 +286,19 @@ wifiSerialState WifiInterface::setup2(const FSH* SSid, const FSH* password,
   
     i=0;
     do {
-      if (STRNCMP_P(yourNetwork, (const char*)password, 13) == 0) {
-	// unconfigured
-        StringFormatter::send(wifiStream, F("AT+CWSAP%s=\"DCCEX_%s\",\"PASS_%s\",%d,4\r\n"),
-                                          oldCmd ? "" : "_CUR", macTail, macTail, channel);
+      if (!forceAP) {
+        if (STRNCMP_P(yourNetwork, (const char*)password, 13) == 0) {
+    // unconfigured
+          StringFormatter::send(wifiStream, F("AT+CWSAP%s=\"DCCEX_%s\",\"PASS_%s\",%d,4\r\n"),
+                                            oldCmd ? "" : "_CUR", macTail, macTail, channel);
+        } else {
+          // password configured by user
+          StringFormatter::send(wifiStream, F("AT+CWSAP%s=\"DCCEX_%s\",\"%S\",%d,4\r\n"), oldCmd ? "" : "_CUR",
+                                          macTail, password, channel);
+        }
       } else {
-        // password configured by user
-       StringFormatter::send(wifiStream, F("AT+CWSAP%s=\"DCCEX_%s\",\"%S\",%d,4\r\n"), oldCmd ? "" : "_CUR",
-	                                       macTail, password, channel);
+        StringFormatter::send(wifiStream, F("AT+CWSAP%s=\"%s\",\"%s\",%d,4\r\n"),
+                                        oldCmd ? "" : "_CUR", SSid, password, channel);
       }
     } while (!checkForOK(WIFI_CONNECT_TIMEOUT, true) && i++<2); // do twice if necessary but ignore failure as AP mode may still be ok
     if (i >= 2)
diff --git a/WifiInterface.h b/WifiInterface.h
index 7c0a433..33bc211 100644
--- a/WifiInterface.h
+++ b/WifiInterface.h
@@ -36,17 +36,18 @@ public:
                           const FSH *wifiPassword,
                           const FSH *hostname,
                           const int port,
-                          const byte channel);
+                          const byte channel,
+                          const bool forceAP);
   static void loop();
   static void ATCommand(HardwareSerial * stream,const byte *command);
   
 private:
   static wifiSerialState setup(Stream &setupStream, const FSH *SSSid, const FSH *password,
-                    const FSH *hostname, int port, byte channel);
+                    const FSH *hostname, int port, byte channel, bool forceAP);
   static Stream *wifiStream;
   static DCCEXParser parser;
   static wifiSerialState setup2(const FSH *SSSid, const FSH *password,
-                     const FSH *hostname, int port, byte channel);
+                     const FSH *hostname, int port, byte channel, bool forceAP);
   static bool checkForOK(const unsigned int timeout, bool echo, bool escapeEcho = true);
   static bool checkForOK(const unsigned int timeout, const FSH *waitfor, bool echo, bool escapeEcho = true);
   static bool connected;
diff --git a/config.example.h b/config.example.h
index a945ec9..9fe6135 100644
--- a/config.example.h
+++ b/config.example.h
@@ -123,6 +123,11 @@ The configuration file for DCC-EX Command Station
 // this line exists or not. If you need to use an alternate channel (we recommend
 // using only 1,6, or 11) you may change it here.
 #define WIFI_CHANNEL 1
+//
+// WIFI_FORCE_AP: If you'd like to specify your own WIFI_SSID in AP mode, set this
+// true. Otherwise it is assumed that you'd like to connect to an existing network
+// with that SSID.
+#define WIFI_FORCE_AP false
 
 /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //