cargo: keep AP web UI available without STA WiFi

docs/CHANGELOG.md

@@ -2,6 +2,12 @@
 
 ## Unreleased
 
+### Fixed
+- Cargo ESP starts AP and Web UI/API before attempting STA WiFi reconnects.
+- STA reconnect attempts now service the web server during short connection windows so AP mode remains usable when no saved WiFi is available.
+
+## Unreleased
+
 ### Changed
 - Reworked ESP32-S3 dashboard page navigation to use screen-wide LVGL swipe gestures.
 - Removed failed temporary double-tap and transparent hitbox navigation experiments.

firmware/esp32/overland-controller/overland-controller.ino

@@ -1998,8 +1998,10 @@ void connectStaWifi() {
         WiFi.begin(staSsids[i].c_str(), staPasswords[i].c_str());
 
         unsigned long start = millis();
-        while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED && millis() - start < 10000) {
-            delay(500);
+        while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED && millis() - start < 3000) {
+            server.handleClient();
+            oledLoop();
+            delay(100);
             Serial.print(".");
         }
 
@@ -4007,7 +4009,9 @@ void setup() {
     startAccessPoint();
     oledShowSetupPage();
 
-    connectStaWifi();
+    // Do not block setup on STA WiFi. Start the AP and web server first so the
+    // local Web UI/API remains available even when no saved WiFi networks exist.
+    lastStaReconnectAttempt = millis() - STA_RECONNECT_INTERVAL_MS;
 
     server.on("/", HTTP_GET, []() {
         server.send_P(200, "text/html", INDEX_HTML);