This problem has been resolved. It appears my ANKER 10 port USB Hub is the problem. It's associated with the lower 4 ports of the hub. The remaining 6 are OK. I'm not sure what the actual problem is yet. The hub has a 60W power supply attached so I doubt it's a power issue...maybe noise? I now have a 10 port Amazon Hub which works well. As for the DTR signal, I've always used it and have seldom used the reset buttons. Also, I think most of the Arduinos and clones have it implemented through the serial convertor chip as well. It's also on all the ESP32 and ESP 8266 clones I've used. Again, thanks everyone for your comments and suggestions.

I tested the Advanced Web Server Sample with this setup. Works fine. I tried the GatewayESP8266 on this setup and another setup with a WEMOS Pro mini. Same results, nothing out the serial port. I also tried the gateway app on an esp8266 with no radio attached and got no serial at 115200 at all. Is this normal? Shouldn't I get some kind of error message.
I'll try setting up an app to talk to the RF24 directly and see how that goes.
Is the GatewayESP32 working for the RF24 radios? If so, maybe I'll try that. I'm quite puzzled.
This assembly worked at one time a couple of years ago on another system.

@hard-shovel Thanks so much for your effort and your timely resolution. I tried going back with previous versions of the library and they didn't work or didn't compile. I greatly appreciate your help with this. I assume something similar is happening to the ESP32 version also. Again, thanks.

No comm at any baud rate except trash I/O at boot time. The gateway code specifies 9600 but I've tried them all. The problem is the system is not connecting with the network.

In addition, built up a new system using an ESP32 module and an nRF24L01 module.
Tried the "GatewayESP32" example app on the known good ESP32 module. After uploading, this module spits good data out the serial port at 115200 KHz (See below:)...but never tries to connect to the network. I'm using the "GatewayESP32" example with my network credentials added.
The ESP32 appears to be getting data from my 2.4GHz sensors, but never gets to my network.

16:57:05.271 -> 10009772 TSF:MSG:BC
16:57:05.271 -> 10009774 TSF:MSG:FPAR REQ,ID=12
16:57:05.271 -> 10009776 TSF:PNG:SEND,TO=0
16:57:05.271 -> 10009779 TSF:CKU:OK
16:57:05.271 -> 10009781 TSF:MSG:GWL OK
16:57:05.505 -> 10010001 !TSF:MSG:SEND,0-0-12-12,s=255,c=3,t=8,pt=1,l=1,sg=0,ft=0,st=NACK:0
16:57:05.505 -> 10010008 TSF:MSG:READ,9-9-0,s=0,c=1,t=0,pt=7,l=5,sg=0:26.0
16:57:21.018 -> 10025533 TSF:MSG:READ,7-7-255,s=255,c=3,t=7,pt=0,l=0,sg=0:
16:57:21.018 -> 10025539 TSF:MSG:BC
16:57:21.018 -> 10025540 TSF:MSG:FPAR REQ,ID=7
16:57:21.018 -> 10025543 TSF:PNG:SEND,TO=0
16:57:21.018 -> 10025545 TSF:CKU:OK
16:57:21.018 -> 10025547 TSF:MSG:GWL OK
16:57:21.674 -> 10026174 !TSF:MSG:SEND,0-0-7-7,s=255,c=3,t=8,pt=1,l=1,sg=0,ft=0,st=NACK:0
16:57:29.313 -> 10033832 TSF:MSG:READ,3-3-0,s=0,c=1,t=37,pt=2,l=2,sg=0:1380
16:57:31.843 -> 10036367 TSF:MSG:READ,5-5-0,s=0,c=1,t=0,pt=7,l=5,sg=0:-0.3
16:57:31.937 -> 10036433 TSF:MSG:READ,5-5-0,s=1,c=1,t=0,pt=7,l=5,sg=0:-19.5
16:57:43.934 -> 10048467 TSF:MSG:READ,7-7-0,s=255,c=3,t=24,pt=1,l=1,sg=0:1
16:57:43.981 -> 10048472 TSF:MSG:PINGED,ID=7,HP=1
16:57:43.981 -> 10048516 !TSF:MSG:SEND,0-0-7-7,s=255,c=3,t=25,pt=1,l=1,sg=0,ft=0,st=NACK:1
16:57:56.119 -> 10060615 TSF:MSG:READ,2-2-0,s=0,c=1,t=1,pt=7,l=5,sg=0:43.3
16:57:56.119 -> 10060635 TSF:MSG:READ,2-2-0,s=1,c=1,t=0,pt=7,l=5,sg=0:26.0
16:58:04.393 -> 10068900 TSF:MSG:READ,3-3-0,s=0,c=1,t=37,pt=2,l=2,sg=0:1380
16:58:05.190 -> 10069700 TSF:MSG:READ,9-9-0,s=0,c=1,t=0,pt=7,l=5,sg=0:26.0
16:58:06.736 -> 10071270 TSF:MSG:READ,5-5-0,s=0,c=1,t=0,pt=7,l=5,sg=0:-0.1
16:58:06.830 -> 10071334 TSF:MSG:READ,5-5-0,s=1,c=1,t=0,pt=7,l=5,sg=0:-19.4
16:58:35.125 -> 10099641 TSF:MSG:READ,9-9-0,s=0,c=1,t=0,pt=7,l=5,sg=0:26.0
16:58:39.437 -> 10103962 TSF:MSG:READ,3-3-0,s=0,c=1,t=37,pt=2,l=2,sg=0:1380
16:58:41.640 -> 10106168 TSF:MSG:READ,5-5-0,s=0,c=1,t=0,pt=7,l=5,sg=0:0.0
16:58:59.372 -> 10123897 TSF:MSG:READ,2-2-0,s=0,c=1,t=1,pt=7,l=5,sg=0:43.3
16:58:59.419 -> 10123914 TSF:MSG:READ,2-2-0,s=1,c=1,t=0,pt=7,l=5,sg=0:26.0
16:59:05.091 -> 10129603 TSF:MSG:READ,9-9-0,s=0,c=1,t=0,pt=7,l=5,sg=0:26.0
16:59:14.527 -> 10139033 TSF:MSG:READ,3-3-0,s=0,c=1,t=37,pt=2,l=2,sg=0:1380
16:59:16.571 -> 10141065 TSF:MSG:READ,5-5-0,s=0,c=1,t=0,pt=7,l=5,sg=0:0.1
Again, as with the ESP8266 gateway the "Advanced Web Server" for the ESP32 chip uploads nicely, connects to my network and runs as expected. I'm stopped anyway I try to go.

Tried on windows 11 machine Arduino 1.8.19 with latest MySensors Library. Tried on Windows 10 machine with Arduino 1.8.13 and latest MySensors library. Just an FYI. Thanks for staying with me.

I tested the Advanced Web Server Sample with this setup. Works fine. I tried the GatewayESP8266 on this setup and another setup with a WEMOS Pro mini. Same results, nothing out the serial port. I also tried the gateway app on an esp8266 with no radio attached and got no serial at 115200 at all. Is this normal? Shouldn't I get some kind of error message.
I'll try setting up an app to talk to the RF24 directly and see how that goes.
Is the GatewayESP32 working for the RF24 radios? If so, maybe I'll try that. I'm quite puzzled.
This assembly worked at one time a couple of years ago on another system.

@mfalkvidd yes
Yes, it's defined. I also ran the advanced webserver sample and it runs fine. It connects nicely and sends status to the serial port.

I'm trying to add a 2.4 GHz gateway using an 8266 nodemcu and nrf24l01 module. I wired the system according to the "Connecting the Radio" section for ESP8266 devices. I've double checked the wiring.
The system programs and runs as expected with no errors. Nothing is sent to the serial port except the initial bootloader stuff. No connection info, no nada. My SSID and password are correct. I have the My_Debug def uncommented. The system is not connecting to the network...and I'm not sure why. The 8266 is known good. I'm using the app directly from the MySensors Examples with my network credentials added. Wired up a WEMOS mini and another radio exactly the same way with the same results. I've even tried another radio on the setup...same
Does the code try to connect to the network first or does set up the radio first. I'm not seeing any debug info whatsoever? I'm using Domoticz running on a raspberry pi system. Any ideas?? Have I got the wiring wrong?

Thanks,
Dan

Thanks electrik, for the tip. It is indeed the MQTT gateway causing the issues. I unplugged and removed the gateway and all is well now. Disabling doesn't work. It must be disconnected. I'm not sure why. I'm using the canned mQTT gateway app from the site. Something is obviously dorked with it.
Thanks again
Dan

Do all your gateways use separate channels and/or base radio id?
All my gateways are basically 'canned code' which I downloaded from the MySensors site. I haven't made any changes to the code. Do I need to?
Everything has been running just great for about 10 months or more.
I just started seeing these anomalies lately.

Can you see any patterns in which node ids are unknown?
I see no patterns that I would recognize. Node IDs generally seen to increment, but by random amounts, but some IDs seem to be 200 or higher.

Have you reflashed any of your gateways lately?
No...I added a larger 22uF cap to the power/ground on the 2.4G radio after this started happening, but it had no improvement.

Are there any other messages in the log that can give a clue to what is happening?
I've sent three images. One of the Hardware/2.4G setup, One of the error list and one of a child node with an unknown temp and humidity node that shouldn't be there. I get about 10-15 Unknowns appearing every day. I just delete them and move on.

Could someone else have deployed a MySensors network near you?
I'd say that's pretty unlikely but I could put out a notice on our Home owners association website.

The system seems to be running normally except for this issue. If I need to make changes regarding the channels, base radio, etc. I'll certainly do it.
Thanks for the response...I appreciate it

Hi All,
I'm using three gateways with various sensors connected to my RPI Domoticz Controller. Recently my 2.4G ESP8266 WiFi gateway has been logging an increasing number of "Unknown" nodes. It's also showing an annoyingly large number of "Unknown" nodes for the child sensors also. Maybe it's a Domoticz issue, but the other gateways are fine, nothing weird. It's been operating for many months till lately. Any ideas?
Thanks - Dan

This problem has been resolved. It appears my ANKER 10 port USB Hub is the problem. It's associated with the lower 4 ports of the hub. The remaining 6 are OK. I'm not sure what the actual problem is yet. The hub has a 60W power supply attached so I doubt it's a power issue...maybe noise? I now have a 10 port Amazon Hub which works well. As for the DTR signal, I've always used it and have seldom used the reset buttons. Also, I think most of the Arduinos and clones have it implemented through the serial convertor chip as well. It's also on all the ESP32 and ESP 8266 clones I've used. Again, thanks everyone for your comments and suggestions.