ESP IoT pHAT problems

hum, it sounds like you don't have the latest repo firmwares, there is no need to edit anything in the AT firmware script, we supply the exact same one as we ship currently and no download is taking place.

So run:

curl -sS get.pimoroni.com/iotphat | bash

and say yes when asked to replace resources.

... it could be the timing in fact. I added some pauses to avoid choking one of my ESP8266, which was timing out much more easily than the others.