This article is probably cut and dry for those who have been working with the ESP8266 for more than a week, but every now and then I do get questions on how to connect an ESP8266 to the internet.
The code below shows how to do that in a combined STA and AP mode. It shows various options, including a static IP address. It includes a simple webserver, just to show the AP and STA connections are made. You can also download the code here.
#include <ESP8266WiFi.h> //for the WiFi connection
#include "ESP8266WebServer.h" //for the Server
ESP8266WebServer server(80);
// Set WiFi credentials
#define WIFI_SSID "YOURSSID"
#define WIFI_PASS "YOURPASSWORD"
// Set AP credentials
#define AP_SSID "YOUR_DESIRED_AP_NAME"
#define AP_PASS "YOUR_DESIRED_AP_PW"
//Extra's. these are optional
#define AP_CHANNEL 1 //choose the channel
#define AP_HIDDEN false //SSID broadcasted or not
#define AP_MAX_CON 4 // max nr of connections to the AP
uint8_t macAddr[6];
//for static IP (all not necessary if you choose DHCP)
// Set IP addresses
IPAddress local_IP(192, 168, 1, 70);
IPAddress gateway(192, 168, 1, 1);
IPAddress subnet(255, 255, 255, 0);
//change the default IP address for the AP (192.168.4.1)
IPAddress AP_IP(192,168,4,5);
void setup() {
// Setup serial port
Serial.begin(115200);
//begin Acces Point
WiFi.mode(WIFI_AP_STA);
//WiFi.mode(WIFI_STA);// for just Station connection
//WiFi.mode(WIFI_AP);//for just AP connection
//WiFi.softAP(AP_SSID, AP_PASS); //this makes your Acces point connection
WiFi.softAPConfig(AP_IP, AP_IP, subnet);// this is optional
WiFi.softAP(AP_SSID, AP_PASS, AP_CHANNEL, AP_HIDDEN, AP_MAX_CON);
// Begin WiFi
WiFi.config(local_IP, gateway, subnet);// optional, for static connection
WiFi.begin(WIFI_SSID, WIFI_PASS);// this makes your STA connection
// Loop continuously while WiFi is not connected
while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED)
{
delay(100);
Serial.print(".");
}
// Connected to WiFi
WiFi.setAutoReconnect(true); //For automatic reconnect
WiFi.persistent(true); // ditto
Serial.println("Connected");
Serial.print("Network IP address: ");
Serial.println(WiFi.localIP());
Serial.print("IP address for network ");
Serial.print(WIFI_SSID);
Serial.print(" : ");
Serial.println(WiFi.localIP());
Serial.print("IP address for network ");
Serial.print(AP_SSID);
Serial.print(" : ");
Serial.println(WiFi.softAPIP());
WiFi.softAPmacAddress(macAddr);
Serial.printf("MAC address = %02x:%02x:%02x:%02x:%02x:%02x\n", macAddr[0], macAddr[1], macAddr[2], macAddr[3], macAddr[4], macAddr[5]);
Serial.println("");
//----------------
server.on("/other", []() { //Define the handling function for the path
server.send(200, "text / plain", "Other URL");
});
server.on("/", handleRootPath); //Associate the handler function to the path
server.begin(); //Start the server
Serial.println("Server listening");
}
void loop() {
server.handleClient(); //Handling of incoming requests
// put your main code here, to run repeatedly:
Serial.print("number of clients connected:");
Serial.println(WiFi.softAPgetStationNum());
delay(3000);
}
// for a simple proof of context it would have been enough to just do server.send(200,"text/plain", "Hello World");
// but I added some html to make the content adapt to the size of the viewing device, so it would be properly visible on a phone as well
void handleRootPath() { //Handler for the rooth path
server.send(200, "text/html", "<!DOCTYPE HTML><html><head><meta name='viewport' content='width=device-width,initial-scale=1'></head><body>Hello world</body></html>");
}
Also check this post for some strange behaviour of the AccessPointI came across. You may also find this post interesting.
Arduino, ESP8266, ESP32 & Raspberry Pi stuff 