Electronics > Projects, Designs, and Technical Stuff
How do users connect IOT device to WiFi?
Kasper:
Hi everyone, I am working on a IOT device. Aiming to put it on kickstarter. Currently using ESP32 which has bluetooth and wifi. I want users to control the ESP32 via wifi with an app in their phone.
When users receive my product, how do they connect it to their wifi network?
How does the user tell it what network to connect to and what the password is?
Option 1: put a bluetooth pairing button on it so users can connect phone via bluetooth. Send wifi credentials via bluetooth so then it can connect to wifi. I'd rather not add a button or use bluetooth since both add costs.
Option 2: micro USB connector to make wired connection between phone and MCU. Making physical connection to peoples phones means there might be a risk of damaging phones and I'd like to avoid that.
Option 3: they tell me their wifi credentials when they order product and I type it into code before loading their device. Just kidding, I don't think that would go well.
How do these options sound? What are the other options?
bitseeker:
Typically, the IoT device powers on as a WiFi access point. The user connects to its SSID via WiFi using their phone, laptop, etc. and goes to a pre-defined URL to access the configuration web page where they can specify the SSID and password of the access point/router it should use. Save and restart the device.
In case something goes wrong or the device needs to be re-configured, provide a way to reset it so it boots into access point mode again.
Fire Doger:
Option 1: ESP32 Already has BT capabilities, I assume you mean developing cost, that's true.
Option 2: If you are afraid that you may have leakage from high voltage source (mains or whatever) good luck on passing CE and FCC
Option 3: :palm: ya think? :scared:
Option 4: Creating an Access Point is a very nice solution. You can trigger it without a button by applying-removing power to the device in a predefined pattern (5 sec on - 2 sec off - 5 sec on - 2 sec off) like some smart lamps (Dave edited a 2 hours video I think...).
I know that Android is very tricky if you want to make an app. If you want to use the browser and connect manually to AP its much easier and there are already ESP32 libraries doing it.
Siwastaja:
--- Quote from: bitseeker on August 07, 2019, 05:47:23 am ---Typically, the IoT device powers on as a WiFi access point. The user connects to its SSID via WiFi using their phone, laptop, etc. and goes to a pre-defined URL to access the configuration web page where they can specify the SSID and password of the access point/router it should use. Save and restart the device.
In case something goes wrong or the device needs to be re-configured, provide a way to reset it so it boots into access point mode again.
--- End quote ---
This is a very good way, and intuitive (at least for a technical person). But instructions are everything; the first time I saw this process, I had to guess everything (although I won't complain; it was intuitive).
Provide a large sticker or a piece of paper which clearly instructs:
1) Join WiFi network xyz, using password asdfg
2) Go to www.configpage.xyz
And you are good to go.
bitseeker:
Yes, that is how it's usually done. Just a short Getting Started guide to set it up.
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