In some locations the internet is available by wired Ethernet and not by wireless WiFi. Windows 10/11 computers provide an easy way to share the Ethernet connection as a mobile hotspot usable by ESP32 IoT devices. Many desktop computers don't have built in WiFi but WiFi functionality can be easily added using an inexpensive WiFi dongle.
Microsoft gives a procedure for setting up a mobile hotspot at:
If access to your Ethernet connection already is available on the systray one get to the setting more quickly through it.
In the image below the lower right had a button for Mobile Hotspot. Once clicked on the name of the computer appeared in
place of the original button.
Within the Mobile Hotspot settings one can create a password (at least 8 characters long). I have pixelated the password in this image.
In this window one can see:
- The Network Name (i.e. the SSID)
- The password (AKA passphrase)
- the number of devices connected to this access point
- the attached device
- names
- IP Addresses
- MAC addresses
- One can use either CoolTerm or PuTTY to monitor the ESP32 via a USB virtual COM port
- Connecting the first time requires entering the hotspot credentials (WiFi manager is used in this fork of the project)
- The dialogue will show the IP address of the ESP32 if it connects to the Mobile Access Point
- The ESP32 hostname will also be displayed. On most devices this can be used in the browser. On older Androids the IP address must be used.
The screanshots used on this page were uploaded into the ESP32 LittleFS using the interface and transferred to another computer.
