{"id":99094,"date":"2020-09-16T10:13:00","date_gmt":"2020-09-16T10:13:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/randomnerdtutorials.com\/?p=99094"},"modified":"2020-09-16T16:53:26","modified_gmt":"2020-09-16T16:53:26","slug":"esp32-cam-access-point-ap-web-server","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/randomnerdtutorials.com\/esp32-cam-access-point-ap-web-server\/","title":{"rendered":"ESP32-CAM: Set Access Point (AP) for Web Server (Arduino IDE)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This tutorial shows how to set your ESP32-CAM as an Access Point (AP) for your web server projects. This way, you don\u2019t need to be connected to a router to access the web server. We’ll program the ESP32-CAM using Arduino IDE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"ESP32-CAM<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Access Point vs Station<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In previous ESP32-CAM web server projects<\/a>, we connect the ESP32-CAM to a wireless router. In this configuration, we can access the ESP32-CAM board through the local network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this scenario, the router acts as an access point and the ESP32-CAM board is set as a station. So, you need to be connected to your router (local network) to control and access the ESP32-CAM web server.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"ESP32-CAM<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

In some cases, this might not be the best configuration (when you don\u2019t have a router nearby). But if you set the ESP32-CAM boards as an access point (hotspot), you can be connected using any device with Wi-Fi capabilities without the need to connect to your router.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"ESP32-CAM<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Basically, when you set the ESP32-CAM as an access point you create its own Wi-Fi network and nearby Wi-Fi devices (stations) can connect to it (like your smartphone or your computer).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soft Access Point<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Because the ESP32-CAM doesn\u2019t connect further to a wired network (like your router), it is called soft-AP (soft Access Point).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This means that if you try to load libraries or use firmware from the internet, it will not work (like including JavaScript libraries). It also doesn\u2019t work if you try to make HTTP requests to services on the internet (like sending an email with a photo, for example).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ESP32-CAM Video Web Server Access Point (AP)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In this tutorial, we\u2019ll show you how to set the ESP32 as an access point. As an example, we\u2019ll modify the CameraWebServer project<\/a> that comes with the Arduino IDE. Then, you should be able to modify any of your projects to set the ESP32-CAM as an access point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In your Arduino IDE, go to File <\/strong>> Examples <\/strong>> ESP32 <\/strong>> Camera <\/strong>> CameraWebServer<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then, modify the code to act as an access point as we\u2019ll explain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Customize the SSID and Password<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You need to define an SSID name and a password to access the ESP32-CAM access point. In this example we\u2019re setting the ESP32 SSID name to ESP32-CAM Access Point<\/strong>. You can modify the name to whatever you want. The password is 123456789<\/strong>, but you can and should also modify it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

const char* ssid = \"ESP32-CAM Access Point\";\nconst char* password = \"123456789\";<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Setting the ESP32-CAM as an Access Point<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
In the setup()<\/span>, remove the following lines (set the ESP32 as a station):<\/p>\n\n\n\n
WiFi.begin(ssid, password);\nwhile (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED) {\n  delay(500);\n  Serial.print(\".\");\n}\nSerial.println(\"\");\nSerial.println(\"WiFi connected\");<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
And add the following to set the ESP32 as an access point using the softAP()<\/span> method:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
WiFi.softAP(ssid, password);<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
There are also other optional parameters you can pass to the softAP()<\/span> method. Here\u2019s all the parameters:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
softAP(const char* ssid, const char* password, int channel, int ssid_hidden, int max_connection)<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n