User Builds $5 ESP32-S3 Internet Alarm, Detecting Outages in 30 Seconds
Updated
Updated · MUO - MakeUseOf · Jun 10
User Builds $5 ESP32-S3 Internet Alarm, Detecting Outages in 30 Seconds
2 articles · Updated · MUO - MakeUseOf · Jun 10
Summary
$5 is all the desk gadget cost: an ESP32-S3 with its built-in RGB LED and a 1.3-inch OLED that shows uptime, IP address, signal strength and outage duration.
Every 10 seconds, the device checks Wi-Fi first, then pings Google's 8.8.8.8 DNS server; three straight ping failures trigger an internet-down alert, while missing Wi-Fi gets a separate warning.
Red, green and blue LED states pair with a flashing on-screen alert and timestamped outage view, giving an always-visible indicator without relying on a phone notification or web service.
The build uses Arduino IDE plus Adafruit SH110X and ESP32Ping libraries, hardcoded 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi credentials and only a few wiring connections, with boot-up taking a few seconds on a home network.
The creator said the monitor has already helped log outage patterns and gather evidence for ISP complaints, turning spare low-cost parts into a practical home-network diagnostic tool.