User Builds $10 ESP32-S3 Internet Monitor With 3-Ping Outage Detection
Updated
Updated · MUO - MakeUseOf · Jun 14
User Builds $10 ESP32-S3 Internet Monitor With 3-Ping Outage Detection
2 articles · Updated · MUO - MakeUseOf · Jun 14
Summary
$10 is enough for an ESP32-S3 and 1.3-inch OLED setup that shows live internet status at a desk, including SSID, local IP, RSSI, uptime and outage duration.
Three consecutive failed pings to targets such as 8.8.8.8 or 1.1.1.1 trigger an outage alert, turning the onboard RGB LED red and switching the display to the exact detection time and elapsed downtime.
Four simple connections power the build over I2C, and the sketch can be uploaded through Arduino IDE using Adafruit SH110X and ESP32Ping libraries; the full boot-to-monitoring sequence takes only a few seconds.
Unlike router status lights, the device tests connectivity from a client’s perspective, helping distinguish Wi-Fi problems from true internet or ISP outages and making it easier to log patterns for support reports.