Automating Router Restart with ESP32: A Practical Solution

General
1

I’ve been working on a small project to automate my router restarts when the internet goes down, and I wanted to share my setup and experiences with the community. Here’s how I approached it:

The Problem:
I’ve noticed that my 4G router occasionally drops the connection, especially during peak hours or when there’s heavy usage. Manually restarting it every time was getting frustrating, so I decided to build a simple solution using an ESP32.

The Solution:
I designed a device that monitors the internet connection and automatically restarts the router if it detects an outage. Here’s how it works:

  1. Monitoring the Connection:

    • I used an ESP32 module to continuously ping a reliable server (like Google’s DNS at 8.8.8.8) to check the internet status.
    • If the ping fails consistently over a set period, the device assumes there’s an outage.

  2. Restart Mechanism:

    • The ESP32 controls a relay that’s connected to the router’s power supply.
    • When an outage is detected, the relay cuts the power to the router for a few seconds and then restores it, effectively restarting the device.

  3. Status Indicators:

    • I added two LEDs to provide visual feedback:
      • A red LED lights up when the connection is lost.
      • A yellow LED indicates when the router is being restarted.

The Code and Setup:
I used ESPHome for this project since it’s lightweight and integrates seamlessly with Home Assistant. Below is a simplified version of my code setup:

yaml
esphome:
name: router_monitor
platform: ESP32
board: esp32dev

wifi:
ssid: !secret wifi_ssid
password: !secret wifi_password

output:

  • platform: gpio
    pin: 32
    id: redLED
  • platform: gpio
    pin: 33
    id: yellowLED

sensor:

  • platform: ping
    ip_address: 8.8.8.8
    id: internet_monitor
    update_interval: 30s

script:

  • id: restart_router
    then:
    • output.turn_on: yellowLED
    • delay: 20s
    • output.turn_off: yellowLED

globals:

  • id: connection_status
    type: bool
    restore_value: false

interval:

  • interval: 30s
    then:
    • if:
      condition: !lambda ‘return id(connection_status) == false;’
      then:
      - sensor.template.publish:
      id: connection_status_sensor
      state: !lambda ‘id(connection_status) = true; return id(connection_status);’
      - output.turn_on: redLED
    • else:
      - output.turn_off: redLED

automation:

  • trigger:
    platform: sensor
    sensor: internet_monitor
    on_state: ‘unavailable’
    action:
    • lambda: !lambda ‘id(connection_status) = false;’
    • script.execute: restart_router

Challenges and Tips:

  • Power Supply: Make sure the relay can handle the router’s power requirements. I used a 5V relay for mine.
  • Placement: Keep the ESP32 and router in a dry, well-ventilated area to avoid any electrical issues.
  • Firmware Updates: Regularly check for ESP32 firmware updates to ensure stability.

Alternative Approaches:
If you’re not comfortable with hardware hacking, you could:

  • Use a Raspberry Pi to monitor the connection and send a restart command via SSH or a GPIO pin.
  • Set up a cloud-based monitoring service that alerts you of outages.

Conclusion:
This project has been a great learning experience and has saved me a lot of frustration. It’s a simple yet effective solution for anyone dealing with frequent router issues. I’d love to hear about your experiences or alternative methods you’ve tried!

Cheers,
[Your Name]