How to connect to a wifi network with internet connection from any node?

[sammj007]

I would like to connect to internet from any of the nodes in the mesh, and push some information based on the messages received by the node. Is there a way to do this?
I could not figure out if the nodes connect to each other (when there are just two nodes), or only one of them connect to the node acting as an AP.
Any suggestions on how to achieve internet connectivity from a mesh?

[BlackEdder]

We discussed this possibility in our fork of easyMesh:
https://gitlab.com/BlackEdder/painlessMesh/issues/26 (last two comments), but due to the design of the network it is not straightforward.

I do maintain a simple project [1] that I use to connect to the Mesh from a computer, but the computer still needs to connect to the mesh itself. In practice you need two wifi cards (one for normal network, one for mesh) or you need to switch between the two networks.

[1] https://github.com/BlackEdder/easyMesheD

[sammj007]

Thanks, will check the fork.
BTW, I don't have an option of using a computer, since I need this mesh to be only using ESP8266.

[BlackEdder]

Then (AFAIK) your only option would be to disconnect from the mesh, connect to the other network, send the messages and then reconnect to the mesh.

…

On Tue, 24 Jan 2017 at 16:34 sammj007 ***@***.***> wrote: Thanks, will check the fork. BTW, I don't have an option of using a computer, since I need this mesh to be only using ESP8266. — You are receiving this because you commented. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#21 (comment)>, or mute the thread <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AAznrXe5AUk28BugmWVl-hpWpa8yw1FSks5rVigSgaJpZM4LrG4i> .

[sammj007]

So, even the painlessMesh also doesn't have this support? I was thinking that since ESP supports dual mode (AP + Station), any one node which runs as AP can connect to the network with internet, and stay connected? Maybe I didn't fully follow how the mesh works, hence such a thought!

[BlackEdder]

We have a description on the way the mesh (easyMesh/painlessMesh) is setup here: https://gitlab.com/BlackEdder/painlessMesh/wikis/home Based on the mesh layout described there I think having an AP node might be problematic, because it is not guaranteed that the mesh will connect to it. Now it should be relatively easy to implement an AP only HYBRID mode (see the PR I linked above, where we implemented a STA only mode). If you are happy to experiment and find that it (mostly) works anyway I'd happily accept a PR on the issue.

…

On Tue, 24 Jan 2017 at 16:50 sammj007 ***@***.***> wrote: So, even the painlessMesh also doesn't have this support? I was thinking that since ESP supports dual mode (AP + Station), any one node which runs as AP can connect to the network with internet, and stay connected? Maybe I didn't fully follow how the mesh works, hence such a thought! — You are receiving this because you commented. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#21 (comment)>, or mute the thread <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AAznrT3QcM1yOEP3iXXI0-UU0pT1OpzGks5rVivcgaJpZM4LrG4i> .

[sammj007]

Sure, will give a try. Thanks for your inputs. On 24 Jan 2017 10:36 p.m., "Edwin van Leeuwen" <notifications@github.com> wrote:

…

We have a description on the way the mesh (easyMesh/painlessMesh) is setup here: https://gitlab.com/BlackEdder/painlessMesh/wikis/home Based on the mesh layout described there I think having an AP node might be problematic, because it is not guaranteed that the mesh will connect to it. Now it should be relatively easy to implement an AP only HYBRID mode (see the PR I linked above, where we implemented a STA only mode). If you are happy to experiment and find that it (mostly) works anyway I'd happily accept a PR on the issue. On Tue, 24 Jan 2017 at 16:50 sammj007 ***@***.***> wrote: > So, even the painlessMesh also doesn't have this support? I was thinking > that since ESP supports dual mode (AP + Station), any one node which runs > as AP can connect to the network with internet, and stay connected? Maybe I > didn't fully follow how the mesh works, hence such a thought! > > — > You are receiving this because you commented. > > > Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub > <#21 (comment)>, > or mute the thread > <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe- auth/AAznrT3QcM1yOEP3iXXI0-UU0pT1OpzGks5rVivcgaJpZM4LrG4i> > . > — You are receiving this because you authored the thread. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#21 (comment)>, or mute the thread <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AYIPXufmH6QzKNb5KEafjJ-_XkJH984uks5rVi-WgaJpZM4LrG4i> .

[BlackEdder]

Thinking about it a bit more I don't think an AP only mode will be much of a problem. Feel free to open issue at painlessMesh. Of course the fastest way to get it implemented would be to open a PR.

…

On Tue, Jan 24, 2017, 17:10 sammj007 ***@***.***> wrote: Sure, will give a try. Thanks for your inputs. On 24 Jan 2017 10:36 p.m., "Edwin van Leeuwen" ***@***.***> wrote: > We have a description on the way the mesh (easyMesh/painlessMesh) is setup > here: > https://gitlab.com/BlackEdder/painlessMesh/wikis/home > Based on the mesh layout described there I think having an AP node might be > problematic, because it is not guaranteed that the mesh will connect to it. > > Now it should be relatively easy to implement an AP only HYBRID mode (see > the PR I linked above, where we implemented a STA only mode). If you are > happy to experiment and find that it (mostly) works anyway I'd happily > accept a PR on the issue. > > On Tue, 24 Jan 2017 at 16:50 sammj007 ***@***.***> wrote: > > > So, even the painlessMesh also doesn't have this support? I was thinking > > that since ESP supports dual mode (AP + Station), any one node which runs > > as AP can connect to the network with internet, and stay connected? > Maybe I > > didn't fully follow how the mesh works, hence such a thought! > > > > — > > You are receiving this because you commented. > > > > > > Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub > > <#21 (comment) >, > > or mute the thread > > <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe- > auth/AAznrT3QcM1yOEP3iXXI0-UU0pT1OpzGks5rVivcgaJpZM4LrG4i> > > . > > > > — > You are receiving this because you authored the thread. > Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub > <#21 (comment)>, > or mute the thread > < https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AYIPXufmH6QzKNb5KEafjJ-_XkJH984uks5rVi-WgaJpZM4LrG4i > > . > — You are receiving this because you commented. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#21 (comment)>, or mute the thread <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AAznrQIbiCoJYi_hFhZmjSzWkl3i2oEcks5rVjCIgaJpZM4LrG4i> .

[sammj007]

Will have my further questions post at painlesMesh :)