ESP-NOW - Peer to Peer ESP32 Network

Set up a private peer-to-peer network without WiFi using ESP-NOW! I’ll show you how to use this powerful protocol with several ESP32 boards.
Article with code samples: dronebotworkshop.com/esp-now
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ESP-NOW is a protocol that allows you to use ESP32 and ESP8866 boards to create a private peer to peer network. Use two boards, or use ten. Transmit in one direction (half-duplex) or bidirectionally (full-duplex). With or without encryption.
This magic all comes courtesy of the 2.4GHz radio transceiver that powers the ESP board's WiFi and Bluetooth features. We can also use this radio to set up a network to send small (250 bytes) packets of data between ESP boards.
No WiFi or Router is required. Mix and match boards as much as you want.
I’ll be showing you how ESP-NOW works, and we’ll perform a few simple experiments with a bunch of ESP32 boards. We’ll end by building a remote temperature sensor system, then expanding it to use multiple sensors.
Here is the Table of Contents for today's video!
00:00 - Introduction
01:59 - ESP-NOW
06:56 - Getting MAC Address
09:59 - Getting Started with ESP-NOW
19:05 - ESP-NOW Broadcast Mode
28:26 - Remote Temperature Sensing
35:57 - Multiple Temperature Sensors
40:58 - Conclusion
I’ve only scratched the surface of what we can do with ESP-NOW in this video, so I'll probably be incorporating it into another project soon.
Hope you find it interesting!
Bill

[@Dronebotworkshop]

Hi everyone - It's come to my attention that there has been someone masquerading as myself, responding to some comments here with a link to a Telegram chat to win a prize from me. THIS IS A SCAM, I am not holding a contest, nor do I have a Telegram account. PLEASE DO NOT RESPOND TO THESE MESSAGES!! It's happening on a lot of my videos, I'm taking steps to remove them manually, but as I have 162 videos, it will take some time. If you do run across a suspicious comment, I would appreciate you letting me know at [e-mail]. Thanks! Bill (The real one!)

[@BerndSchmitt-Martinique]

Always important things to learn from the drone-bot headquarters in toronto. Thank you BILL ! This is absolutely usefull.

[@m_bonny_p]

I love that your Videos are such long, and you understand everything because you explain from a -z ! Thanks!

[@Adrian-yz7oe]

Your channel has been a great discovery for me, Sir! Congratulations! Your videos are excellent!

[@fritzfindeklee8629]

Thank you so much for your videos! Not only are they very informative, you also create an atmosphere that makes it such a pleasure to learn. You truly are an amazing teacher!

[@maxxxhelll]

Best ESP-NOW tutorial that I have watched so far. Thanks for the detailed explanations.

[@carlarrowsmith]

I ordered three ESP32s just to try this out last week. Great timing, thanks Bill.

[@Sikuq]

Thank you so much for your "ESP NOW - Peer to Peer ESP32 Communications" video as well as the code listings on your web site. It absolutely got me up and running with my old DHT11 and two new Adafruit ESP32 Feather boards. Just getting the MAC addresses was a huge help. You are my primary ESP32 source of help and examples. And your 4K picture quality makes it all clear to read.

[@bigpickles]

One of my fav channels to watch. Even if some of the videos are basic knowledge to me, it's refreshing to listen to and have playing in the background. A great presenter, great topics and excellent delivery. Thank you, kindly!

[@MitzpatrickFitzsimmons]

This is just EXCELLENT! Thank you so much Bill for all of your great work.

[@JonathanDeWitt1988]

Bill, A while back I started looking into ESP32's using your Introduction Video on the topic. Then I stared working on developing a 6-servo remote controller using 2 ESP32 Node MCU development boards that used the WiFi protocol but did not require any internet or even the wireless router. One board is a server which sends the readings from 6 potentiometers to the receiver board which then uses the 6 angles to control 6 servo motors. I used your ESP32 servo video to learn how to control servos with the ESP32. It works great! This project wet my appetite for remote control applications with ESP32. The video you just uploaded has expanded greatly what I can now do with the ESP32 in remote control applications. Thank you so much for putting this video out and all of the quality content you produce. It is very much appreciated. Jonathan

[@your_utube]

I agree with the other people who said that your lessons are well structured. You are an inspiration. Because of you I have ordered an ESP32 to start my own journey. God bless from here in South Africa.

[@doylemaleche9937]

Awesome demonstration and explanation! Buying more ESP32's! Thank you for such exceptional work!

[@jamesfalkofske6399]

I am so grateful for all of your excellent tutorials. I am a photographer / videographer who is planning on building a combination camera slider, pan & tilt mechanism with remote focusing system. Your awesome tutorials and detailed explanations help me feel confident buying and building with microcontrollers for my needs. I subscribed to this channel and also signed up for your newsletter. I am so happy that I stumbled upon your channel! (I've watched at least a dozen of your videos so far, and this wireless peer communication is exactly what I needed to set up my remote camera operations platform!!!)

[@hanshaerdtle4682]

Brilliant tutorial and elegant solution which saves the use of nRFxx or other transmitters which I use in similar meshed projects, at least within the shorter range coverage normally sufficient for home automation projects. Thank you.

[@svlaststar]

I just subscribed to your channel. I have been using ESP-NOW for a little over a year. It took me some struggles to get it working. I wish I would have seen your video back then when I started with my project. I want to say I really like your videos. I have retired and now have more time for my projects. I look forward to following more of your projects. Thank you for sharing with us all.

[@lnbt1]

Love it! I have been searching for a ESP32 tutorial for multiple remote (peer-to-peer) push buttons. Thank you so much!

[@baldrickdaisy8982]

Great tutorial Bill 👌 As usual, very informative and well structured 👏 I’ve learned so much from this video 👍

[@mohitrahaman]

Awesome info, just what I needed. Thank you for making all microcontroller series tutorials.

[@walker68020]

You always do an outstanding job! Thanks 😊

[@hindenberg25557]

Finally, a thorough, high quality intro to ESP-NOW. Thanks!

[@alaanoor3679]

Excellent demonstration as usual , many thanks !

[@radurotaru9778]

This man is just awesome! Thank you for making this project!

[@jurgenpurps9720]

Hello, I'm thrilled once again, an understandable and clear video. I tried all the variants straight away and they worked straight away - simply great... I've been looking for a video like this for a long time - thank you very much and please make many more such perfect videos.

[@jdholbrook33]

Thank you for the clear and concise explanation of how this works. I was able to understand it all an the demo worked on the first try. The good thing is, I understand all of it so making my next project will be much easier! Now to dig into transmitting audio through ESPNOW. Audio data from the I2S mic that you also have up. It too worked on the first shot and your clear explanation helped me to understand fully what was going on. Thank you again.

[@nonomnismoriar9601]

Fantastic, have got a few of these modules knocking around and this is just what I was waiting for :) Thank you!

[@sinjhguddu4974]

Fantastic. Been yearning for this tutorial. My lucky day I guess. Thank you for your beautifully structured lessons.

[@jstro-hobbytech]

His videos are great but he's a professional programmer and uses alot of code that would stump a new person if they tried to change it. I'm surprised he's doesn't use constexpr everywhere haha

[@zenon5940]

This is just what I was dreaming of. Thank you Bill. GREAT JOB!

[@chesshooligan1282]

Now you know dreams can come true.

[@harolddisney7075]

Great tutorial! You got me back into electronics and microcontrollers.

[@SaifulIslam-ql6eb]

Your video is easy to reach everyone. I do not understand the complex English language. But I can easily understand your speech. Thank you very much for teaching us electronics.

[@carlcallenburg7898]

Thank you , I have been looking for this information for some time now. You style is very informative and at a understandable pace

[@tablatronix]

Wonderful overview, I have played with esp now, but now I understand it!

[@thehappycoder3760]

Been waiting for this, brilliant

[@ronaldcollins9618]

Outstanding tutorial as usual

[@anonymous.youtuber]

Another beautiful video plenty of useful info ! Great work ! 👍👍👍

[@philipbrindle867]

Great video as always, Bill, thank you so much for sharing... I think ESP-NOW has a lot of potential in so many applications...

[@collinbetten5631]

Thanks Bill! This is just what I need

[@Ne3M1]

Thank you for the great quality and detailed videos!

[@MrBobWareham]

Thanks, Bill, for a very interesting video on ESP NOW, thanks Bob in the UK

[@fkewshdqlubmsx]

Thank you, i'm new to ESP32 and this was very useful

[@Theledart]

This method of communication makes so much sense for a small, low power radio. I was looking for the best way to remote control battery powered devices, and this might be it. Thank you!

[@benhonna]

Just what I was looking for. Thanks.

[@cornevanzyl5880]

Thank for introducing me to the topic.

[@Barnaclebeard]

You just blew my mind. For 30 years I'd believed as I'd been told, that "MAC address" was short for "machine address", never noticing that it's clearly an acronym.

[@ahmadaboshaker9549]

I enjoy watching you very much my dear brother, I hope to see you healthy always, you have the love from the Syrian Arab Republic

[@jimbooth2010]

Very timely, I was considering espnow in my next project, a wireless control panel for my watermaker. Thanks!

[@pjoteinstein5173]

Great explanation, I will try it myself.

[@alanmusicman3385]

Excellent tutorial - thank you. For some years I have been using Particle's ARM based microcontrollers where you get this kind of thing built in - i.e event generation and event receive (encrypted) all built into their bundled system and messages are handled via their secure infrastructure - but there's the rub. If they have a problem on their infrastructure or if your comms to the internet go down then the event messaging stops working. If (as in my case) the messages are between people sensors and lighting systems, then that can leave you fumbling around in the dark now and then! I really like Particle's events handling system, cos you can use it between any two points on the planet where you have net access, but I think for my local sensor/appliance messaging I shall seriously consider a gradual re-implementation using 8266 and ESP-Now. Many thanks!

[@Jim_One-wl4ke]

Thanks for making this very useful video. ❤

[@allistergilbert4564]

Many thanks, another brilliant presentation. Many thanks.

[@guillermosg7950]

The BEST tutorials

[@wishicouldarduino8880]

Another useful project! 😁

[@DataJanitor]

Thank you, Bill.

[@nobodyeverybody8437]

What a great tutorial! Clean and understandable. Thanks for your efforts and look forward of seeing your later tutorials, sir! Just one request. It would be great if you could make another tutorial to show how to do connect and send/receive data between these devices and Python. Thanks in advance ))

[@dansam1395]

very useful and great learning! hope to see in the near future a similar video about the ESP-MESH. Thanks Bill.

[@albanprada7183]

Excellent! I will test

[@MikeFlyItAll]

I wish all my teachers were like you, I would've fooled everyone around me that I'm a genius 🤣 Thank you so much your tutorials are fantastic, clear and practical. Cheer Bill

[@tedthisius4778]

Thanks to the ESP NOW video and several others. I have completed my project which I call Batcher II. It is an extension of a project I made a couple of years ago which is now referred to as Batcher I. The purpose of the Batcher is to show a running total of the gallons I have pumped through my mixing station to mix batches of spray for my farm sprayer. The system uses a commercial flow meter that uses a Hall Effect sensor and a meter calibration number to convert the raw pulses to Gallons. The running total is shown on a 4 digit 7-segment display. Batcher I used a Nano. The flowmeter is connected and programmed via an Interrupt Service routine. The ISR merely increments the raw count variable. The system displays the result of the raw count divided by the meter cal to display the gallons on the display. I have a black momentary button on top which is connected as a second ISR. Its purpose is to reset the raw count back to zero for a new batch. I also have a Yellow, a Green and a Red momentary button that can show the meter cal and change it if necessary. I use a "While" conditional so the meter cal can only be changed by a conscious effort to do so. Any change in the meter cal is written to EEPROM so it is retained for the future. Again an idea from Bills tutorials. Batcher I worked very well. Over Winter, I noticed that Sparkfun has some very large 7 segment displays available. I also read about using ESP NOW to communicate between ESP 32's. I decided to try to create Batcher II using an ESP 32 in the same way as I did with the Nano but incorporate the idea of wirelessly transferring the running total to another ESP 32 which would display it on the Sparkfun large 7 segment display. The Sparkfun display would be sort of scoreboard that could be viewed from quite a distance. I got the individual sketches working and was able to meld them together. Initial testing seems favorable. I have some pictures which would make the whole project clearer but I don't see a way to attach them.

[@tomduncan3547]

What a great easy way to receive data from multiple devices. I could I then send data from my receiver to say mqtt protocol. Great series thanks.

[@EnergeticWaves]

I changed something with channel maybe, but now it's working!!

[@carletpierre1895]

I'm a begginer in everything but just copying and going through the code , I had learned many things like installing libraries, how baud rates work and com port assigning.

[@azzattar8422]

Votre exposé est très intéressant. Merci beaucoup...

[@digihz_data]

Nice basic tutorial of Esp-now Bill.

[@mobileiotapps967]

Thank you for your tutorial videos excellent.

[@philnewman1110]

Great video, really useful bit of kit, I can think of loads of ideas for this unit.Well done and thank you!!

[@PhG1961]

Waw this is super awesome !

[@no5x937]

Excellent tutorials! I've wrote each program from this video. Ordering 3 ESP32-CAM Dev Kits with the built-in FDDI daughter board to test this code. I have an immediate application to remotely monitor the temp, %RH, and visual (cam) monitoring and 1 photo/day logging to a 4GB card app for my unconditioned space oil burner tank level indicator.

[@lundebc]

Another great video! going to view the website to get the code to play with!

[@urmassaar8608]

wow it really works! Very good job👍

[@stuartfisher4210]

This is a great video. I've been looking building my own garden irrigation system (pumping stored rainwater) / weather monitoring, and this seems to be an interesting way to link all the elements together. You've inspired me to actually place an order for multiple ESP32s and I'm looking forward to this project. Thank you for all your content!

[@pimanbob6051]

Stuart Fisher, i'm looking at doing the same! If you have a GIThub repo, I'd love to review. I'm considering a pressure sensors inside the tanks to assess their levels, and then pump water between them to balance them out. Other priorities keep on getting in the way.

[@edipkakmak]

Great instructions

[@nicoladellino8124]

Very nice video, TNX.

[@michelfrance75]

Thank you, it's really well done, the video but also the written support provided by following the link. Professional work as usual ! Just a small suggestion, it would be interesting to have an addendum dealing with the introduction of a deep sleeping mode of the ESP32/ESP8266 boards which provide the temperature and the humidity in order to save the batteries (for example sends measurements every minute). Otherwise congratulations.

[@T-Series-scenario]

Excellent project

[@danielkreuzer8980]

You are simply the best! :-)

[@andreaswolfesberger6140]

Very usefull, I love it, thank you very much.

[@lwo7736]

Thank you Bill, I'm really struggling to get my microcontrollers to communicate with each other, this should be a great help

[@WaylanEE]

You are awesome.

[@ydidiyaassefa5415]

great video thank you so much really help me.

[@machain1996]

Nice work

[@velizyhills]

Congratulations, good work, I appreciate your pedagogy. Thank you. Christian Velizy France

[@DrTRonik]

Great workshop... 🙏

[@zyghom]

right? not only great but how CLEAN! UNBELIEVABLE ;-)

[@bipedalspecies2086]

Sweet, I have 4 of these boards on their way to me ATM, couple of weeks. Doing a bunch Arduino and C/#/++ Pi and Python tutorials atm. Good video library BTW.

[@kevinadam9944]

Great videos.

[@supermano4423]

super tuto , merci

[@NotDead10008]

You're a belssing, may you get tens of millions of followers.

[@YoutubeBorkedMyOldHandle_why]

Great video ... thank you Bill. This is very interesting, definitely worth a closer look. Perhaps some human-robot or robot-robot communication next?

[@IPCNV]

Great Video !!! More, more, more ESP32 videos please. Also include LoRa WAN too.!!

[@Bubby9767]

Thanks!

[@Dronebotworkshop]

And thank you too Fred!

[@piconano]

Atomic14 Channel made a walkie-talkie using ESP-Now. Packets are 250 bytes, but you can send one after the other, to form a stream. Love your videos.

[@capohd28]

Interesting. I did the exact same project in Micropython, and had issues with reading the sensor (DHT11 on both) on cold boot. Warm boot had no issue. Then I tried it with Arduino IDE and it works perfectly on cold boot. Micropython is my preferred language, but I guess the load of the interpreter when booting up causes issues initializing the sensor. Even tried putting delays in and it didn't help. Almost like the bootup causes a hang on the sensor itself. Thanks for this video!

[@rupeshkoulge1616]

Thanks for the video, i m one of the great follower of this channel but honestly speaking most of these things are already covered well by many reputed channels like yours for long time now so i was expecting some advanced demonstrations of ESP now here like using Same ESP board as esp now receiver and transferring the same over internet using wifi or gsm for a real world application. It would be helpful if cover it in next video of ESP now.

[@KNfLrPn]

I might never have known about this if KZbin hadn't randomly recommended this video, but this is something I have lots of uses for, so I'm very glad you made the video and that I saw it.

[@razvanredy8579]

Best detalied !!

[@donaldkormos5529]

Thanks Bill for a great tutorial on ESP-NOW which elegantly solves a problem for me!! I'm planning on building a large model train layout with multiple modules. On each module, there will be multiple buildings/structures/traffic signals each with lights, sounds, and motions controlled by "little" microcontrollers like ATTiny85s. Plan was to have one "large" microcontroller for each module that would communicate with all the little ones on it via wired I2C. Was planning to also use a wired method to network the "large" module microcontrollers together but if I use ESP32s and ESP-NOW it's much easier!! All the best ...

[@TeeLiverpool]

thanks

[@usefulelectronics]

Nice tutorial. I have always wondered what ESP-NOW is. ESP-NOW can save a lot of hardware and software work to let several CPU talk to each others. The number of applications that can be done with such an interface is endless!!. I still wonder if an ESP32 can connect to WiFi and communicate over ESP-NOW at the same time. Thank you again for sharing your work

[@zyghom]

yes it can but it is a bit more complicated - so you might have i.e. 5 sensors, that measure, send over ESPNow, go to sleep, then 1 device that receives them all, don't go to sleep and instead send all the received data i.e. to your web server or home assistant over wifi/your router

[@hanshaerdtle4682]

@@zyghom I have tried but ESP32 seems not to connect to WiFi...? Maybe ESP-NOW controls the WiFi?

[@hanshaerdtle4682]

I've tried several combinations but since ESP-NOW is a separate network and service from the standard WiFi they can possibly not run concurrently. If any of the modules is connected to WiFi, the ESP-NOW service isn't working any longer, showing "Delivery Fail". I wanted to use the WiFi for OTA. Maybe Bill has an idea?

[@TheUnofficialMaker]

excellent, i am building an outlet / breaker device checker with 5 initiators and 1 receiver to map plugs to breakers.

[@johnsongibbs6567]

These are great videos. Better than Jon Skeet.

[@yeungkakin]

thanks.