How to Use Automotive Gauges to Monitor Your Internet Speed with an ESP32

You almost certainly care about your internet speed, especially if you often stream video or play games online. But, how often do you actually check the speeds that you’re utilizing? If you want to start monitoring your network usage in an easy and intuitive way, Niik has a very thorough tutorial that will show you how to turn automotive gauges into an internet speed gauge.

To build your own, you’ll need two gauges: one for download usage and one for upload. Niik used a tachometer and an engine temperature gauge, but you can really use whatever you want, like a speedometer, fuel gauge, or whatever you have access to and like the look of. You’ll also need an ESP32, a couple of dual H-bridge motor drivers, and a handful of miscellaneous components. You can 3D print an enclosure, or even cut one from wood with a router.

Niik’s code works by communicating with your router through SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol), which is used by a lot of routers on the market. You plug in what your maximum download and upload speeds are, and then every five seconds or so the ESP32 will check with your router to determine what the usage actually was since the last check. That’s then used to calculate the percentage of maximum that you were using, and the needles on the gauges are moved to the corresponding point. The finished device is a great way to check your network usage in an intuitive and unobtrusive way, since you’re probably already used to quickly checking your car’s gauges as you drive.