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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchMaker gokux’s two-part ESP32-C3 project is designed to reboot a router by briefly cutting its 12 V power input. Its key design choice is that the handheld button and the receiver communicate directly over ESP-NOW, rather than relying on the router’s Wi-Fi. That means the control link is designed to remain available when the router’s own network is down.
How the ESP-NOW router reboot remote works
The build has a sender and a receiver, each based on a Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32C3 development board. Pressing the sender’s push button triggers a direct ESP-NOW message to the receiver. The receiver is wired in line with the router’s 12 V power input and uses a MOSFET to interrupt that input briefly. The project description says the router is off for two seconds, then power returns automatically.
Because the sender and receiver communicate directly, the router does not need to be online for the reboot command to reach the receiver. The system physically power-cycles the router; it does not repair a fault or guarantee that the router will reconnect successfully afterward. The two-second interval is the maker’s stated design interval, not a published independent test result.
What the build includes
- Two Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32C3 development boards, one for the sender and one for the receiver.
- A push button in the sender enclosure.
- A MOSFET and step-down buck converter in the receiver.
- 3D-printed housings for the two units.
Hackster’s project report links to gokux’s Instructables build instructions, which it says include source code, enclosure files, and a bill of materials. The retrieved Hackster description does not provide the detailed wiring, component values, or current ratings.
#1 Best Overall
- Entering download mode: Press and hold the BOOT button of ESP32C3, then press the RESET button, release the RESET button, and then release the BOOT button, at this time, ESP32C3 will enter the download mode. (You need to re-enter the download mode every time you connect, sometimes you press it once, the port is unstable and will disconnect, you can judge it by the port recognition sound)
Check router compatibility before building
The receiver is described as being designed for a router with a 12 V power input. That does not establish compatibility with every 12 V router: the project report does not state the receiver’s current capacity or the exact component ratings. Confirm your router’s voltage and current requirements, then compare them with the complete bill of materials and wiring instructions before assembling or connecting the receiver. Do not assume it is suitable for a router with a different input or for a power supply whose requirements are not covered by the build instructions.
How it differs from other reboot options
| Option | Can issue a command when router Wi-Fi is down? | How it reboots the router | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| This ESP-NOW build | Designed to do so: sender and receiver communicate directly. | Receiver briefly interrupts the router’s 12 V input. | Requires a compatible power input, a custom build, and the two ESP32-C3 endpoints; no range or reliability figures are reported. |
| Network-dependent smart plug | Not if its control path depends on the unavailable router Wi-Fi. | Switches power through the plug. | Compatibility and remote-control behavior depend on the plug and setup. |
| Router administration tools | Generally unavailable through the router’s network interface when that interface cannot be reached. | Requests a software reboot rather than cutting input power. | Requires the router’s management interface to be reachable. |
The latter two rows are contextual distinctions, not results from a comparative test. The project report publishes no measured wireless range, reboot success rate, reliability, or time to reconnect, so it does not establish how well the remote performs in a particular home.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- High Performance RISC-V Processor - Equipped with a 32-bit ESP32-C3 chip, 160MHz clock frequency, FPU floating-point unit and 400KB SRAM, ideal for efficient IoT development.
- Dual-Mode Wireless Communication - The ESP32-C3 supports 2.4GHz Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n) and Bluetooth 5 (LE) with 400KB internal SRAM, 384KB ROM storage and 4MB onboard flash memory.
- COMPACT DESIGN & MULTIPLE INTERFACES - ESP32-C3 mini development board features 11 PWM GPIOs, 4 ADCs and UART/I2C/SPI interfaces and is compatible with various sensors and wearables.
- Extremely Low Power Consumption - The ESP32-C3 SuperMini is a powerful, low-power and cost-effective IoT mini development board, ideal for low-power IoT applications and wearable wireless applications. The deep sleep mode consumes only 43 µA and is therefore ideal for projects with long-term battery operation.
- Secure Encryption Support - Hardware accelerated AES/RSA/HMAC encryption, supports Secure Boot to ensure data security.
Rank #4
- The ESP32-C3 SUPERMINI is positioned as a high-performance, low-power, cost-effective IoT mini development board, suitable for low-power IoT applications and wireless wearable applications
- It is equipped with a rich set of interfaces, including 11 digital I/Os that can be used as PWM pins and 4 analog I/Os that can be used as ADC pins.
- It supports four serial interfaces, including UART, I2C, and SPI.
- The ESP32-C3 features a 32-bit RISC-V CPU, including an FPU (Floating Point Unit) capable of 32-bit single-precision
- Package: 2PCS ESP32-C3 MINI Development Board ESP32 SuperMini ESP32 C3 WiFi Module
Rank #3
- ❃❃The ESP32C3 SuperMini is positioned as a high-performance, low-power, cost-effective iot mini development board for low-power iot applications and wireless wearable applications
- ❃❃ESP32-C3 is equipped with a single-core 32-bit RISC-V processor, with a four-level pipeline architecture, with a main frequency of up to 160 MHz. ESP32-C3 has 400 KB of built-in SRAM and 384 KB of ROM storage space. ESP32-C3 is the industry-leading Wi-Fi+Bluetooth LE integrated solution
- ❃❃The EPS32-C3 is a cost-effective and low-power dual-mode Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip. The ESP32-C3 uses a RISC-V processor, a single-core processor with a main frequency of 150 MHz, which integrates Wi-Fi 4 and Bluetooth 5.0 wireless communication.
- ❃❃【Software development support】C/C++/ESP-IDF-VSCODE/MICROPHYTHON. Second development of Aolt monitoring, video, photography and other applications. Wireless communication solutions
- ❃❃ESP32-C3 is a system-level chip (SoC) MCU with very low power consumption and high integration, which integrates 2.4Ghz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth (Bluttooth) low-end dual-mode wireless communication. consumption.
Rank #2
- Flexible MCU Board: Incorporate the ESP32-C3 32-bit RISC-V chip, operating up to 160 MHz, mounted multiple development ports,
- Developer Friendly: Compatible with Arduino IDE, MicroPython, CircuitPython, PlatformIO, ESP IDF, Zephyr, Matter, ESPNow, Meshtastic, WLED, ESPHome, Home Assistant, Ubidots
- Outstanding RF performance: Complete Wi-Fi functions and Bluetooth Low Energy, while supporting communication over 100m with anFL antenna
- Elaborate Power Design: 4 working modes as low as 44 μA in deep sleep mode, while supporting lithium battery charge management
- Thumb-sized Design: 21 x 17.5mm, Seeed Studio XIAO series classic form factor
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