Learn how to establish a Wi-Fi communication (HTTP) between two ESP8266 NodeMCU boards to exchange data without the need to connect to the internet (you don’t need a router).
You’re going to set one ESP8266 as an Access Point (Server) and another ESP8266 as a Station (Client). Then, the server and the client will exchange data (sensor readings) via HTTP requests. We’ll program the ESP8266 boards using Arduino IDE.

In this example, we’ll send BME280 sensor readings from one board to the other. The receiver will display the readings on an OLED display.
If you have an ESP32 board, you can read this dedicated guide: ESP32 Client-Server Wi-Fi Communication.
// video
Project Overview
To better understand how everything works, take a look at the following diagram.

- The ESP8266 server creates its own wireless network (ESP8266 Soft-Access Point). So, other Wi-Fi devices can connect to that network (SSID: ESP8266-Access-Point, Password: 123456789).
- The ESP8266 client is set as a station. So, it can connect to the ESP8266 server wireless network.
- The client can make HTTP GET requests to the server to request sensor data or any other information. It just needs to use the IP address of the server to make a request on a certain route: /temperature, /humidity or /pressure.
- The server listens for incoming requests and sends an appropriate response with the readings.
- The client receives the readings and displays them on the OLED display.
As an example, the ESP8266 client requests temperature, humidity and pressure to the server by making requests on the server IP address followed by /temperature, /humidity and /pressure, respectively (HTTP GET).
The ESP8266 server is listening on those routes and when a request is made, it sends the corresponding sensor readings via HTTP response.
Parts Required

For this tutorial, you need the following parts:
- 2x ESP8266 Development boards.
- BME280 sensor.
- I2C SSD1306 OLED display.
- Jumper Wires.
- Breaboard.
Installing Libraries
For this tutorial you need to install the following libraries:
Asynchronous Web Server Libraries
We’ll use the following libraries to handle HTTP request:
- ESPAsyncWebServer library (download ESPAsyncWebServer library)
- ESPAsync TCP library (download ESPAsyncTCP library)
These libraries are not available to install through the Library Manager. So, you need to unzip the libraries and move them to the Arduino IDE installation libraries folder.
Alternatively, you can go to Sketch > Include Library > Add .ZIP library… and select the libraries you’ve just downloaded.
BME280 Libraries
The following libraries can be installed through the Arduino Library Manager. Go to Sketch > Include Library> Manage Libraries and search for the library name.
I2C SSD1306 OLED Libraries
To interface with the OLED display you need the following libraries. These can be installed through the Arduino Library Manager. Go to Sketch > Include Library> Manage Libraries and search for the library name.
#1 ESP8266 Server (Access Point)

The ESP8266 server is an Access Point (AP), that listens for requests on the /temperature, /humidity and /pressure URLs. When it gets requests on those URLs, it sends the latest BME280 sensor readings.
For testing, we’re using a BME280 sensor, but you can use any other sensor by modifying a few lines of code (for example: DHT11/DHT22 or DS18B20).
Schematic Diagram
Wire the ESP8266 to the BME280 sensor as shown in the following schematic diagram.

BME280 | ESP8266 |
VIN/VCC | 3.3V |
GND | GND |
SCL | GPIO 5 (D1) |
SDA | GPIO 4 (D2) |
Arduino Sketch for #1 ESP8266 Server
Upload the following code to your board.
/*
Welcome to GND_TO_VCC!!
*/
// Import required libraries
#include <ESP8266WiFi.h>
#include "ESPAsyncWebServer.h"
#include <Wire.h>
#include <Adafruit_Sensor.h>
#include <Adafruit_BME280.h>
// Set your access point network credentials
const char* ssid = "ESP8266-Access-Point";
const char* password = "123456789";
/*#include <SPI.h>
#define BME_SCK 18
#define BME_MISO 19
#define BME_MOSI 23
#define BME_CS 5*/
Adafruit_BME280 bme; // I2C
//Adafruit_BME280 bme(BME_CS); // hardware SPI
//Adafruit_BME280 bme(BME_CS, BME_MOSI, BME_MISO, BME_SCK); // software SPI
// Create AsyncWebServer object on port 80
AsyncWebServer server(80);
String readTemp() {
return String(bme.readTemperature());
//return String(1.8 * bme.readTemperature() + 32);
}
String readHumi() {
return String(bme.readHumidity());
}
String readPres() {
return String(bme.readPressure() / 100.0F);
}
void setup(){
// Serial port for debugging purposes
Serial.begin(115200);
Serial.println();
// Setting the ESP as an access point
Serial.print("Setting AP (Access Point)…");
// Remove the password parameter, if you want the AP (Access Point) to be open
WiFi.softAP(ssid, password);
IPAddress IP = WiFi.softAPIP();
Serial.print("AP IP address: ");
Serial.println(IP);
server.on("/temperature", HTTP_GET, [](AsyncWebServerRequest *request){
request->send_P(200, "text/plain", readTemp().c_str());
});
server.on("/humidity", HTTP_GET, [](AsyncWebServerRequest *request){
request->send_P(200, "text/plain", readHumi().c_str());
});
server.on("/pressure", HTTP_GET, [](AsyncWebServerRequest *request){
request->send_P(200, "text/plain", readPres().c_str());
});
bool status;
// default settings
// (you can also pass in a Wire library object like &Wire2)
status = bme.begin(0x76);
if (!status) {
Serial.println("Could not find a valid BME280 sensor, check wiring!");
while (1);
}
// Start server
server.begin();
}
void loop(){
}
Testing the ESP8266 Server
Upload the code to your board and open the Serial Monitor. You should get something as follows:

This means that the access point was set successfully.
Now, to make sure it is listening for temperature, humidity and pressure requests, you need to connect to its network.
In your smartphone, go to the Wi-Fi settings and connect to the ESP8266-Access-Point. The password is 123456789.

While connected to the access point, open your browser and type 192.168.4.1/temperature
You should get the temperature value in your browser:

Try this URL path for the humidity 192.168.4.1/humidity:

Finally, go to 192.168.4.1/pressure URL:

If you’re getting valid readings, it means that everything is working properly. Now, you need to prepare the other ESP8266 board (client) to make those requests for you and display them on the OLED display.
#2 ESP8266 Client (Station)

The ESP8266 Client is a Wi-Fi station that connects to the ESP8266 Server. The client requests the temperature, humidity and pressure from the server by making HTTP GET requests on the /temperature, /humidity, and /pressure URL routes. Then, it displays the readings on the OLED display.
Schematic Diagram
Connect an OLED display to your ESP8266 board as shown in the following schematic diagram.

I
Pin | ESP8266 |
Vin | 3.3V |
GND | GND |
SCL | GPIO 5 (D1) |
SDA | GPIO 4 (D2) |
Arduino Sketch for #2 ESP8266 Client
Upload the following code to the other ESP8266 (the client):
*/
Welcome to GNd_TO_VCC!!
*/
#include <ESP8266WiFi.h>
#include <ESP8266HTTPClient.h>
#include <WiFiClient.h>
#include <ESP8266WiFiMulti.h>
ESP8266WiFiMulti WiFiMulti;
const char* ssid = "ESP8266-Access-Point";
const char* password = "123456789";
//Your IP address or domain name with URL path
const char* serverNameTemp = "http://192.168.4.1/temperature";
const char* serverNameHumi = "http://192.168.4.1/humidity";
const char* serverNamePres = "http://192.168.4.1/pressure";
#include <Wire.h>
#include <Adafruit_GFX.h>
#include <Adafruit_SSD1306.h>
#define SCREEN_WIDTH 128 // OLED display width, in pixels
#define SCREEN_HEIGHT 64 // OLED display height, in pixels
// Declaration for an SSD1306 display connected to I2C (SDA, SCL pins)
#define OLED_RESET -1 // Reset pin # (or -1 if sharing Arduino reset pin)
Adafruit_SSD1306 display(SCREEN_WIDTH, SCREEN_HEIGHT, &Wire, OLED_RESET);
String temperature;
String humidity;
String pressure;
unsigned long previousMillis = 0;
const long interval = 5000;
void setup() {
Serial.begin(115200);
Serial.println();
// Address 0x3C for 128x64, you might need to change this value (use an I2C scanner)
if(!display.begin(SSD1306_SWITCHCAPVCC, 0x3C)) {
Serial.println(F("SSD1306 allocation failed"));
for(;;); // Don't proceed, loop forever
}
display.clearDisplay();
display.setTextColor(WHITE);
WiFi.mode(WIFI_STA);
WiFiMulti.addAP(ssid, password);
while((WiFiMulti.run() == WL_CONNECTED)) {
delay(500);
Serial.print(".");
}
Serial.println("");
Serial.println("Connected to WiFi");
}
void loop() {
unsigned long currentMillis = millis();
if(currentMillis - previousMillis >= interval) {
// Check WiFi connection status
if ((WiFiMulti.run() == WL_CONNECTED)) {
temperature = httpGETRequest(serverNameTemp);
humidity = httpGETRequest(serverNameHumi);
pressure = httpGETRequest(serverNamePres);
Serial.println("Temperature: " + temperature + " *C - Humidity: " + humidity + " % - Pressure: " + pressure + " hPa");
display.clearDisplay();
// display temperature
display.setTextSize(2);
display.setCursor(0,0);
display.print("T: ");
display.print(temperature);
display.print(" ");
display.setTextSize(1);
display.cp437(true);
display.write(248);
display.setTextSize(2);
display.print("C");
// display humidity
display.setTextSize(2);
display.setCursor(0, 25);
display.print("H: ");
display.print(humidity);
display.print(" %");
// display pressure
display.setTextSize(2);
display.setCursor(0, 50);
display.print("P:");
display.print(pressure);
display.setTextSize(1);
display.setCursor(110, 56);
display.print("hPa");
display.display();
// save the last HTTP GET Request
previousMillis = currentMillis;
}
else {
Serial.println("WiFi Disconnected");
}
}
}
String httpGETRequest(const char* serverName) {
WiFiClient client;
HTTPClient http;
// Your IP address with path or Domain name with URL path
http.begin(client, serverName);
// Send HTTP POST request
int httpResponseCode = http.GET();
String payload = "--";
if (httpResponseCode>0) {
Serial.print("HTTP Response code: ");
Serial.println(httpResponseCode);
payload = http.getString();
}
else {
Serial.print("Error code: ");
Serial.println(httpResponseCode);
}
// Free resources
http.end();
return payload;
}
Testing the ESP8266 Client
Having both boards fairly close and powered, you’ll see that ESP #2 is receiving new temperature, humidity and pressure readings every 5 seconds from ESP #1.
This is what you should see on the ESP8266 Client Serial Monitor.

The sensor readings are also displayed in the OLED.

That’s it! Your two ESP8266 boards are talking with each other.
I have a exception 9 when use your code, when i call the pressure function.
Exception 9: LoadStoreAlignmentCause: Load or store to an unaligned address
PC: 0x401053f5
EXCVADDR: 0xffffffff
Decoding stack results
0x40100cfb: free(void*) at C:\Users\Pasquale\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp8266\hardware\esp8266\2.7.4\cores\esp8266\umm_malloc\umm_malloc.cpp line 398
0x40214a85: ethernet_input_LWIP2 at netif/ethernet.c line 188
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